Fascinating facts you didn't know about Ireland
Potatoes are not native to Ireland: Despite the country’s long-standing association with this starchy root vegetable, potatoes were actually brought to Ireland.
English is not the first language of Ireland: The Irish originally spoke an ancient language called Gaelic, or simply Irish.
The Gaeltacht: Although you’re unlikely to hear Irish being spoken in the streets of Dublin or Cork.
It’s illegal to be drunk in public: Despite the fact that drinking pints is a common pastime in Ireland, as it is in many countries, it’s technically illegal to be drunk in public.
The Irish aren’t the biggest consumers of Guinness: Guinness is perhaps Ireland’s most famous export. Who doesn’t love a pint of the black stuf.
St. Patrick wasn’t Irish: St. Patrick is actually believed to have been from the UK. He was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave.
There were actually never any snakes in Ireland: Despite this popular tale, the fact is that there were never any snakes on the Emerald Isle to begin with.
St. Patrick didn’t wear green: Time to bust yet another myth about old St. Patrick.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade: Shockingly, the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was not held in Ireland.
The home of St. Valentine: Another famous saint you might not know has connections to Ireland is St. Valentine.
The harp: Ireland is the only country in the world to have a musical instrument as its national symbol.
Prehistoric population: There’s evidence of human life on the island of Ireland as far back as 10,500 BCE.