12. Between 1845-49, a fungus disease wiped out Ireland's potato crop, and the resulting famine led to death by starvation of nearly a million people. Many others chose to leave their country. Approximately how many Irish came to America between 1847 and 1854?

a. 775,000

b. 1 million

c. 2 million

d. 4 million

13. TRUE or FALSE: Ireland is the only country to have a musical instrument as a national symbol.

14. The Shillelagh is an Irish club used both as a weapon and as a walking stick. The name comes from:

a. A Gaelic word for war-stick

b. An 11th-century castle with thick wooden walls near Kinsale

c. A Viking phrase used in plundering

d. An oak forest in Wicklow County

15. "Erin Go Bragh" is a phrase often heard on St. Patrick's Day. It means:

a. Ireland Forever

b. I love Ireland

c. Freedom for Ireland

d. Ireland, my home

ANSWERS

1. c.

2. Dublin (Republic of Ireland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).

3. False. About 34 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry. Ireland has a population of about 4 million.

4. a-5, b-7, c-8, d-3, e-9, f-1, g-6, h-10, i-2, j-4.

5. a-4, b-5, c-6, d-2, e-1, f-3.

6. d.

7. c.

8. a. Londonderry, b. Kathleen, c. Galway, d. Rose, e. Athenry, f. Vision, g. Lord, h. Cherish, i. Fair, j. Mother (10)

9. a-8, b-7, c-6, d-2, e-4, f-5, g-3, h-1.

10. Here are some possibilities: "Beloved Enemy" (1936), "Going My Way" (1940), "My Wild Irish Rose" (1947), "Top o' the Morning" (1949), The Last Hurrah" (1958), "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" (1959), "Ryan's Daughter" (1970), "Far and Away" (1992), "The Crying Game" (1992), "In the Name of the Father" (1994), "Michael Collins" (1966). If you can name others, give yourself credit; there are lots more.

11. a, c, d and g are true statements.

12. b.

13. True. The Irish harp is the national symbol of the country.

14. d.

15. a.

SCORING:

Score one point for each correct answer.

41-50: Top o' the mornin' to ye, you've got a lot of the green in your soul.

31-40: You've earned yourself some corned beef and cabbage.

21-30: There's probably no pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.

Under 20: Better watch out for pookas and leprechauns!