The Quiz was Invented in Dublin. It’s true!

And the answer is...

In 1780, a Dublin theater manager, name of James Daly, invented a new concept and a new word.  (He was quite an enthusiastic fellow.)

He went around Dublin scrawling the word “QUIZ” on walls and pavements and flats across the city.  He was a marketing man, through and through. 

Soon people began talking, scratching their heads, and wondering what in the world was going on.  And, what in the world that odd word “QUIZ” meant.

The answer would only be given at one place, on one date, and that place was Daly’s Dublin theater.  The crowds poured into the seats, every seat was filled, and a word was born!  (And later…A variety of game shows with tall, blonde hosts and refrigerators up for grabs.)

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Ancient Ireland Travels…How Old is Old?

Kilclooney dolmen -- totally awesome

How many layers of time does Ancient Ireland cover?  It’s certainly older than the quaint villages.  Is Ancient Ireland during the time of St. Patrick?  The Druids?  Yes and no…

The truly ancient sites in Ireland such as the Boyne Valley, Newgrange and the Hill of Tara are 1,000s of years older than the Celts and the Christians.  Who were these people?  However mysterious they were, the Celts were latecomers to Ireland.  Here is what we know about the earliest people in Ireland:  They lived during a time when Ireland simply wasn’t Irish. 

Ireland’s ancient history is just coming to light.  It’s a special place for travelers who are hungry for a taste of the ancient mixed with the connection to land and place.  In almost every farmer’s field, some piece of Ancient Ireland has been found by the plow or the shovel.  

Newgrange is 500 years older than the Pyramids. Stonehenge, built 1,000 years after Newgrange, may have been built of stones that came from Ireland.  These Stonehenge rocks do not exist in the area of Stonehenge in England, but they are abundant in the megalithic parts of Ireland.  How did they get to the UK?  It totally boggles the mind.

Looking north, we find ancient Romanesque carvings in Ireland.  To the Northeast, we find carved heads popping from the ground as exotic as the faces we see on Easter Island.  Egyptian Coptic crosses, yes, those are also in the West. In fact, there isn’t a single area that does not echo with the sounds of the distant past, a past and people who began living in Ireland 6,000 years ago.

This is trully a place that fills your senses with quiet joy, mystery and rejuvenaton.  A true wonder…

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Baby, Here are Some Irish Names

A Shamrock Baby!

Irish names are hot, and we thought we’d share a few you might not have heard of, plus a few of the standards.    Every baby is lucky, but with an Irish name?  They’ve got a double dose of cheer and fortune!

Girls:  Aisling (Ashling) — Dream or vision;  Aine — Joy.  Aine was the queen of the fairies;  Macha — The legendary Queen of Ireland;  Withypoll (!) — translates as williow;  Maeve — A warrior queen and goddess.

Boys:  Dermot — free of envy;  Dagda — the good god (an important diety of the early pagan Irish);  Tadhg — Poet.  Pronounced ‘Tigh’, a popular name in Ireland;  Liam — the Irish form of William;  Gael — the name of the hero from whom the Irish race got their name.

If you know someone whose having a baby, write us!  We’re happy to pass along a slew of lucky and beautiful (or handsome) Irish names.

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Okay, Watch that Mouth!

WOW!

Now, here’s an Irish proverb that’s 100% true.  (Imagine!)

“Is minic a bhris beal duine a shron.”

Translation?  Easy.

“It’s often a person’s mouth that breaks his nose.”

This lady could do some serious damage to herself!

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The Old Irish Sod on Mars!

Michelle Bennett, head of Limerick’s Institute of Technology’s Applied Science Department,  has an odd interest in bog science.  And NASA wants what she finds out!

The Old Sod on Mars

Professor Bennett stuck some samples of Irish bog into jars, stored them in her garage, and forgot about them.  A year later, she came upon the jars, opened them, and was amazed to find that they were still alive.  Every little, boggy bit! 

She approached NASA with her findings, and suggested testing begin on the hearty mosses to see if they might create self-sustaining foods and water on spaceships, specifically for future use on a mission to Mars.  Professor Bennet is now working on the project for NASA. 

You heard it here first:  Going to Mars will be terrific travel for foodies who have done it all!

Sliante!  The crew at  authenticireland.com

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