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The Weekly Dose of Irish – January 30th, 2025 Edition ☘️

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Dia dhuit, a chara! 👋

Ah sure, I had it ready to go yesterday, but between the madness of the day and the distraction of a good cup of tae, I ran out of time to double-check it. But fear not! I’ve updated the Weekly Dose today to reflect the 30th, and here it is, packed full of Irish wit, history, and a few laughs to brighten your week.

So, grab a cuppa (or a pint if it’s that kind of day), sit back, and enjoy a little Irish magic. Let’s dive in!


☘️ This Week’s Irish Quote

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.”
Irish Proverb

And sure, isn’t that just the truth? So, if you’re feeling a bit off, take a nap, have a good chuckle, and you’ll be grand!


🍀 Did You Know? – Strange & Wonderful Irish Facts

1. The World’s First Ever Submarine Patent 🛠️

Believe it or not, the first working submarine was designed by an Irishman! John Philip Holland, from Co. Clare, developed the first submarine accepted by the U.S. Navy in 1900. Talk about a man ahead of his time!
👉 Read more about Irish inventions here

2. The Shortest War in Irish History Was… A Hurling Match? 🏑

During the 12th century, an intense game of hurling between two rival clans in Galway escalated into a full-on battle. Swords were drawn, blood was spilled, and let’s just say it was the last time anyone invited those two teams for a rematch!

3. The Irish Invented Halloween! 🎃

The ancient festival of Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) was celebrated long before Halloween as we know it today. The Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest on October 31st. So, the next time you see a ghost costume, thank an Irish druid!


🇮🇪 A Wee Bit of Irish History – The Great Donkey Derby of 1965 🏇

Ireland has its fair share of odd traditions, but did you know that in 1965, Ballygar, Co. Galway, held the first-ever “Great Donkey Derby”?

The idea? Put some of the slowest, most stubborn creatures on a racetrack and see who crosses the finish line first – if they even move at all!

What started as a joke turned into an annual tradition, and to this day, donkey races still pop up around Ireland. The moral of the story? Never underestimate an Irishman’s ability to turn anything into a competition!


😂 The Irish Joke of the Week ☘️

1) The Texan & The Kerry Farmer

A Texas rancher comes to Ireland and meets a Kerry farmer.

The Texan says, “Takes me a whole day to drive from one side of my ranch to the other.”

The Kerry farmer nods and replies, “Ah sure, I know, sir. We have tractors like that here too.” 🤣

2) The Kerryman & Trivial Pursuit

A Kerryman was playing Trivial Pursuit. It was his turn.

He rolled the dice and landed on “Science & Nature.” His question was:
“If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?”

He thought for a moment and then asked, “Is it on or off?” 🤦‍♂️😂

3) The Train Ride

A man and a woman, who had never met before, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping cabin on a train. Though a bit awkward at first, they settled in—him in the upper bunk, her in the lower.

At 2 AM, the man leans over and whispers:
“Excuse me, ma’am, but I’m awfully cold. Would you mind reaching into the cupboard to get me a second blanket?”

The woman smirks and replies:
“I have a better idea. Just for tonight, let’s pretend we’re married.”

The man excitedly says, “That’s a great idea!”

“Good,” she replies. “Get up and get your own blanket.” 🤣


☘️ The Irish Quiz – Test Your Knowledge!

Think you know Ireland? Try these five questions!

1️⃣ What is the national symbol of Ireland?
2️⃣ What is the Irish word for whiskey?
3️⃣ Which Irish county is known as “The Rebel County”?
4️⃣ Name the famous Irish festival that celebrates music, dance, and storytelling.
5️⃣ True or False: There are more Irish people outside of Ireland than in it?

💡 Answers at the end – no cheating!


📖 New Section: The Irish Word of the Week! 🇮🇪

Every week, let’s add a little Gaeilge (Irish language) to our vocabulary! This week’s word is:

📖 “Ólta” (Pronounced: “OHL-tah”) – Meaning “drunk” or “well-watered.”

Example sentence:
🍻 “Tá sé go hiomlán ólta!”He’s completely drunk!

Irish is full of charming and humorous words, especially when it comes to describing a night out! So, the next time you see someone a little worse for wear after a few pints, you’ll have the perfect word for it.


🎵 Irish Song Recommendation of the Week

🎶 “The Rocky Road to Dublin” – The Dubliners

👉 Listen here on YouTube

If you want to feel the energy of a true Irish ballad, this fast-paced, foot-stomping tune is the one! Give it a listen and try to keep up with the lyrics – good luck! 😆


📝 Answers to the Quiz:

1️⃣ The Harp, not the shamrock!
2️⃣ Uisce Beatha (literally “Water of Life”)
3️⃣ Cork – Rebels through and through!
4️⃣ Fleadh Cheoil – The biggest Irish music festival in the world!
5️⃣ True – Over 70 million people claim Irish heritage worldwide, while only about 5 million live in Ireland!


💬 Final Thought – A Bit of Irish Wisdom

“May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” ☘️

I hope you enjoyed this week’s Dose of Irish! Let me know if you’ve got any good Irish jokes, facts, or stories to share – I’d love to hear them!

Sláinte! 🍻

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Stephen
🌍☘️ Irish Around The World

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