Fun facts about Ireland

1. Ireland is the only country in the world that has a musical instrument (the harp) as its national symbol.
2. The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia
3. Shannon became the world's first duty-free airport in 1947
4. Saint Patrick's Day is Irelands official national holiday
5. At the Olympics, boxing is Ireland's most successful sport.
6. Ireland was the first country in the world to have an environmental tax for plastic shopping bags
7. ireland was the first introduce a public smoking ban in 2004
8. Shamrock (type of clover) is the national symbol of Ireland and along with the harp it is a registered trademark of the country.
9. Halloween was derived from an Irish festival called Samhain.
10. St. Patrick's clearing of the Emerald Isle of snakes isn't true. There have never been any snakes in Ireland
11. St. Patrick was not actually Irish, he was Roman
12. In Ireland, lakes are called as loughs (pronounced as locks)
13. Its Irish birthday tradition to hold the birthday child upside down and bump the head slightly on the floor for good luck.
14. Titanic, the Unsinkable ship, which sunk in its maiden voyage, was made in Ireland.
15. Ireland has had its own Olympics since the Bronze Age, called the Tailteann Games.
16. The term boycott comes from Irishman Captain James Boycott.
17. There are more Irish people living OUTside of Ireland than in.
18. Ireland's most famous musical export is U2.
19. An Irishman designed the White House.