50 Fun Facts about Ireland • Facts Zone

Ireland is a mystical and wonderful place to live and to visit. The country has been plagued by numerous fights for power, but today it is thriving as an independent nation. Many people flock to Ireland each year to learn about their magical culture and history, and never go home upset. The Irish people are relaxed and full of fun and celebrations. They have made a name for themselves in the economic world. Following are some of the fun facts about Ireland:

Official Name: Éire, Republic of Ireland
Form Of Government: Constitutional Democracy
Capital: Dublin
Monetary Unit: Euro
Official Languages: Irish/English
Area: 68,890 square kilometers
Major Mountain Ranges: Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Wicklow Mountains
Major Rivers: Shannon, Liffey, Boyne, Moy, Barrow
Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because of its lush rolling hills and vales of green. Poet William Drennan is thought to be the first to use the phrase in print, in his poem When Erin First Rose.
Ireland is the only country in the world to have a musical instrument as it’s the national symbol.

In Dublin, there is one pub for every 100 people.
Ireland has the lowest annual number of reported UFO sightings in Europe.
Ireland was one of the original 12 European nations to begin using the Euro currency in 2002.
The longest place name in Ireland is called Sruffaunoughterluggatoora, located in Galway.
The harp is the official symbol of Ireland, making it the only country in the world with an instrument as it’s the national symbol.
The most popular sport in Ireland is Gaelic football, followed by Hurling. Both sports are native to Ireland.
Only 9% of the Irish population are natural redheads.
73% of Americans are unable to locate Ireland on a map bereft of country names.
Raymond O’Brien was the shortest person in Irish history at one foot eleven inches tall

The shortest person in Irish history, Raymond O’Brien.; Image Source: IrishCentral.com

You can visit some of the oldest harps in the world at Trinity College in Dublin.
Ireland is one of the few countries in the world, and the only country in the EU, that does not have postal codes (with the exception of Dublin city).
Ireland and the UK share a chequered history. In 1801, Great Britain annexed the Kingdom of Ireland under the Act of Union; in 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty established the Irish Free State, an independent dominion of the British crown partitioned from Northern Ireland; and in 1949, the Republic of Ireland became fully independent from the UK.
Ireland has been used as a location for several famous films including Star Wars, The Princess Bride, Braveheart, and Harry Potter.
Ireland is the sixth highest consumer of beer per capita in the world after the Czech Republic, Namibia, Austria, Germany, and Poland. On average, the Irish consume 131.1 liters of beer per year, putting them at 4th place in the world for highest per-capita beer consumption.

Ireland was one of the original 12 European nations to begin using the Euro currency in 2002.
The longest place name in Ireland is called Sruffaunoughterluggatoora, located in Galway.
The harp is the official symbol of Ireland, making it the only country in the world with an instrument as it’s the national symbol.
The most popular sport in Ireland is Gaelic football, followed by Hurling. Both sports are native to Ireland.
57% of Irish people wear glasses or contact lenses.
Ireland is the sixth highest consumer of beer per capita in the world after the Czech Republic, Namibia, Austria, Germany, and Poland.
Ireland has a population of just over five million, of which over three quarters (78.3%) is Roman Catholic.

Ireland has won the Eurovision Song Contest seven times, more than any other country.
Banshees, leprechauns, and vampires are regular characters in Irish lore but it’s the fairies, above most, who left their mark on the landscape.
Ireland has mounds of dirt that are known as “fairy forts” Legend has it that those who disturb one of these mounds will be riddled with bad luck. These mounds are actually ancient dwellings from the Iron Age.
A native of Dublin designed the iconic statuette presented to Oscar winners.
The nominal GDP of Ireland is $217.3 billion, while it’s per capita GDP is $47,478.
Northern Ireland is governed by the United Kingdom, while the rest of Ireland is an independent nation.
Over 80% of Ireland’s people are Roman Catholic.
The Canary Islands are the most popular sunshine holiday destination with retired Irish citizens.

Retired Irish citizens love to spend their holidays in the Canary Islands; Image Source: IrishCentral.com

A law was enacted in 2009 that makes it illegal to be drunk in public in Ireland.
70% of married Irish women would consider having an affair while on a foreign holiday without their spouse or children.
May is generally the driest month of the year in Ireland.
Irish marriages last an average of 13 years.
A song only needs to sell 5,000 copies to top the Irish music charts.
A book only needs to sell 3,000 copies to top the Irish bestseller list.
Ireland is known throughout the world for its vast amount of castles.
Irish weddings are elegant and large celebrations. Grooms dress in kilts that signify their family’s clan, while brides dress in white to signify their purity. Family members travel far and wide to attend weddings, and the receptions are always massive celebrations involving beer and music.
RTE’s “The Late Late Show” is the world’s second-longest-running talk show.
James Hoban, an Irishman, was the designer of the U.S. White House.