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50 St. Patrick's Day trivia questions to quiz your Irish IQ

Try your luck with these fun and festive stumpers — some easy, others less so.

If you think you know everything there is to know about St. Patty's, we're here to help you prove it.

Because while everyone else is busy preparing their corned beef and stocking up on pints of Guinness, you'll be sharpening your Irish knowledge with facts like why green is the color of St. Patrick's Day or how many pints of the traditional drink are tossed back each year.

For the record, if you guessed a lot of beer, you're right.

Whether you're last name is Murphy and you're sprouting a crop of red hair or just a fan of the March holiday, we're about to help increase your Irish IQ with these St. Patrick's Day trivia questions and answers.

For example, if you and the crew are singing Irish songs at the bar, impress everyone with your expertise about Dublin's unofficial anthem.

Enjoying a special St. Patrick's Day dinner with your Emerald-Isle family? Don't forget to break out some Irish soda bread along with a few trivia questions to get the whole crew talking.

Even if you're staying home to play St. Patrick's Day games with your kids, take a moment to teach them a thing or two about why we celebrate the holiday in the first place.

Not sure how your smarts stack up? No worries because some trivia questions are easy, while others are a true test of your knowledge about all things Irish.

Either way, we wish you the very best of luck in answering them.

  1. Question: What three pieces of equipment are necessary to play the Irish sport of hurling? Answer: A hurley (stick), sliotar (ball) and helmet.
  2. Question: What's the oldest pub in Ireland? Answer: Sean's Bar in Westmeath.
  3. Question: What's the symbol for gold on the Periodic Table of Elements? Answer: Au
  4. Question: What was the Viking name for Ireland's capital city of Dublin? Answer: "Dyflin," which later turned to "Dubh Linn."
  5. Question: What 2015 Oscar-nominated movie starring Saoirse Ronan is about a young Irish immigrant who moves to New York City in the 1950s? Answer: "Brooklyn"
  6. Question: According to folklore, what’s a leprechaun’s occupation? Answer: Shoemaker
  7. Question: What 1959 children’s movie helped shape the modern-day image of a leprechaun? Answer: “Darby O’Gill and the Little People”
  8. Question: Which breakfast cereal has “Lucky the Leprechaun” as its mascot? Answer: Lucky Charms
  9. Question: Which best-selling Irish band features Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton, the Edge and Bono? Answer: U2
  10. Question: Irish musician Gilbert O’Sullivan hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 with what song? Answer: “Alone Again (Naturally)”
  11. Question: Which Irish actor starred in the 1962 Oscar-winning movie “Lawrence of Arabia?” Answer: Peter O’Toole
  12. Question: Which song is known as the unofficial anthem of Dublin, Ireland? Answer: “Molly Malone”
  13. Question: What cheerful Irish greeting is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day? Answer: “Top of the morning to you”
  14. Question: According to Irish folklore, what will you find at the end of a rainbow? Answer: A pot of gold
  15. Question: What do the three leaves of a shamrock represent according to Irish tradition? Answer: The Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
  16. Question: According to Wallethub, how many pints of Guinness are consumed on St. Patrick’s Day? Answer: More than 13 million worldwide
  17. Question: What’s the estimated market value of a leprechaun’s pot of gold (1,000 coins)? Answer: $1.92 million
  18. Question: What's the average number of drinks consumed per person on St. Patrick’s Day? Answer: 4.2
  19. Question: According to the National Retail Federation, what percentage of people plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Answer: 54 percent
  20. Question: On average, how much money do consumers spend on St. Patrick’s Day? Answer: $42.33
  21. Question: Which St. Patrick’s Day activity is more popular: attending a parade or making a special dinner? Answer: Making a special dinner
  22. True or false: The first known St. Patrick's Day parade occurred in Ireland. Answer: False. The first recorded parade took place in St. Augustine, Florida.
  23. Question: What year did the first known St. Patrick's Day celebration happen in the U.S.? Answer: 1600
  24. Question: What ancient Celtic festival is thought to be the origin of Halloween? Answer: Samhain
  25. Question: What U.S. president was the first Irish Catholic to be elected to the office? Answer: John F. Kennedy
  26. Question: What water-loving dog breed is known for its curly coat and rat-like tail? Answer: Irish Water Spaniel
  27. Question: Ireland is the second largest European island. Which island is the largest? Answer: England
  28. Question: What is the capital of Ireland? Answer: Dublin
  29. Question: What's the official currency of Ireland? Answer: The euro
  30. Question: What common reptile is not naturally found in Ireland? Answer: Snake
  31. True or false: Patrick, Ireland's patron saint for which the holiday is named, is Irish. Answer: False. He was born in Roman Britain.
  32. Question: What meat and vegetable dish is a trademark St. Patrick's Day meal? Answer: Corned beef and cabbage
  33. Question: Which iconic New York skyscraper turns green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day? Answer: The Empire State Building
  34. Question: Which “Fifty Shades of Grey” star hails from Northern Ireland? Answer: Jamie Dornan
  35. Question: “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” written by Irish-born author C.S. Lewis, takes place in what mythical land? Answer: Narnia
  36. Question: Which U.S. city was the first to dye a river green in honor of St. Patrick's Day? Answer: In 1962, the city of Chicago dyed the Chicago River green.
  37. Question: What does Merriam-Webster call a leprechaun? Answer: "mischievous elf"
  38. Question: What must a leprechaun divulge if captured? Answer: Where to find hidden treasure
  39. Question: What year did New York City officially host the first St. Patrick's Day parade? Answer: 1762
  40. Question: Why is St. Patrick's Day celebrated on March 17? Answer: It marks the day St. Patrick died in 461 A.D.
  41. Question: Why do we wear green on St. Patrick's Day? Answer: It's most closely associated with Ireland's lush green landscape (Emerald Isle) and the country's desire to distinguish itself from the British in the 1700s.
  42. Question: What notable mystery book author was Grand Marshall for the New York St. Patrick's Day parade in 2011? Answer: Mary Higgins Clark
  43. True or False: St. Patrick was known to wear the color green. Answer: False. In renderings, the saint was often pictured in blue, otherwise known as "St. Patrick's blue."
  44. Question: Located in Northern Ireland, what popular TV show used a beech-tree lined walkway known as The Dark Hedges" as the road to King's Landing? Answer: "Game of Thrones"
  45. Question: Ireland's Curracloe Beach was used for which two Oscar-winning films? Answer: "Saving Private Ryan" and "Brooklyn"
  46. Question: As of 2019, what percentage of U.S. residents claim to have Irish ancestry? Answer: 9.2 percent or 30.4 million
  47. Question: Which U.S. county has the highest number of people with Irish ancestry? Answer: Cook County, Illinois
  48. Question: What North American waterway did the Irish immigrants help build? Answer: The Erie Canal
  49. Question: What’s a “curragh"? Answer: A type of wooden Irish boat used for fishing and transport.
  50. Question: What hearty Irish meal consists of red meat, carrots, onions and potatoes? Answer: Irish stew