Cool irish facts

BabyE · 30-10-2016 9:59pm #1

Before the famine Irish peasents were taller and healthier than other Europeans, 1 inch taller than the Brts for instance
Ireland is the second last landmass in eurooe discovered, after Denmark and before Estonia. Amazingly Britain was discovered I believe 40,000 years earlier, and as an extra france was not discovered until after Britain
Its the third largest island in Europe, I wonder what people think when thy look at the map in china and see Ireland, they probably assume cultural crossover between the various islands

Dr Crayfish · 30-10-2016 10:12pm

We are the least forested country in Europe, farming and the spread of bog being the main reasons for the decline of trees

Junkyard Tom · 30-10-2016 10:20pm

The gigantic slabs of rock near the cliff edge on Inis Mór were thrown up there by violent storms.

Sam Kade · 30-10-2016 10:20pm

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

We are the least forested country in Europe, farming and the spread of bog being the main reasons for the decline of trees

Before Ireland was inhabited the land was covered in trees with brown bears and wolves roaming the land.

Dr Crayfish · 30-10-2016 10:22pm

Sam Kade wrote: »

Before Ireland was inhabited the land was covered in trees with brown bears and wolves roaming the land.

I know, it's sad, only 1% of Ireland is covered by natural woodland now ffs

The_Valeyard · 30-10-2016 10:23pm

The Irish report the lowest annual number of UFO sightings in Europe.

BabyE · 30-10-2016 10:26pm

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I know, it's sad, only 1% of Ireland is covered by natural woodland now ffs

We inhabit a beautiful country if you stick to the coasts

Sam Kade · 30-10-2016 10:28pm

The_Valeyard wrote: »

The Irish report the lowest annual number of UFO sightings in Europe.

I've been around a long time and never witnessed a ghost or UFO even though I've spent a lot of time in the great outdoors.

The_Valeyard · 30-10-2016 10:29pm

Sam Kade wrote: »

I've been around a long time and never witnessed a ghost or UFO even though I've spent a lot of time in the great outdoors.

Maybe were just not interesting enough.....

Naahhhh, that couldn't be it, we are great.

Just havent found us yet probably.

Dr Crayfish · 30-10-2016 10:31pm

BabyE wrote: »

We inhabit a beautiful country if you stick to the coasts

It looks like a big patchwork duvet from the sky. It's a shame about the trees though, I wish we even had a small wilderness.

Junkyard Tom · 30-10-2016 10:34pm

BabyE wrote: »

We inhabit a beautiful country if you stick to the coasts

There's inland beauty too, Gougane Barra for example.

degsie · 30-10-2016 10:34pm

Irish pheasants lived in eurooe

maudgonner · 30-10-2016 10:36pm

As mentioned above, bears and wolves were native species.

Cattle and sheep were not. They were introduced by the first farmers.

The first farmers were also responsible for creating most of our upland bogs, as a result of clearing the forests for farmland.

HeidiHeidi · 30-10-2016 10:38pm

Sam Kade wrote: »

I've been around a long time and never witnessed a ghost or UFO even though I've spent a lot of time in the great outdoors.

You weren't looking in the right place

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/video-emerges-of-garda-car-in-pursuit-of-ufo-in-gorey-1.2745002

pablo128 · 30-10-2016 10:38pm

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I wish we even had a small wilderness.

?? We have Leitrim!:pac:

questionmark? · 30-10-2016 10:42pm

pablo128 wrote: »

?? We have Leitrim!:pac:

What's a Leitrim?

Junkyard Tom · 30-10-2016 10:45pm

questionmark? wrote: »

What's a Leitrim?

I think it's a kinda fish.

BabyE · 30-10-2016 10:46pm

we must have the lowest number of flora snd fauna.

Donald Trump · 30-10-2016 10:49pm

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

We are the least forested country in Europe, farming and the spread of bog being the main reasons for the decline of trees

And the bastard Sasanachs cutting them down to build their ships

(Feck off with your facts now. The teacher told us that in baby infants)

pablo128 · 30-10-2016 10:52pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

And the bastard Sasanachs cutting them down to build their ships

(Feck off with your facts now. The teacher told us that in baby infants)

True. The feckers cleaned us out before we got rid of them. Plenty of Irish oak in a lot of British stately homes.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 30-10-2016 11:01pm

The Irish don't have genetic link to the Celts. They shared trade and cultural links.

BabyE · 30-10-2016 11:05pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The Irish don't have genetic link to the Celts. They shared trade and cultural links.

the simpsons jebediah springfield episode comes to mind

Heroditas · 30-10-2016 11:08pm

questionmark? wrote: »

What's a Leitrim?

Irish word for uninhabited wilderness

Four Phucs Ache · 30-10-2016 11:55pm

The Late Late show is the longest running TV show in the world !

PARlance · 30-10-2016 11:59pm

Four Phucs Ache wrote: »

The Late Late show is the longest running TV show in the world !

It certainly feels like it anyway.

Heroditas · 31-10-2016 12:06am

Longest running chat show in the world, not sure if it's the longest running TV show!

ThisRegard · 31-10-2016 12:50am

BabyE wrote: »

We inhabit a beautiful country if you stick to the coasts

This is the least factual post in the thread

893bet · 31-10-2016 12:56am

BabyE wrote: »

Before the famine Irish peasents were taller and healthier than other Europeans, 1 inch taller than the Brts for instance
Ireland is the second last landmass in eurooe discovered, after Denmark and before Estonia. Amazingly Britain was discovered I believe 40,000 years earlier, and as an extra france was not discovered until after Britain
Its the third largest island in Europe, I wonder what people think when thy look at the map in china and see Ireland, they probably assume cultural crossover between the various islands

When u say "discovered", by who?

Also Britain discovered before France? Again? By who? So people from somewhere got to Britain by boat before they got to France, aka mainland Europe?

Say what?

BabyE · 31-10-2016 2:04am

By nomadic humans wandering the globe. This is based on current evidence, I.e no remains have been found in France, while Britain there has. Also Britain wasn't an island back then, but it isn't connected to mainland by a landbridge with france, the landbridge I think is where holland is. I think you are making the false assumption that somehow early humans had a goal in mind to get to ireland or something so that naturally they would go uo through France, and onto britain like we would do today, reality is europe was populated by many different tribes who had long branched off, it wasn't a linear discovery eith europe being discovered from top to bottom(sicility, portugal and malta were some of last places discovered)
As far as im aware africans didnt come up through europe from africs again through the route I would have assumed, directly north over to Andalucia and uo through spain and beyond, they went middle east first and migrated to europe from there. maybe this is commom knowledge stuff but it went against my perceptions

spurious · 31-10-2016 2:09am

Dr Crayfish wrote:

I know, it's sad, only 1% of Ireland is covered by natural woodland now ffs

While we have (in Europe) the best climate for growing trees.

oleras · 31-10-2016 2:17am

BabyE wrote: »

By nomadic humans wandering the globe. This is based on current evidence, britain wasnt N island back then, but it isn't connected to mainland by a landbridge with france, the landbridge I think is where holland is. I think you are making the false assumption that somehow early humans had a goal in mind to get to ireland or something so that naturally they would go uo through France, and onto britain like we would do today, reality is europe was populated by many different tribes who had long branched off, it wasn't a linear discovery eith europe being discovered from top to bottom(sicility, portugal and malta were some of last places discovered)
As far as im aware africans didnt come up through europe from africs again through the route I would have assumed, directly north over to Andalucia and uo through spain and beyond, they went middle east first and migrated to europe from there. maybe this is commom knowledge stuff but it went against my perceptions

I think its Doggerland you are thinking of ?

Lucy8080 · 31-10-2016 3:08am

We invented National Hunt Racing and the Beaufort Scale.

The Beaufort Scale helped us in knowing if we should go ahead with the race meeting or not.

Either way we got pissed (indoors, instead of outdoors,thanks to Beaufort).

The weather didn't affect the gambling opportunities.

Never bet against Mary from Mullingar (a fine mare) , she'll drink you under the table,and it's been rumoured she'll give you a good ride round the track if the weather is favourable.

Pro Hoc Vice · 31-10-2016 3:21am

Heroditas wrote: »

Longest running chat show in the world, not sure if it's the longest running TV show!

I don't believe it's either, the Tonight show is 1954 if I remember. But I think Gay may have been the longest host of a chat show.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 31-10-2016 3:24am

The first culture to introduce a proper run system of organised crime to the USA were the Irish. The first crime boss to settle on the west side of Manhattan was Owney 'The Killer' Madden.

In an area which later became known as Hell's Kitchen. Later boss's of HK were names such as Mickey Spillane and James 'Jimmy' Coonan of the the infamous Westies.

Mysterypunter · 31-10-2016 3:39am

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The first culture to introduce a proper run system of organised crime to the USA were the Irish. The first crime boss to settle on the west side of Manhattan was Owney 'The Killer' Madden.

In an area which later became known as Hell's Kitchen. Later boss's of HK were names such as Mickey Spillane and James 'Jimmy' Coonan of the the infamous Westies.

Ownie Madden was a real charachter. He had a real interest in the noble art of boxing. Some people have even suggested that he influenced the results,hard to believe that though, he was honest as the day is long.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 31-10-2016 3:52am

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Ownie Madden was a real charachter. He had a real interest in the noble art of boxing. Some people have even suggested that he influenced the results,hard to believe that though, he was honest as the day is long.

Yes he was involved in the promotion of boxing. He ran a joint in Hell's Kitchen called the Cotten Club where all the Irish Mob and Italian wiseguys would hang out.

Owney was a childhood friend of Salvatore Lucania (Charles Lucky Luciano) the founder of The mob's Commission in New York.

conorhal · 31-10-2016 8:01am

In 1866 the Irish invaded Canada with a goal of capturing Quebec, and making it the seat of the Irish Republic-in-exile.

The Fenians (and there were 175,000 Irish in Canada at the time) had military training and weaponry and thousands of Irish Civil War veterans who supported the cause of Irish nationalism, plus Canada’s borders were virtually unsecured, guarded by citizen volunteers.
The hope was that the invasion would spark a conflict in Canada that would occupy the British and set the stage for rebellion in Ireland. Even if it failed, the invasion could draw worldwide attention to the English occupation of Ireland; just as the Irish Fenians had no business claiming Canada, England had no legitimate ownership claim over Ireland.

And we would have pulled it off too, if it wasn't for those pesky Yanks interfering in our planned invasions!

http://irishamerica.com/2012/03/the-day-the-irish-invaded-canada/

AndyBoBandy · 31-10-2016 8:07am

For every day that the United Nations has been in existence, Irish peacekeepers have been abroad keeping the peace, no other country I believe can claim this.

suicide_circus · 31-10-2016 8:09am

The Irish have one of the lowest average IQ in Europe.

suicide_circus · 31-10-2016 8:11am

spurious wrote: »

While we have (in Europe) the best climate for growing trees.

Blame the Brits

AndyBoBandy · 31-10-2016 8:12am

suicide_circus wrote: »

The Irish have one of the lowest average IQ in Europe.

no coincidence then that we are the only country in Europe to fluoridate our drinking water supply

clairewithani · 31-10-2016 8:15am

suicide_circus wrote: »

The Irish have one of the lowest average IQ in Europe.

I know two people who could be responsible for lowering it for the whole country. ☺

Advbrd · 31-10-2016 8:23am

clairewithani wrote: »

I know two people who could be responsible for lowering it for the whole country. ☺

There are more than two Healy-Raes.

md23040 · 31-10-2016 8:24am

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

There's inland beauty too, Gougane Barra for example.

Thank god that we are one of the most least densely populated countries in Europe and hopefully always remain that way. By comparison based on the UK's density the Republic would have 19.3 million population and based on France have 8.5 million.

Albeit Dublin has infrastructural problems it has low density compared to other European capital cities - Paris (4.5 times less) and London (2 times less).

31-10-2016 8:25am

suicide_circus wrote: »

The Irish have one of the lowest average IQ in Europe.

Ironically for Richard Lynn's hilarious British "study" on the thick Paddys (which is where you're getting this comedy), at least it's higher than the Brits according to the first google result.

NIMAN · 31-10-2016 8:27am

How exactly do they know the average IQ of 4.5million people?

You or anyone you know ever had their IQ officially tested?

Advbrd · 31-10-2016 8:29am

NIMAN wrote: »

How exactly do they know the average IQ of 4.5million people?

You or anyone you know ever had their IQ officially tested?

Yes, I'm a genius.

suicide_circus · 31-10-2016 8:40am

NIMAN wrote: »

How exactly do they know the average IQ of 4.5million people?

You or anyone you know ever had their IQ officially tested?

Listen I don't make these stats, i just regurgitate them mindlessly without checking their veracity.

clairewithani · 31-10-2016 8:41am

suicide_circus wrote: »

Listen I don't make these stats, i just regurgitate them mindlessly without checking their veracity.

ðŸ˜€ðŸ˜€

31-10-2016 8:46am

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

no coincidence then that we are the only country in Europe to fluoridate our drinking water supply

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr2bSL5VQgM

Mandrake: Yes, Jack?
Ripper: Have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?
Mandrake: Well, I can't say I have.
Ripper: Vodka, that's what they drink, isn't it? Never water?
Mandrake: Well, I-I believe that's what they drink, Jack, yes.
Ripper: On no account will a Commie ever drink water, and not without good reason.
Mandrake: Oh, eh, yes. I, uhm, can't quite see what you're getting at, Jack.
Ripper: Water, that's what I'm getting at, water. Mandrake, water is the source of all life. Seven-tenths of this earth's surface is water. Why, do you realize that seventy percent of you is water?
Mandrake: Uh, uh, Good Lord!
Ripper: And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids.
Mandrake: Yes.
Ripper: Are you beginning to understand?
Mandrake: Yes.
Ripper: Mandrake. Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure-grain alcohol?
Mandrake: Well, it did occur to me, Jack, yes.
Ripper: Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation. Fluoridation of water?
Mandrake: Uh? Yes, I-I have heard of that, Jack, yes. Yes.
Ripper: Well, do you know what it is?
Mandrake: No, no I don't know what it is, no.
Ripper: Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?

Chuchote · 31-10-2016 8:46am

Donald Trump wrote: »

And the bastard Sasanachs cutting them down to build their ships

(Feck off with your facts now. The teacher told us that in baby infants)

The teacher was right; the Elizabethan Plantation was basically handing over land to asset-strippers who sold the oak woodlands en masse.

Vikings brought the first hens, and cats, to Ireland. The cats they brought were white, and former Viking strongholds still have a higher proportion of white cats.

Cool irish facts

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