11 Things You Didn't Know About Dublin | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

11 Things You Didn't Know About Dublin

When you think of Ireland, you probably think of shamrocks, green, leprechauns, beer, and hidden rainbows

102
11 Things You Didn't Know About Dublin
Daily Mail

I arrived in Dublin, Ireland last week to find myself in a city split in half by a tidal river known as The Liffey. There's many things to love about Dublin, aside from the average beer size being a pint. This country rains (on average) 150 days per year, but you wouldn't know it by the jolly vibes given from the locals. Whether you've been to this city or not, below are some fun facts about The Republic of Ireland.

Ireland has no snakes.

If you suffer from ophidophobia, no worries, because there are no snakes over here. Although, there are snails and the locals hate stepping on them because of the crunch. This is a nice change as opposed to the crunching of cockroaches that Philadelphia provides.

The Irish most likely came up with the phrase hillbilly.

You can thank Ireland for your use of western Pennsylvania-natives (no, not the Amish) because somewhere in some hills of this country were a bunch of tykes named 'billy' as a nickname for James since these people loved King James VIII.

No one here gets paid for playing sports.

That's right -- hurling, football -- it is all for what it was intended to be for: sport. There's no money involved, nor is there trading of athletes. Your team is the one of either your birthplace or current residence. This means that if I wanted to play soccer, I'd represent Michigan, the best state over the pond. Moreover, a biology teacher was the dude who made the winning goal in some last big team, which is pretty cool because he knows a ton about plants and can run.

Ireland is not part of the UK.

Ireland is on its own -- The Republic of Ireland. Ireland is part of the EU. The UK that voted to leave the EU (#Brexit) is technically called The United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. If you don't know, this Brexit is a two-year process and referendums can occur so no one really knows what the hell is going on over here, either.

To make things even more complicated, the Irish flag is green to represent the Republic of Ireland, Orange to represent Northern Ireland who consider themselves British, and white to represent peace between the two.

The police here don't carry guns.

The fuzz here are referred to as guarda, and their technical name translates to guard of the peace. They're not officers, they are guards. Marinate in that as you will.

Dublin water tastes really good.

Guiness tastes better. Apple flavored cider is 5.3 percent alcohol. So you can get drunk and get your daily serving of fruit.

Ireland didn't create Saint Patrick's Day.

You can thank the USA, because this magical day wasn't actually celebrated in Ireland until the Irish moved to North America and settled in places such as Boston and New York, chomping at the bit to celebrate their Irish heritage. Like I've said before, Erin Express is a gift. Next time you go to Boston, thank the Irish Catholics for their ancestors.

Ireland was the first country to legalize gay marriage.

And has billboards to show for it.

Ireland has bogs that are left over from the Ice Age.

Such bogs exist on farms and host many Bachelorette parties. Nothing like getting muddy before getting married.

A republican here is not the same thing as a Republican in the states.

Here, it means a radical nationalist, i.e: someone who's really into being Irish. As opposed to, you know, conservative.

Catholicism is a culture.

These Catholics are not like the ones I went to high school with. Cheers.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3119
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1880
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201150
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21512
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments