Ireland, the country of breathtaking nature and impressive green landscapes, has, in addition to its impressive nature with plenty of freedom of movement, also a culture and language full of humor of its own. To get acquainted with the Irish atmosphere, we have selected some funny facts about this beautiful island:
1. The Irish time
Did you know that time once slowed down in Ireland? The Statutes (Definition of Time) Act 1880 defined Dublin Mean Time as the legal time in Ireland until 1916. It was set at Dunsink Observatory outside Dublin and was 25 minutes 21 seconds behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). So when they say they'd like to do it at their own pace in Ireland, they really mean it!
2. The place that means dancing bushes:Skeheenarinky
This Irish place name has a cute meaning:'the dancing bush'! It is located overlooking the beautiful Galtee Mountains in County Tipperary, which at 3,011 feet forms the highest point in the region, a hilly sky.
3. City with the hard-to-pronounce name:Graiguenamanagh
... pronounced:'Gray-g-na-mana '! Named after its beautiful Cistercian abbey, this medieval river town in County Kilkenny has recently become a hot spot for outdoor sports. Located in the Barrow River Valley one can take a sup on the river with the rapids or simply relax on the riverbed and enjoy the view.
Graiguenamanagh, Kayaking, River Barrow
4. City with an unpronounceable name:Muckanaghederdahalia
Irish cities often have names that are difficult to pronounce, this city is very difficult to pronounce… 'Muckana-eder-daw-hawla'! And did you succeed? This particular urban land can be found in beautiful County Galway and its name means 'a pig farm between two salt lakes'. How special!
5. Forty shades of green
Does this view remind you of Johnny Cash's famous hit? Enjoy the 'forty shades of green' in this beautiful landscape of the Morne Mountains. In addition, the sheep set a good example of social distancing!
6. Four seasons, one day
Irish weather is known for its curious changeability and for experiencing four seasons in one day. You have to be prepared for this during a sunny holiday as well as with a cozy winter break. These photos from Ben Bulben, County Sligo, prove Ireland is great whatever the weather!
Benbulben, Sligo
7. The disappearing lake with the impressive name:Loughareema
Loughareema is definitely a pretty quirky lake. Nestled on the heather-clad roadsides outside Ballycastle in County Antrim, tales of ghost cars and the ghost of a restless colonel from 1898 go on. But even weirder is how the lake disappears and reappears on its own. It's thought to be magic, but the optical illusion is actually geological:a hidden well fills and drains with groundwater and rainwater. Now you see it…
8. Experience the Magic Road
Rolling, rolling, rolling! Ireland has many back roads and roads where you roll up and backwards. In this bizarre phenomenon, vehicles see themselves driving backwards upwards. The Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford and the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth are home to two of the enchanting places called the Magic Road. Why is this happening? Some attribute it to natural magnets in the earth, others believe it is a matter of perspective, and there are those who cite fairies as the cause. Not quite sure what to believe, actor Andrew McCarthy set out in search of the Magic Road.
9. The Sinking Bubbles of Guinness Guinness is a special Irish drink on several levels. The beloved black stout takes exactly 199.50 seconds to pour into the perfect pint and has been brewed in Dublin since 1759. But perhaps the most unique feature is that the bubbles sink rather than rise. The reason for this lies in the shape of the glass, which causes the bubbles to rise in the center and create a downward vacuum to the sides. Let's sink that in…
10. The Hills of the Fairies:Fairy Fortresses Deadly fairies, mythical Irish creatures and vampires are regular characters in Irish lore, but it's the fairies that have left their mark on the landscape. Fairy fortresses, such as the one at Dooneva in County Clare, are round earthy mounds, traditionally imbued with the magic of the Druids. And don't disturb them… Legend has it that the leader of a group of men, who worked on the earth on Dooneeva, got sick and died. His wife, a wise woman, magically brought him back to life.
Spoiler alert: in reality, these mounds are remnants of ancient late Iron Age dwellings, so they have less to do with the winged creatures and more to do with the ancient civilization! And that guy at Dooneeva? Maybe it was a bad dose of the male flu?
