Sweet 16 Irish Citizenship Quiz

I took this on-line quiz and scored 16 for 16. That's sixteen right, by the way, just so we're clear here. (Mind, had I missed number 6, both David and POEM* would have turned their backs to me. I might even have been escorted to a room with a pistol and one bullet and left to do the honorable thing.)

I credit my amazing knowledge of Ireland to the fact that I'm Irish on Dad's side (and English and Scots, which explains a lot about the deeply conflicted, self-contradicting personalities in my family), except that the only things I know about our connection to the auld sod are names of some people and places. Mayo, for instance. And Lowell.

Dad's not much on family history (having relatives in the DAR can do that to you), so discussions about family history usually went something like this:

Me: Why did our family leave Massachusetts and go to Alabama?
Dad or Audrey: Driven out for horse stealing, most likely.

Sigh. But then the family hasn't lived on the Emerald Isle for over two centuries, and Dad's from, let us repeat, Alabama, not Boston, so it's not like he's suppressing a brogue and Anglecizing his name or anything. But I still like to credit several aspects of my personality to being of Irish descent, even while remembering that there are more Americans of Irish descent than there are people in Ireland.

Oddly enough, Mom's family is more recently emigrated from Germany and both of my grandparents grew up in the German enclave of South St. Louis and I don't think I would do as well on a "How German are You!" quiz. In fact, I'm positive that I wouldn't, even though there is quite a bit of "Achtung!" in my personality, too. I credit this to the brilliance of the Irish Tourism Board - way to go, guys! And, of course, with the Celiac Disease, I'm pretty much barred from eatting or drinking anything of German origin, except certain sausages. Good thing I love sausage.

Okay, time to study up for my St. Willigis's Day internet quiz.

"You can always tell the Irish - but you can't tell 'em much!" John's faded-from-love-and-many-wearings t-shirt.


*the Professional Organization of English Majors