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10 things you didn't know about Ireland

By
Conn Corrigan,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, March 16, 2009, 10:42 PM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:59 PM

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Guess which two of U2's members were not born in Ireland?
Guess which two of U2's members were not born in Ireland?
Photo by PA Wire/PA Photos

1. Technically, it is an offense to be drunk in public in Ireland

Technically, it is an offense to be drunk in public in Ireland. Regulations introduced last year allow the police to issue on-the-spot fines for anyone caught being drunk in a public place in Ireland.

2. An Irishman founded the Argentinean Navy

Irishman William Brown (known in Spanish as “Guillermo Brown”) is one of Argentina’s national heroes. He is commonly known as the “father of the Argentine navy” and was an important leader in the Argentinean struggle for independence from Spain.

Brown’s family left Foxford in Co. Mayo for Philadelphia in 1786 when he was aged 9 and his father died of yellow fever soon after they arrived in the U.S.

He led an adventurous early life: he fought in the Napoleonic wars, was taken prisoner-of-war, escaped to Germany, before somehow ending up in Uruguay, where he became a sea trader. He then founded the Argentinean navy, when it was at war with Spain.

Today there is a statute of Brown in his hometown of Foxford, Co. Mayo, which was unveiled in 2007, the 150th anniversary of his death. in Argentina, there are 1,200 streets, 500 statues, two towns, one city and a few football clubs named after him.

3. Only two members of U2 were born in Ireland

David Howell Evans, more commonly known as The Edge, was born in London, to Welsh parents. Garvin and Gwenda Evans moved to Malahide in Dublin when The Edge was aged 1. Adam Clayton, U2's bassist, was born in Oxfordshire, England. His family moved to Malahide in Dublin when he was 5, and he soon became friends with The Edge.

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10 Comments

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Posted by Liamkeyes on Apr 10, 2010, 10:02 PM EDT
A Lot ofr people are aware of the New Law. What happens if the offender has no money left? a reasonable presumption if he "Half in the wrapper" and no money left? A free night in a warm cell plus fed by the Garda????
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Posted by Liamkeyes on Apr 10, 2010, 09:48 PM EDT
Wer also knew about where the Lads from U2 were born. As Brendan Behan used to say 'Just because an Ass is Born in a stable, itm does'nt make him a Horse. The Duke of Wellington said it First. His Monument is up in the Phoenix Park which begs the question....."When are the "Bhoys" going to blow it up?????
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Posted by Liamkeyes on Apr 10, 2010, 09:45 PM EDT
I know all about Admiral Brown, the Wolfe Tones recorded a song about him back in the Day.
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Apr 10, 2010, 06:16 PM EDT
BTW - Croker might be the the fourth largest Stadium in Europe but not in the world. Several USA stadia beat it to bits, as well as a certain Nth Vietnam one.
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Posted by jacersisityourself on Apr 10, 2010, 06:11 PM EDT
My Goodness! My Dublin's Guinness is dearer in the USA? Whaaat???? Another reason for me not to go there on holidays.
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Posted by sissybiff on Apr 09, 2010, 07:44 PM EDT
When we visited Irleand in late August 2007, it did not rain for the entire 2 weeks. We were treated like royalty..the locals thinking we brought the sunshine with us. And here we were thrilled to have a delightful vacation
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Posted by rhunter67 on Apr 09, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT
The Nigeria thing makes a lot of sense. The fact that it is a former British colony makes it susceptible to drinking Guinness. It also has, with 154 million people, twice the population of the UK and Republic of Ireland combined. Jimmy12003, Guinness isn't cheap here in the States.
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Posted by Maerad718 on Apr 09, 2010, 03:02 PM EDT
I was surprised by all of them.
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Posted by jimmy12003 on Apr 02, 2010, 05:34 PM EDT
the reality about the guinness sold more in other countries, is the fact that is cheaper everywhere else, but ireland!
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Posted by Nelliegrace on Mar 31, 2010, 09:11 AM EDT
I was surprised regarding Guinness.
 


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