What pops to mind first when you think of Ireland? Warm and friendly people? Breath taking landscapes? Dramatic cliffs? Guinness?
One thing nobody can argue is that Ireland is a mystical and wonderful place. The country has been plagued by numerous fights for power, but today it is thriving as an independent nation. Hugo Chetcuti’s team have compiled a list of facts about this mystical place to chew over while enjoying an Irish black Angus beef patty at Hugo’s Burger Bar!
1. Let’s get cakey
Children’s birthdays are traditionally celebrated by picking up the birthday child, turning them over and bumping their head gently on their birthday cake, once for each year they have lived. This tradition is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the child.
2. Paint the town red
Although the Irish do have the highest rate of red hair for a country, only about 9% of people in Ireland have natural red hair – contrary to popular belief!
3. Ireland is a snake-free island
Even though legend says that St. Patrick (who wasn’t Irish) cleared Ireland of snakes, the truth is that these slithering creatures were never able to make it from Britain to the island due to its isolation from the European mainland.
4. Near, far, wherever you are
The Titanic, which now lies at a depth of almost 4 km in the north Atlantic ocean, was built on Queen’s Island in Belfast.
5. The world’s oldest bar
Ireland is home to what is believed to be the world’s oldest bar: Sean’s Bar, founded some 900 years ago. Well it made it to the Guinness Book of World Records, so as far as we’re concerned, that’s all that matters.
6. Young Population
Ireland has one of the youngest populations in the world due to the fact that the country has had a high birth rate for the last 50 years.
7. Muckanaghederdauhaulia
That is the name of a small village in Galway. With 22 letters, it is the longest name for a place in English. Good luck saying it after a few beers – or orange juice for that matter!
If you can’t make it to the magical place any time soon, get your Irish fix at Hugo’s Burger Bar – owned by Hugo Chetcuti – and bite into one of our scrumptious burgers, most of which are made from Irish black Angus beef. Don’t be a muppet! Follow us on Facebook!
