Though “Jeopardy!” has been through several hosts and scandals since Alex Trebek’s death in November 2020, the trivia show remains one of most beloved primetime game shows in America for decades.
On the show, three contestants duke it out answering trivia questions in several categories, including history. Irish history, in particular, has been very popular. There have been over 900 questions related to Irish historical figures, culture, and traditions.
24/7 Tempo went through J! Archives — a site created by fans of the show that lists clues going back to 1984, when the show first aired in its current format — to identify some of the most interesting and challenging questions about Irish culture.
Wonder how you’d rate on the game show? Take the following pop quiz and see how you stack up.
You can also test your knowledge in another area — U.S. states: Here are 50 real “Jeopardy!” questions about each state.
RUN IT UP THE FLAGPOLE $4,000 (Daily Double):
In a nod to its Irish settlers, Montserrat’s flag shows a woman in green holding one of these musical instruments
A (Celtic) harp
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th CENTURY RAIDER? $400:
Around 420 Irish raids on Britain carried off corn, cattle & this young future Irish super-saint
St. Patrick
24/7 TempoGLOBAL CHEERS! $1600:
“I want’cha” basically rhymes with this traditional Irish toast
Sláinte
RAINBOW COALITION $800:
In the musical “Finian’s Rainbow”, Finian & his daughter have been followed by one of these creatures from Irish folklore
A leprechaun
“A” BEFORE “E” $1200:
It’s another name for the Irish language
Gaelic
BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIRS $800:
Deirdre Bair’s 2019 “Parisian Lives” is a memoir of writing the biographies of Simone de Beauvoir & this Irish-born playwright
Samuel Beckett
CLASSIC SONGS $1600:
Here’s a little something you might have heard on St. Paddy’s Day
“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”
CRAYOLA COLORS IN OTHER FORMS $600:
The name of this plant comes from an Irish word meaning “clover”
Shamrock
THE IRISHMAN $800:
Dublin’s Leinster House inspired James Hoban’s design of this Washington, D.C. building
The White House
CELEBRITY ARTISTS $1200:
“Bisou Moi”, or “Kiss Me”, was painted by this Irish James Bond actor for wife Keely Shaye Smith
Pierce Brosnan
GHOSTWRITERS $1200:
Early in his career, this Irish playwright ghost wrote music columns
George Bernard Shaw
“WATER” YOU SAYING? $800:
Irish city famous for its crystal
Waterford
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ACCENTS $2000:
It’s another word for an Irish accent
A brogue
WHISKEY BUSINESS $400:
Most scotch is distilled twice; this type of whiskey, like Bushmills & Tullamore D.E.W., 3 times
Irish whiskey
ACTRESSES $2000:
This Irish-raised lass was just 13 when she got her first Oscar nomination, for “Atonement”
Saoirse Ronan
PLACES THAT BECAME WORDS $800:
On the Shannon River there’s an Irish town that’s given its name to this verse of renown
Limerick
COUNTRIES’ MUSIC $1200:
Irish euro coins feature the traditional musical instrument called clairseach or the “Irish” this
A harp
HE IRISH-AMERICAN HALL OF FAME $2,000 (Daily Double):
The 2011 inaugural class included Maureen O’Hara & this 4-time Pulitzer-winning 20th century playwright
Eugene O’Neill
G.O.T. $800:
Pub memorabilia websites sell signs advertising this “G.O.T.” –the sign of a fine Irish bar
Guinness on tap
1890’s $400:
In 1895, this Irish playwright was sentenced to 2 years’ hard labor on a morals charge
Oscar Wilde
GOING VEGAN $400:
Vegans can finally have a proper pint; this Irish brewer completely phased out fish-derived filters in 2017
Guinness
THE OSCARS:
This Irish-born actor has received 7 “Best Actor” nominations without winning an Oscar
Peter O’Toole
IRELAND $300:
Of nearly 2, 5, or 8 times as many, number of people of Irish descent in U.S. compared to those in Ireland
Eight
INTERNATIONAL CUISINE $100:
To make the Irish dish colcannon, mash these & add cooked onions & cabbage
Potatoes
RELIGIOUS HISTORY $800:
The name of these ancient Celtic priests may be derived from daur, an old Irish word for “oak tree”
The Druids
COFFEE, TEA OR MEAD? $200:
It’s the “Irish” ingredient in Irish coffee
Irish whiskey
NAMES $1000:
One of King Lear’s daughters bears this Irish family name that means “little king”
Regan
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GEOGRAPHY $400:
When it reaches Limerick, this Irish river widens to become an estuary
The Shannon
ODDS & ENDS $100:
The Fighting Irish play football for this university
Notre Dame
WHAT’S TO EAT? $300:
It’s the Irish-sounding name for a diced potato dish fried with onions & peppers
Potatoes O’Brien
ROCK ARTISTS $200:
B.B. King made a guest appearance on this Irish group’s “Rattle And Hum” album
U2
THE VIKINGS $1000:
Founded over 1000 years ago by the Vikings, Tynwald Court on this Irish Sea isle is one of the oldest legislatures
Isle of Man
LANGUAGES $800:
It’s also called Erse
Irish
“IRISH” STEW $500:
It’s the tallest dog known
Irish wolfhound
IRISH EYES $500:
Everyone knew when it was windy, but not how windy until this Irishman came up with his scale in 1805
Sir Francis Beaufort
IRISH EYES $400:
The record says in 1759 he opened his brewery at St. James Gate
Arthur Guinness
ACTORS & THEIR ROLES $2000:
Ewan McGregor portrayed this aspiring Irish writer in the 2000 movie “Nora”
24/7 Tempo
James Joyce
CHEMISTRY $400:
This Irish chemist’s law states that a gas’ volume is directly related to the pressure applied to it
Robert Boyle
THE LIQUOR CABINET $1,800 (Daily Double):
The milk used for this blend of spirit reportedly accounts for some 4.3% of all the milk produced in Ireland
Baileys Irish Cream
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