There are many celebrations of holidays where we gather with friends and party with strangers, depending on where we might be, that might involve special dress, special colors, special greetings, songs, and/or traditions.

Themes are very important in the celebrations of these days. Some come with a day off from work or school, some become a little more excitable (rowdy?), but celebrating them makes for a very enjoyable time.

This coming Tuesday, March 17, is one of those days. It’s the yearly celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, where we see many shamrocks, green clothes, festive beads, we hear Irish songs, many eat Irish foods like Irish Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, and enjoy drinks with Bailey’s or McCormick’s Irish Cream, Jameson Whiskey, (great in Picklebacks, a popular drink around March 17th), and Beers like Guinness, and Ales which include Murphy’s and O’Hara Stouts.

Many don Irish Novelty T-Shirts on St. Patrick’s Day, with cute, comical, proud loyal Irish sayings and quips printed on them, a few maybe having different colored ones with other sayings worn by people who celebrate the day, that aren’t Irish saying they aren’t Irish but still celebrate the holiday. (example…a tee-shirt sporting a leprechaun and shamrocks, with the caption “Everyone is a little Irish on St, Patrick’s Day, except the Italians. We Are Italians.” For the most part, though, anyone, even us paisans, when entering a restaurant, tavern, or inn, on March 17th, become at least a little bit Irish for the day, whether they really are or not.

Being that St. Patrick’s Day is such a fun day to celebrate, and it is a very popular holiday, no matter what day of the week it falls upon, the Voice from the Bullpen thought it would be fun to add the holiday of “Erin go Bragh,” to the family of topics featured in the VFTB quiz challenge.

It’s much like the other quizzes featured in this forum. We’ll ask a question related to St. Patrick’s Day or having some connection to the Irish Heritage, and you just have to answer them. If you’re ready, so are we, so let’s get started and see what is your Irish knowledge success. Answers will be given for self-correction purposes, but not for cheating purposes.

1. What traditional Irish song was featured in the movie, Going My Way?

2. In which romantic Irish movie, first airing in 1952, starred John Wayne?

3. Who starred as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish multi position player (halfback, quarterback, punter) George Gipp in the movie Knute Rockne, All American?

4. What actor played the elderly Father Fitzgibbons in the movie featured in question 1?

5. What actor played Father O’Dowd in the same movie as in questions 1 and 4?

6. What was a huge tragedy that occurred in Ireland between 1845 to 1852?

7. A real four-leaf clover can only be from what plant?

8. About what percentage of the Irish population is made up of redheads?

9. What is the National Dish of Ireland?

10. What is the traditional meat in the answer to question 9?

11. What time length was the lease for the Guinness Brewery, signed for in 1759?

12. What is said that the Blarney Stone can give you?

13. What can you hear singing at the Cliffs of Moher?

14. What word do the Irish say when they drink and what does it mean?

15. Which Irish actress starred opposite Johnny Weissmuller in the Tarzan movies?

16. What is the nickname of Ireland?

17. What is the capital of Ireland?

18. In what movie did Bing Crosby sing, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”?

19. What famous playwright also wrote the song, “Harrigan?”

20. What are the last two words of the song mentioned in question 19?

Bonus question one (for an extra five points) WARNING – This one’s a tough one!

Who was the actor who played John Cappelletti’s father in the movie, Something for Joey, and also played a police lieutenant serving as the firm, guiding supervising officers to young rookie cops from 1972 to 1976 in the TV show, The Rookies?

Bonus question two (for two extra bonus points) HEY, it’s an easy one!

Who played Knute Rockne in Knute Rockne, All American”?

That shouldn’t have been too tough for all the faithful and proud Irishmen and women who drop by this forum on a regular basis, but in case you found a few questions too challenging for you, here are the answers…

1. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral

2. The Quiet Man

3. Ronald Reagan (“Win one for the Gipper”)

4. Barry Fitzgerald

5. Frank McHugh

6. The Great Potato Famine

7. White Clover Plant

8. 10%

9. Irish Stew

10. Mutton

11. 9000 years

12. The Gift of Gab

13. Mermaids

14. “Slainte” translated “Cheers”

15. Maureen O’Sullivan

16. The Emerald Isle

17. Dublin

18. Top O’ the Morning (marking a reunion of the two actors who won Oscars for their portrayals in the movie dealing with questions 1, 4, & 5 of this quiz)

19. George M. Cohan

20. “That’s me!”

Bonus One answer: Gerald S. O’Loughlin Bonus Two answer: Pat O’Brien