The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #57687   Message #909958
Posted By: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
14-Mar-03 - 10:57 AM
Thread Name: PLEASE HELP! (from a Moscow lass) Irish quiz query
Subject: RE: PLEASE HELP! (from a Moscow lass) Irish quiz query
Elena,

I don't think anyone answered the "why" part of question 6.

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because the landscape stays very green pretty much all the year round because the climate is quite temperate (even) with mild temperatures and rainfall spread quite evenly throughout the year. Of the two names which you quote, that is probably the one most often used nowadays, especially in tourist promotions , so that's probably the better answer to give in your quiz.

The name 'Island of Saints and Scholars' is an older name which refers to the fact that, after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the Dark Ages, many Irish monks (priests) brought Christianity back to Northern Europe, founding monasteries, schools, etc. as they travelled.

Good luck with the competition, and let us know how you get on!

Roger