In following with my 7 Irish Fun Facts from June post, I wanted to continue in sharing my newfound Irish cultural and historical tidbits from my summer working in Ireland.

1. Sunday drinking used to only be allowed for 'Bona Fide Travelers'.

Back in the (not so) good old days, if you were thirsty on Sunday you would have to travel quite far to become 'bona fide' and earn your drinking privileges - three miles from your place of residence in most places, but five miles if you lived in Dublin city.

From their homes, locals would have to venture to the suburbs or by railway to the furthest stations to prove they were 'bona fides' if they were seeking a libation outside of normal hours or on Sundays, thus becoming a 'bona fide traveler' for the day. That's dedication!

To this day, some pubs on the outskirts of Dublin are known as 'bona fide' pubs.

2. There are four Irish provinces.

If you took My Irish Quiz, you might remember that there are 32 Irish counties. Overlapping the counties, there are four provinces - Munster, Leinster, Ulster, and Connaught - which cover the whole of Ireland, including Northern Ireland.

The provinces are remnants of old Irish kingdoms, and therefore each one has their own crest, flag and reputation.

County Kerry, where I live, is in the Munster Province and is known as the 'Kingdom of Music and the Arts'.

I'd say it's fitting place to try and pick up the accordion, though I have lots of room for improvement...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpbOhocu7Ps

3. Ogham stones are found in the Dingle Peninsula. 

The Ogham stones are large stones inscribed with the earliest form of the Irish written language.

Sometimes known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet", the lettering inscribed onto stones is supposed by historians to have been used to mark the territory of a particular tribe, although early Christian gravestones have been found with the same lettering.

Ogham stones have been found at sites throughout the UK, although the vast majority (330 out of 382) of these stones reside in Ireland, many of them being found in the Dingle peninsula!

In Ballyferriter, there is a museum dedicated to the archeological and cultural history of the Dingle Peninsula where you can see a few of the famous Ogham stones, whose letters are read from bottom to top. There is also a collection of these very old, inscribed stones on display in the 'Stone Corridor' at University College Cork.

4. Butter is healthy for you.*

Paula Deen must be from County Kerry. When I mentioned to Aisling's mom that butter was undoubtedly clogging my heart valves, she laughed and said "What do you think keeps your heart lubricated? Butter, of course!"

Since Kerry is an agriculture-rich county, whole milk and butter reign supreme! (So does heart disease, but that's not a very 'fun' fact...)

Before arriving here, I don't think I would have believed you if you told me what my 'new normal' for butter intake would become in three short, deliciously creamy, months. When in Rome...

*This is a strongly held local belief that I have chosen to accept as fact. I know that I am lying to myself. YOLO.

5. There are many, many types of Irish rain. 

I know, I know - you already knew this. Right? But hear me out. I knew it rained often in Ireland, but there have been days that the weather has been close to maddening!

On one particular day, it was raining down on me and when I looked up, there were no clouds - anywhere. Not. Even. One. Where is it coming from? Go home, rain!

Another day, I was staring out the window and admiring the nice day, only to refocus on a darker backdrop and realize I was complimenting the weather while it was actually raining. Unbelievable, Ireland.

Rain has landed on me this summer in all forms - from friendly, fat drops to piercing, slicing ones; light sprinkles to absolute tumults - and every variation in between.  Though we've had amazing weather on some days, I have never truly empathized with Forest Gump until this summer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3eLJdb2ZN4

That's all for my Irish Fun Facts from July. Did you learn anything new? I hope so! Check back in a few weeks for my next installment of unsolicited Irish trivia.