I Never Knew That About The Irish

In this charming book bestselling author Christopher Winn turns his attention to the Irish people, taking us on a enthralling journey around their homeland, discovering en route the intriguing and surprising ways the places and their history contribute to the Irish character. As he travels across the Emerald Isle he unearths the traditions, triumphs and disasters, foibles, quirks and customs that come together to make up the Irish people.

From County Leitrim, the most sparsely populated county in the Republic of Ireland to County Louth, Ireland's smallest county, discover the site of the first play performed in the Irish language, sail the longest navigable inland waterway in Europe and watch the horse racing at Ireland's first all-weather racecourse. Illustrated throughout with enchanting pen and ink drawings and packed with entertaining stories and astonishing facts I Never Knew That About the Irish will entertain the whole family for hours on end.

I Never Knew That...

* Every September singles from all over the world descend on the bustling little spa town of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare to attend the biggest matchmaking festival in Europe.
* The world's first sheep-shearing machine was invented by Frederick York Wolseley of County Carlow.
* The world's bestselling book, The Guinness Book Of World Records, came about as a result of an argument about game birds during a hunting party in the North Slobs of County Wexford.
* The first Methodist to preach in America, Robert Strawbridge, was born in Drumsna into the only Protestant family living at that time in the south of County Leitrim.