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Quiz about Irish in America
Quiz about Irish in America

Irish in America Trivia Quiz


This quiz contains interesting facts and anecdotes about Irish people and their history and influence in America. I hope you enjoy it.

A multiple-choice quiz by ReginTollefsen. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
386,557
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
431
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 107 (5/10), Guest 5 (5/10), Guest 72 (6/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Which Irish American is known for his immense influence in animation and entertainment throughout the 20th century and beyond? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which Irish American actress paved the way for Irish citizens emigrating to America to be recognized as Irish instead of subjects of Great Britain. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. How many US presidents have been of Irish ancestry? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. I was the first immigrant to come through Ellis Island. Who am I? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. How many Irish emigrated to America during the Great Potato Famine of 1845-1849? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. I am the daughter of Irish immigrants. I became one of the most successful mystery suspense writers in America. Who am I? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. James Hoban, architect and Irish immigrant to the US after the Revolutionary War; designed which American Landmark? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which Irish American author wrote an epic novel in 1936, of the south and slavery, which was made into a famous film with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in 1939? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which American actor of Irish decent changed the perception of men in dance through his career starring MGM musicals? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. My parents immigrated America during the Great Potato Famine. I spent my childhood in an almshouse and was known as the teacher of a famous deaf-blind person. Who am I? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 107: 5/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 5: 5/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 72: 6/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 71: 7/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 198: 7/10
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 174: 5/10
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 86: 6/10
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 174: 2/10
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 65: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which Irish American is known for his immense influence in animation and entertainment throughout the 20th century and beyond?

Answer: Walt Disney

Walt Disney was born in 1901 and was of Irish ancestry on his father's side. He became one of the best known motion picture producers in the world. Among his many accomplishments are his innovations in animation and theme parks, including the creation of iconic cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
2. Which Irish American actress paved the way for Irish citizens emigrating to America to be recognized as Irish instead of subjects of Great Britain.

Answer: Maureen O'Hara

Maureen O'Hara was an Irish born actress most associated with John Wayne in the classic film "The Quiet Man". When attempting to obtain American citizenship she was asked to renounce her sovereignty to Great Britain. O'Hara replied that she could not renounce what she never had and a trial ensued on the spot with the judge finally agreeing that her nationality be listed as Irish.
3. How many US presidents have been of Irish ancestry?

Answer: 22

There have been 22 US presidents that claim Irish Ancestry--half of all US Presidents. John F. Kennedy was the first Irish Catholic president.
4. I was the first immigrant to come through Ellis Island. Who am I?

Answer: Annie Moore

Annie Moore was the first emigrant to come through the brand new immigration building, Ellis Island. She came on the ship Nevada from Cobh, Ireland. The press made much of the "rosy cheeked Irish Lass" who was given a gold Liberty coin. For several years the public thought Annie Moore was a pioneer and romanticized figure.

She married a German baker and spent her life in Lower East Side tenements in New York City.
5. How many Irish emigrated to America during the Great Potato Famine of 1845-1849?

Answer: nearly 1 million

Nearly one million Irish emigrated during the Great Famine. The Irish from the Great Potato Famine were unlike those Irish that emigrated previously. The Irish that came after 1846 were mainly Catholic and unskilled peasants who spoke little English.This affected the perception of the Irish people in America for many years to come.
6. I am the daughter of Irish immigrants. I became one of the most successful mystery suspense writers in America. Who am I?

Answer: Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark was born to Irish immigrants who owned a pub in the Bronx, in NY. Higgins Clark has sold over 80 million copies of her mystery suspense novels since 1974. Higgins Clark considers herself a proud Irish Catholic and was inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame in 2011.
7. James Hoban, architect and Irish immigrant to the US after the Revolutionary War; designed which American Landmark?

Answer: The White House

James Hoban was born in Ireland c.1762 and died in Washington DC 1831. George Washington encouraged him to participate in a contest to design the White House. James Hoban won and the rest is history- It took 8 years to build it. He even supervised its reconstruction after the War of 1812.
8. Which Irish American author wrote an epic novel in 1936, of the south and slavery, which was made into a famous film with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in 1939?

Answer: Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell wrote and received a Pulitzer Prize for "Gone With The Wind", the epic novel of the Civil War and slavery. Decades after her death it became known that she began a private campaign of donation and was responsible for sending as many as 70-80 black men through medical school.
9. Which American actor of Irish decent changed the perception of men in dance through his career starring MGM musicals?

Answer: Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly, whose maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Derry, Ireland became known as a dancer, director, and producer in musicals such as "Singing in the Rain", and "An American In Paris". Kelly based his style of dance on masculine athleticism.

He claimed that he owed this quality to the influence of Broadway dancer/producer George Cohan, saying "I have a lot of Cohan in me. It's an Irish quality, a jaw jutting, up on the toes cockiness - which is a good quality for a male dancer to have."
10. My parents immigrated America during the Great Potato Famine. I spent my childhood in an almshouse and was known as the teacher of a famous deaf-blind person. Who am I?

Answer: Annie Sullivan

My name is Annie Sullivan. I was the oldest child of immigrant parents from County Limerick, Ireland. They were illiterate and unskilled and came to America during the Great Famine. I was visually impaired and spent my childhood in an almshouse. This upbringing made it a struggle for me to fit in when I attended Perkins school for the blind. I became best known as the teacher of Helen Keller.
Source: Author ReginTollefsen

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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