These St. Patrick's Day trivia questions go past the green: how a captive of sixteen became Ireland's patron saint, what the shamrock and the harp stand for, how the day is kept from Boston to Sydney, and Ireland itself.
Read the full guide
Four rounds, from Patrick to the map
Patrick himself follows the dated history: capture at sixteen, six years as a herder, the ship home. Shamrock, harp and other symbols has the flag, the saltire and the leprechaun. How the day is kept runs from Boston in 1737 to a green river and soda bread. Ireland on the map and in words has provinces, rivers and words such as galore.
Print a sheet for March 17
A tap on a choice shows the answer and its reason. After ten questions the card offers Print question sheet, a sheet of 20. Open More options there for Topic, to stay on one round, and for Print answer key.
Tips
No question is about drinks, so the pack suits a class or a family table.
The legends of the snakes and of the shamrock are asked in the March pack, not here.
Questions and answers
Who was Saint Patrick?
A fifth-century Romano-British missionary and bishop in Ireland, known as the Apostle of Ireland. Captured by Irish pirates at sixteen, he spent six years there as a herder before escaping. He is Ireland's primary patron saint.
Why do we wear green on St. Patrick's Day?
Green has been linked with Ireland since the 1640s, when the Irish Catholic Confederation used a green harp flag, and the United Irishmen adopted it in the 1790s. Celebrations today include the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
Why is the shamrock a symbol of St. Patrick's Day?
Traditionally, Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. The word comes from the Irish seamróg, young clover, and the plant is used as a symbol of Ireland.
Is St. Patrick's Day a public holiday?
Yes, in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador (for provincial government employees) and Montserrat. In the United States it is a legal holiday only in Savannah, Georgia, and Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
According to tradition, Patrick was the first bishop of which Irish city?Answer: Armagh. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
Brigid of Kildare and Columba stand beside Patrick as what?Answer: The other patron saints of Ireland. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
By which title is Patrick known?Answer: The Apostle of Ireland. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
How did Patrick get away from Ireland after six years?Answer: He fled to a port and found a ship. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
How old was Patrick when he was captured from his home in Britain and taken to Ireland?Answer: Sixteen. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
In which century was Patrick active as a missionary in Ireland?Answer: The fifth century. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
In which language are the two surviving writings of Patrick?Answer: Latin. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
Patrick is said to be buried beside a cathedral in which town?Answer: Downpatrick. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
Patrick wrote that his father, Calpurnius, held which office in the Church?Answer: Deacon. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
Thousands of pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick each year on Reek Sunday. When is that?Answer: The last Sunday in July. Source: Wikipedia: Croagh Patrick
Tradition holds that the young Patrick tended sheep on the hill of Slemish. In which county is it?Answer: Antrim. Source: Wikipedia: Slemish
What work did Patrick do during his six years of captivity in Ireland?Answer: He was a herder. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
When was Saint Patrick's Day made an official Christian feast day?Answer: In the early 17th century. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
Which mountain is named after Patrick, who is said to have spent forty days on its top?Answer: Croagh Patrick. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
Who captured the young Patrick and carried him across the sea?Answer: Irish pirates. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick
Shamrock, harp and other symbols 15
The 1790s gave green a new owner in Ireland. Which society adopted it?Answer: The United Irishmen. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
A leprechaun at his bench is often shown working on how many shoes?Answer: A single shoe. Source: Wikipedia: Leprechaun
A shamrock is a type of which plant?Answer: Clover. Source: Wikipedia: Shamrock
Before the 20th century, which color was the leprechaun generally said to wear?Answer: Red. Source: Wikipedia: Leprechaun
From which decade was a green flag with a harp used by the Irish Catholic Confederation?Answer: The 1640s. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
The harp of the modern Irish state is based on a late-medieval harp now kept where?Answer: Trinity College Dublin. Source: Wikipedia: Coat of arms of Ireland
How many leaflets does a common clover leaf have?Answer: Three. Source: Wikipedia: Four-leaf clover
In later tales, which trade does a leprechaun follow?Answer: Shoemaker. Source: Wikipedia: Leprechaun
The shamrock has been registered by the Government of Ireland as what?Answer: A trademark. Source: Wikipedia: Shamrock
What color are the strings of the harp on the coat of arms of Ireland?Answer: Silver. Source: Wikipedia: Coat of arms of Ireland
What does Saint Patrick's Saltire look like?Answer: A red X-shaped cross on a white field. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Saltire
What does the white stripe of the Irish tricolor signify?Answer: A lasting peace between two traditions. Source: Wikipedia: Flag of Ireland
Where is a leprechaun's pot of gold said to be hidden?Answer: At the end of the rainbow. Source: Wikipedia: Leprechaun
Which instrument is shown on the coat of arms of Ireland?Answer: A harp. Source: Wikipedia: Coat of arms of Ireland
The word shamrock comes from the Irish seamróg. What does seamróg mean?Answer: Young clover. Source: Wikipedia: Shamrock
How the day is kept 15
The Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act made March 17 an official day off in Ireland in which year?Answer: 1903. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
The Charitable Irish Society organized the first observance of the day in the Thirteen Colonies in 1737. In which city?Answer: Boston. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with which vegetable?Answer: Cabbage. Source: Wikipedia: Colcannon
The first time a city dyed its river green for the day, 100 pounds of dye went in. For how long did the river stay green?Answer: A whole week. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
The flag of which Canadian city, home of a long-running parade, includes a shamrock?Answer: Montreal. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
The idea of a green river came to sewer workers who were using green dye to check for what?Answer: Sewer discharges. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
In 1940 and again in 2008 the day was officially observed on a different date. Why?Answer: March 17 fell in Holy Week. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
In the United States, what traditionally happens to people caught not wearing green on the day?Answer: They are pinched. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
In which Canadian province is Saint Patrick's Day a government holiday?Answer: Newfoundland and Labrador. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
Irish stew is traditionally made with root vegetables and which meat?Answer: Lamb or mutton. Source: Wikipedia: Irish stew
Saint Patrick's Day is a legal holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and in which Georgia city?Answer: Savannah. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
Seattle and other cities paint what green along their parade routes?Answer: The traffic stripe. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
Since 2009, what has the White House dyed green for the holiday?Answer: The water of its fountains. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day in the United States
Since 2010 landmarks around the world have been lit green for the day. Which two went first?Answer: The Sydney Opera House and the Sky Tower in Auckland. Source: Wikipedia: Saint Patrick's Day
Soda bread rises without yeast. What does it use?Answer: Baking soda. Source: Wikipedia: Soda bread
Ireland on the map and in words 15
"Erin go bragh" is most often translated how?Answer: Ireland forever. Source: Wikipedia: Erin go bragh
How many counties does Ireland have, by the traditional count?Answer: Thirty-two. Source: Wikipedia: Counties of Ireland
How many species of reptile are native to Ireland?Answer: One, the common lizard. Source: Wikipedia: Ireland
In hurling, what is the small ball called?Answer: A sliotar. Source: Wikipedia: Hurling
Into how many provinces is Ireland traditionally divided?Answer: Four. Source: Wikipedia: Ireland
Lough Neagh, in Northern Ireland, is the largest what in the British Isles?Answer: Lake. Source: Wikipedia: Lough Neagh
The name of the uilleann pipes means "pipes of the" what?Answer: Elbow. Source: Wikipedia: Uilleann pipes
What is the capital of Northern Ireland?Answer: Belfast. Source: Wikipedia: Belfast
What is the name for Ireland in the Irish language?Answer: Éire. Source: Wikipedia: Éire
What was the Classical Latin name for Ireland?Answer: Hibernia. Source: Wikipedia: Hibernia
Which is the highest mountain in Ireland?Answer: Carrauntoohil. Source: Wikipedia: Carrauntoohil
Which is the longest river in Ireland?Answer: The Shannon. Source: Wikipedia: Ireland
Which of the four provinces lies partly in Northern Ireland and partly in the Republic of Ireland?Answer: Ulster. Source: Wikipedia: Provinces of Ireland
Which sea lies between Ireland and Great Britain?Answer: The Irish Sea. Source: Wikipedia: Ireland
The word galore comes from the Irish go leor. What does go leor mean?Answer: Enough, plenty. Source: Wiktionary: galore
How this list was compiled
Written for this site; nothing was copied from another list. Every question, wrong choice and explanation is our own wording. Each answer agrees with a sentence in the English Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org) named and linked beside the question, read on 2026-10-02; one word history cites a Wiktionary entry (https://en.wiktionary.org). Every extra claim in an explanation was read on the same page. Patrick is asked as dated history, from what he wrote of his own life and from what tradition says, marked as tradition. Left out on purpose: drinks, living people, crowd sizes and 'largest parade' rankings, which change, brand names, sports teams and the titles of songs and poems. Facts the site's March, Americana and color packs already ask (where Patrick was born, what March 17 marks, the legend of the shamrock and of the snakes, the color blue, the first parade of 1601, Montserrat, the city that dyes its river, the order of the colors on the flag) were left out or asked from another side, so no question here repeats one of theirs word for word as they stood on 2026-10-02. Levels are our estimate for a mixed table of adults and older children; each round is stored easiest first. Licence: own work