Over 100 Irish pub quiz questions

Is it your turn to be quiz-master for the virtual family pub quiz? Fear not, we’ve put together over 140 quiz questions that will keep them guessing, including lots of Irish trivia.

With Covid-19 social distancing measures in place, people are coming up with innovative ways to socialise remotely, and one of those is to host your very own virtual pub quiz. If it’s your turn to be quiz-master, we’ve compiled over 140 quiz questions and conundrums, with a few Irish references thrown in for good measure.

If you’re after even more trivia, including some fun picture rounds – check out this post for 100 more quiz questions for a virtual Irish pub quiz.

Check our our full guide on how to host a virtual quiz here and find our quiz questions below. Enjoy!

Answers are in bold after each question.

Round 1: General Knowledge

1. What’s the French term for the dish Frogs Legs: Cuisses De Grenouille (Gruh-noo-EE)
2. How many London Underground Stations are there: a) 270 b) 320 c)370
3. What is the currency of Laos: Laos Kip
4. Who killed John Lennon: Mark Chapman
5. The Irish tricolour is the flag of which African country when turned backwards: Ivory Coast
6. What is a xylophone made from? Wood
7. What was the first antibiotic used in medicine? Penicillin
8. How many points is the letter “Q” worth in a game of scrabble? 10
9. What is the capital city of Peru? Lima
10. Name the most northerly & southerly points in Ireland? Malin head & Mizen Head
11. Which word can be placed before bottle, bell and bird? Blue
12. What colour are aircraft black boxes? Bright orange
13. The Book of Kells was written in what language? Latin
14. In what year was the Battle of Clontarf? 1014
15. An orchidometer is a medical instrument used to measure which part of the male body? (Hint: it’s also used with rams) Testicles
16. What fun name was originally proposed in an online poll to name the research vessel that was eventually called RRS Sir David Attenborough? Boaty McBoatface
17. Which four letter word beginning with B is a yellow or greenish viscous fluid secreted by the liver? Bile
18. Which soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine made from the salivary excretions of the swiftlet? Bird’s Nest Soup
19. What German state is Munich in? Bavaria
20. What is the capitol of Czech Republic? Prague

Round 2: Music

1. What is Sting’s real name? Gordan Sumner
2. How many UK number ones has Elton John had? a) 3 b) 7 c) 9
3. How many keys on a standard modern day piano? 88
4. What was Madonna’s first single? Holiday
5. What US state are Kings of Leon from? Nashville, Tennessee
6. Name the youngest member of Rolling Stones: Ronnie Wood
7. What is 50 cent’s real name? Curtis Jackson
8. According to Forbes, who was the richest celebrity of 2019? (Clue: Female) Answer: Taylor Swift
9. Name the song title and artist – It’s 9 o’clock on a Saturday, the regular crowd shuffles in: Billy Joel, Piano Man
10. Which country legend known for Island in the Stream and The Gambler sadly died in March? Kenny Rogers
11. Name the song title and artist – No New Year’s Day to celebrate, No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away: Stevie Wonder, I Just Called To Say I Love You
12. Name the song title and artist – ‘But I don’t care what they say, I’m in love with you; They try to pull me away, but they don’t know the truth’: Leona Lewis, Bleeding Love
13. Name the song title and artist – ‘I’m in California dreaming about who we used to be. When we were younger and free, I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet’: Adele, Hello
14. Name the song title and artist – ‘No clouds in my storms, let it rain, I hydroplane into fame.’ – Rihanna ft. Jay-Z, Umbrella
15. Name the song title and artist – ‘With the lights out, it’s less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us.’: Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit
16. Who sang about being an eggman and a walrus? The Beatles
17. Which instrument has forty-seven strings and seven pedals? Harp
18. Name the pop group based on their list of band members – Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt, Jason White: Green Day
19. Coolio had a 1995 hit with which song taken from the soundtrack of the film Dangerous Minds? Gangsta’s Paradise
20. What is the stage name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta? Lady Gaga

Round 3: Geography

1. Name the longest river in Europe: The Danube
2. What is the name of the largest of the Canary Islands? Tenerife
3. What is the capital of Honduras: Tegucigalpa
4. What is the length of the Wild Atlantic Way: 1600 miles/2600km
5. How many counties are in England: a) 46 b) 48 c) 32
6. Irelands longest river The Shannon runs between how many counties: a) 9 b) 10 c) 11
7. Horseshoe Falls and Rainbow Falls make up which large Waterfall? Niagra Falls
8. According to 2016 Census, how many inhabited islands of Ireland are there: a) 18 b) 21 c) 23
9. How many spokes has a snowflake? a) 6 b) 8 c) 10
10. In which county in Ireland would you find the Blue Stack Mountains? Donegal
11. What is Earth’s largest continent? a) Asia b) Europe c) Antarctica d) Africa
12. Which African nation has the most pyramids? a) Sudan b) Egypt c) Libya
13. What country has the smallest population? Vatican City
14. What is the capital city of Australia? Canberra
15. Termonfeckin is a village in which Irish county? Louth
16. How many countries does the Danube River flow along or through? a) 10 b) 2 c) 8
17. What is the largest ocean in the world? Pacific
18. Name only two of South Africa’s three capital cities: Pretoria – is the administrative capital, Cape Town – is the legislative capital, Bloemfontein – is considered the judicial capital
19. Which Dutch European explorer was the first known to sight New Zealand on 13 December 1642? Abel Tasman
20. Where would you find the Machu Picchu ruins? a) Bolivia b) Peru c) Chile d) Venezuala

Round 4: Food/Drink:

1. What are the three main ingredients used to make a Waldorf salad? Apple, Celery, Walnuts
2. What is the most expensive spice in the world by weight? Saffron
3. The first corkscrew in the world was patented in which year – 1795, 1815 or 1845: 1795
4. In Greek mythology who is the God of Wine – Hermes, Bacchus or Hades: Bacchus
5. Gin was originally distilled for what purpose – Medicine, Oral Hygiene or Cleaning Solution: Medicine
6. In place of milk, what is added to Russian Tea? A slice of lemon
7. What topping would you expect to find on Crème Brulee? Caramelised sugar
8. Which Middle Eastern city is also the name of a type of artichoke? Jersuleum
9. What is the main source of Vitamin C? Fruits
10. In French cooking what does En Croute mean? In pastry

Round 5: Animals

1. What is the term for a group of Flamingos: Flamboyance
2. Term for Baby Monkey: Infant
3. Australian Yorkshire / Kune Kune / Hamshire are breeds of which animal? Pig
4. True or False, the Hippopotamus has webbed feet? True
5. Which land animal has the greatest range of vision: Giraffe / Tiger / Meer Cat
6. What is the average life span of a giant clam? Up to 10 years / 100 years / 1,000 years
7. What is the collective noun for a group of chickens? A clutch
8. What is the term given to a squirrel’s nest? A drey
9. Which bird has the longest wing span? Albatross
10. How many dire wolfs are alive today inclusive of those in the wild and held in captivity? 1800 / 450 / 130 / none
11. Over the last century, tiger numbers have fallen by about 95 percent. There were originally nine subspecies of tigers, three of which are now extinct. Can you name two of the remaining 6 subspecies? Answers: Bengal tiger, Siberian/Amur tiger, Sumatran tiger, Malayan tiger, Indochinese tiger, South China tiger
12. A baby elephant is known as a? Calf
13. What is the ratio of insects to humans on the planet? 200 to 1 / 200,000 to 1 / 2 million to 1 / 200 million to 1
14. Name the only mammal that can fly? Bat
15. In the movie, Madagascar, King Julian was what type of animal? Ring-tailed Lemur
16. What member of the animal kingdom is responsible for the most human deaths each year? Mosquito
17. Name the only animal that cannot jump? Elephant

Round 6: Sport

1. Who is credited with inventing Rugby Union? Webb Ellis
2. Ireland is renowned for its great horse racing, in what county will you find the Irish National Stud? Kildare
3. Which European player hold the record for most appearances and points earned in a Ryder Cup? Nick Faldo
4. The Grand National is held in April of every year at Aintree Racecourse, but what city is Aintree in? Liverpool
5. Prior to Usain Bolt, who was the last man to win the sprint doubles of the 100mtes and 200mtes? Carl Lewis
6. Which Willie Mullins trained horse won the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup? Al Boum Photo
7. Which Belgium fighter did Katie Taylor defeat in Madison Square Garden last June to unify the lightweight championship? Delfine Persoon
8. Which team made history by being the first from Canada to win the NBA championship? Toronto Rapters
9. Jack Charlton was manager of Ireland from 1986-19, during that time her qualified for three tournaments – name two of the three countries they were in. Germany, Italy & USA
10. As it stands, how many teams have won the Premier League title? (bonus point to name them) Answer: Six – Manchester United (13), Chelsea (5), Manchester City (4), Arsenal (3), Blackburn Rovers (1), and Leicester City (1)
11. What county in Northern Ireland does golfer Rory McIlroy come from? Down
12. What is the name of Munster Rugby’s main home ground? Thomand Park
13. What year did Meath last win the All Ireland Football final? a) 1988 b) 1996 c) 1999  d) 2001
14. Which Irish cyclist won the 1987 Tour De France? Stephen Roche
15. This Czech-born tennis player has won 18 Grand Slam singles titles. She has won the Women’s Singles title at Wimbledon nine times. Can you name this all-time great champion? Martina Navratilova
16.  Stephanie Roche was a finalist for the FIFA Puskas Award but in what year? a) 2011  b) 2014  c) 2016  d) 2018
17. Name the Irish swimmer who won 3 gold and a bronze medals at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Michelle Smith
18. Who won the 2019 All Ireland Hurling Final? Tipperary
19.  What is the name of the most successful racehorse of all time in the Aintree Grand National, winning three times – 1973, 1974 and 1977? Red Rum

Round 7: TV / Movies

1. Which film starring Morgan Freeman has the famous line “Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free”: Shawshank Redemption
2. The Martin Scorsese film Raging Bull is a biography of which boxer? Jake La Motta
3. In the hit series Breaking Bad, who played the main character Walter White? Brian Cranston
4. In which American city was the US crime drama The Wire set? Baltimore
5. Which TV comedy series follows the lives of employees at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital? Scrubs
6. In the hit sitcom Friends, what is the name of Joey’s agent? Estelle
7. How many contestants are at the start of the UK TV show The Chase? 4
8. The families in Gavin & Stacey are from which English & Welsh towns both beginning with a “B”: Billericay & Barry
9. What is the acronym used for the police unit in Line of Duty? AC12
10. In what year did The X Factor first hit our screens? 2004 / 2005 / 2006
11. Which character says “Yeah but no but yeah but”. Vicky Pollard
12. In The Matrix, does Neo take the blue pill or the red pill? Red pill
13. In Game of Thrones, Master of Coin Lord Petyr Baelish was also known by what name? Littlefinger
14. What is the title of the fourth Harry Potter film? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
15. “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley” is a funny quote from which film? Airplane!
16. What is the name of the parallel universe experienced in TV series Stranger Things? The Upside Down
17. In Game of Thrones, what is the name of Jon Snow’s Direwolf? Ghost
18. “Suit you Sir” came from which comedy programme? The Fast Show
19.  What is the logo on a Blue Peter badge? Ship
20. Who plays the body-swap mother and daughter in Freaky Friday (2003)? Jaime Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan

Round 8: Fashion / Clothing

1. What fashion fad did the 1983 film Flashdance make popular? Leg warmers
2. Most standard pairs of jeans come with 5 of what? Pockets
3. What birthstone is associated with the month of April? Diamond
4. Name a type of material made from flax? Linen
5. What is the common name for women’s knee-length trousers, cut with full legs to resemble a skirt? Culottes
6. The four fashion capitals of the 20^th century were considered to be Paris, London, New York and which other missing city? Milan
7. What is the term given to a skirt that is worn by men? Kilt
8. Which animal is associated with the Hollister logo? Bird
9. In which year was the sporting brand Nike formed?1963 / 1964 / 1965

Bonus round: Irish Celebrity Anagrams

1. Corona Dall Dummy
2. DJ eff you
3. Rorey Misty Sam
4. Dukey Nut Shitter
5. Barry Untidy
6. Red Bens Laganeon
7. Karla O Vader
8. Angry Bye
9. Nobo
10. Alain Bin Shoehorn

Answers: 1. Mary Lou McDonald 2. Joe Duffy 3. Marty Morrissey 4. Dustin The Turkey 5. Ryan Tubridy 6. Brendan Gleeson 7. Leo Varadkar 8. Gay Byrne 9. Bono 10. Sharon Ni Bheolain

Questions sourced from seasoned quizzers – special thanks to Lisa, Dave, Leah and Jason!