1 The Irish Country Living team won a big award in November. Name the award.

2 In the movie Shrek, what is Lord Farquaad’s kingdom called?

3 What is the currency of Sweden?

4 What was Mr. Bean searching for when he got his head stuck in the turkey?

Question 4.

5 What highly invasive weed that poses a huge risk to the tillage sector was found in a commercial wildflower mixture grown in an experimental plot in Teagasc Oak Park in 2021?

6 Which team won the first Super Bowl?

7 In which century was the Mona Lisa painted? a) 15th b) 16th c) 17th

8 Christmas cakes are often iced with marzipan. Name the nut used to make marzipan.

9 A man describes his daughters, saying, “They are all blonde, but two; all brunette but two; and all redheaded but two.” How many daughters does he have?

10 If a bingo caller shouted ‘Duck and Dive’ what number would he be calling?

11 “I apologise profoundly for any offence that this photo has caused and can categorically state that the welfare of each and every horse under my care is paramount.” Who said this on 1 March ahead of being suspended from his work for six months?

12 Which Italian leader was known as Il Duce?

13 Modern Christmas trees originated in the 16th century in which country?

14 In The Matrix, does Neo take the blue pill or the red pill?

15 Name the constituency of the Minister for Agriculture.

Question 15.

16 Unscramble this anagram: Go get beers. (Hints are: football legend, Man Utd, Fulham, Los Angeles Aztecs, San Jose Earthquakes.)

17 Which famous Christmas song begins with the lyrics: “The mood is right, the spirit’s up, we’re here tonight and that’s enough”?

18 Mount Vesuvius casts a shadow over which modern Italian city?

19 In which year were the first Wimbledon Championships held?

20 1918 was a significant year for women in Ireland. Why?

21 What does IPA stand for?

22 With a distinctive black fleece the Zwartble, Blue Texel and Badger Face Texel/Dassenkop breeds of sheep have gained popularity in recent years. What country can their origins be traced back to?

Question 22.

23 In the movie Elf, what was the first rule of The Code of Elves?

24 In 1970, Dana was the first Irish person to ever win the Eurovision song contest in 1970. What song did she sing?

25 Who was the first human to journey into space?

26 Name the biggest desert in Africa.

27 Your parents have six sons including you and each son has one sister. How many people are in the family?

28 Where was COP26 held this year?

29 Name the river that flows through Belfast.

Question 29.

30 Which great warrior conquered Egypt in 332 BC?

31 What does CRISS, which is the acronym for the front loading payment, stand for?

32 Who scored Ireland’s opening goal in the Women’s World Cup qualifier win in Finland?

33 Arnold Schwarzenegger has a long one. Michael J Fox has a short one. Madonna does not use hers. Bill Clinton always uses his. The Pope never uses his. What is it?

34 In what country did Silent Night originate?

35 In The Gingerbread Man fairytale, who or what devours the gingerbread man in the end?

36 Who became the first Tanzanian footballer to play in the Premier League when he joined Aston Villa in 2019-20?

37 In mythology who was the Greek Goddess of Love?

38 The Olo’upena Falls are in which country of the Americas?

39 What county has the most suckler cows? a) Galway b) Mayo c) Kerry

40 According to the proverb, ‘All roads lead to...’ where?

41 What can be stolen, mistaken, or altered, yet never leaves you your entire life?

42 In which county was singer-songwriter Enya born?

43 Name the leading racehorse trainer who declined the invitation to appear before an Oireachtas committee last summer to discuss his whistleblower claims about the use of illegal drugs in racing.

44 In the Christmas film Home Alone which city did Macaulay Culkin’s family visit, leaving him behind?

45 Name the storm that battered the country in December of this year.

46 Was Éamon de Valera the second, third or fourth president of Ireland?

47 What is the smallest planet in our solar system?

48 What company manufactures Big M mowers?

49 Name the poet made famous at the inauguration of President Joe Biden for her poem The Hill We Climb.

50 The Christmas song Do You Hear What I Hear was originally written as a call for peace during which conflict?

The Prizes

First prize

A relaxing break for two at Fota Island Resort, Cork, worth €1,000

Nestled at the heart of a peaceful island, surrounded by gorgeous scenery and mature woodlands, enjoy two nights in a luxurious room with breakfast each morning and dinner one evening in the Fota Restaurant.

Explore the beautiful grounds, with jogging and walking trails spread throughout the resort, a round of golf or all that Cork has to offer including a visit to Fota Wildlife Park, sea fishing at Cork Harbour, Ballycotton cliff walks and stroll on the beautiful blue flag beach at Garryvoe.

If you’re not lucky enough to win, you can find out more about the great packages available at Fota Island Resort. Call the reservations team on 021-488 3700, email reservations@fotaisland.ie or visit www.fotaisland.ie for more information.

T&Cs apply. Prize is 2BB1D for two people, subject to availability, non-transferable and not valid for Christmas, New Year’s Eve or bank holiday weekends.

Second prize

Our runner up will win two nights B&B with dinner for two people, worth €700 at the Kingsley Cork.

With beautiful bedrooms, a bistro-style restaurant, luxury spa and an extensive health club, The Kingsley has everything you need for the perfect break away.

Set in a stylish and distinctive riverside location on the banks of the River Lee within walking distance from the buzzing cosmopolitan city of Cork, shopping, socialising and cultural attractions are all just a few steps away.

Win a two-night break away in one of The Kingsley’s luxurious rooms with breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening in The Springboard Restaurant.

If you aren’t lucky enough to win on this occasion, visit www.thekingsley.ie for more details on their packages or call 021-480 0500 to see all the fabulous offers available at The Kingsley.

T&Cs apply. Prize is 2BB1D fo two people, subject to availability, non-transferable and not valid for Christmas, New Year’s Eve or bank holiday weekends.

Third prize

For our third prize this year We have teamed up with the world’s leading barbecue brand, Weber to give away a charcoal barbecue and accessory pack worth over €500.

With the festive season upon us, this Christmas is all about hosting family dinner parties and soirées with friends to come together and catch up over delicious home-cooked seasonal food.

With Weber’s Master-Touch GBS Premium E-5770 Charcoal Barbecue, you can cook your entire Christmas menu on the barbecue, whether that be a full-flavoured roast turkey, smoked roast ham, crispy porchetta or succulent roast duck paired with an array of mouth-watering side dishes.

Alongside this state-of-the-art grill, our winner will receive a Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub, a new product to Weber’s innovative accessory range that is your secret ingredient to perfectly barbecued food.

Users will receive a step-by-step assistant that sends notifications to your phone to help you keep your cooking on track. It also includes estimated cooking time, flip-and-serve notifications, and more, giving you perfectly cooked food every time