Na rathaidean fada, lùbach tro Chuimrigh agus Alba

Today’s trivia is on York: Founded in 71 AD as Eboracum. Renamed Jorvik in the 9th century when it was a Viking trade hub. In 886 AD, York was briefly considered the capital of England. The name evolved from Eboracum to York due to, in part, Norse influence. Guy Fawkes, infamous for the 1605 Gunpowder Plot,…

Today’s trivia is on kippers: A kipper is a whole herring, butterflied from tail to head, salted or brined, and cold-smoked, typically over oak. The name may come from the Old English cypera (referring to spawning salmon/herring) or German kippen (to tilt/lean).“Kip” meaning: It can also refer to the kip (small beak) that male salmon/herring…

Today’s trivia is on sheep: The UK has one of the highest densities of sheep breeds in the world, with over 60 distinct breeds and over 80 in total. In 2020, a Texel ram named Double Diamond was sold at a Scottish auction for a staggering 350,000 guineas, or roughly $A980,000, making him the most…

Today’s trivia is on Farne Islands: Thousands of puffins return to the same burrows annually to raise chicks, often called the “clowns of the sea”. The islands host one of England’s  breeding colonies of Atlantic grey seals, with over 2,000 pups born every autumn. Arctic terns are known to dive-bomb visitors to protect their nests. Eider…

Today’s trivia is on big homes, aka castles: The UK has over 1,000 castles. Toilets, known as ‘garderobes’ were wooden benches with holes that ran directly into the moat. The oldest and largest is Windsor Castle, founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, is the largest continuously occupied castle worldwide having been home…

Today’s trivia is sorbet, and a bit on Balmoral Castle: Sorbet is believed to have originated around 550–530 BC in Persia, where snow was mixed with fruit juice to make cold treats. The word “sorbet” comes from the French, which originated from the Italian word sorbetto, which itself was derived from the Turkish şerbet (sherbet).…

Today’s trivia is P.O.S.H: “Posh” is commonly believed to be an acronym for “Port Out, Starboard Home,” Referring to the best, cooler cabins on British steamships traveling between England and India. Passengers on these sides avoided the intense sun, making their trip more luxurious and expensive. However, this “Posh” origin is considered a popular urban…

Today’s trivia is the shetland weather: Shetland boasts an unofficial UK record for the highest wind speed, where an anemometer recorded a massive 197 mph before blowing away. Despite being further north than any other part of the UK, it is not uncommon for Shetland to be the mildest place in the UK on certain…

Today’s trivia is on Yell: Yell! was a British pop duo formed in 1989 by singers Daniel James and Paul Varney. No use yelling as, with a population of around 1,000, no one is going to hear you above the roar of the wind. The name Yell is derived from Old Norse gelld, meaning ‘barren’.…

Today’s trivia is more on Shetland stuff: Up Helly is Europe’s largest fire festival, held annually to celebrate Viking heritage. Shetland lands more fish than England, Wales, and Northern Ireland combined. It is home to the UK’s first commercial rocket launch site, the Shetland Space Centre on Unst. “Peerie” means small in the local dialect.…