Q: i said LITTLE KNOWN facts, duh!
A: Drowning the Shamrock: When all is said and done, and there's nothing 'Irish' left to do, get the lads and lassies together to "drown the Shamrock". This is one of the older St. Patrick's Day traditions you just can't skip. Put the shamrock you are wearing into your glass before the final toast. When the toast is had, you can swallow the shamrock or throw it over your left shoulder. * St. Patrick did not drive the snakes out of Ireland. They probably never had snakes on the Emerald Isle in the first place. * "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" isn't a popular Irish ballad. It was composed by an American. * St. Patrick is not the quintessential Irishman. He was born in Wales. In fact, he wasn't even particularly Christian until after his six-year exile in Ireland. * The shamrock isn't a real plant. Rather, the plant is a type of clover that grows in Ireland. * Leprechauns aren't cute little sprites. They're evil, mean-spirited little creatures that perform treacherous deceptions to keep you away from that pot of gold. * The national symbol of Ireland is the Celtic harp, not the shamrock.