♣ The first mummy to be displayed publicly outside Egypt is in Belfast and it’s been there since 1824! The mummy can still be seen today in the Ulster Museum.

♣ On December 6, 1922 the entire island of Ireland became the Irish Free State. Northern Ireland opted out and rejoined the United Kingdom two days later on December 8th. Source

♣ There are a total of 34 airports in Ireland. Source

♣ The three Irish military bands based at Dublin, Athlone and Cork cost the state an enormous €4.7m annually. Source

♣ Dublin’s Grafton Street has a new attraction: An 18 foot tall stainless steel sculpture called “Patefaction.” The statue with four stainless steel units swinging in the wind is the latest piece of artwork to appear on the street organized by Dublin City Council. Has anyone seen it yet?

♣ The Office of Tobacco Control (along with the rest of Ireland) recently celebrated the Republic’s 5th year of the Smoking Ban. The Irish Times reported that the ban is instituted in 97% of work places in Ireland. Incidentally, Ireland was the first country in the EU to institute the ban. Source

♣ There have been an estimated 9,724 shipwrecks around the Irish coast. [Image Below: Paul in Inis Oir - Aran Islands] Source

♣ To read previous Diddlyi Ireland: Did You Know? posts, click here or visit the Diddlyi Blog.

Mummy Image Source; Tobacco Image Source; Plane Image Source

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