[kstewskis]

[cyborg]

Stout isn't on this list.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I thought it was whiskey!

[nikos1121]

Obviously birth control is not on the list.

[The Ox]

1. The Submarine

Phillip John Holland was a Christian Brother who must have felt that there was more to life than beating the shite out of innocent schoolboys. He left his native Co. Clare in 1872 and went to the United States where in 1899, he invented the worlds first submarine- which he hoped in time would be used by the IRA against the British Navy. Unfortunately, the IRA thought it would be a better idea to raid a post office and Holland's hopes were dashed.

What about the CSS Hunley?

[kevkrom]

Awful list. A better one would be

1. Whiskey
2. Whiskey
3. Whiskey
4. Whiskey
5. Whiskey
6. Whiskey
7. Whiskey
8. Whiskey
9. Whiskey
10. Whiskey

[hflynn]

You got the wrong list dahling:

1. The water-proof towel
2. Solar powered flashlight
3. Submarine screen door
4. A book on how to read
5. Inflatable dart board
6. A dictionary index
7. Ejector seat in a helicopter
8. Powdered water
9. Pedal-powered wheel chair
10. Waterproof tea bag

[Mikey_1962]

I thought the twist off cap, the push-up bra, and Extra Large Irish Catholic Family sized packages were Irish inventions.

[JennysCool]

Yer soooooooo smart!

Happy St. Pat's!

[Eurotwit]

Seems to an invention bonanza at freerepublic at the moment :-)

Cheers.

[Michael.SF.]

Does anyone have the cartoon: Ireland Before and After Whiskey was invented? No luck on my several searches for this gem.

[inkling]

http://www.bowfin.org/website/education_program/sub_science/turtle/turtle.htm

A Brief History of the Turtle:


The Turtle, designed by David Bushnell, was the first American submarine in the War of Independence; it carried only one person. Her first engagement was first naval battle in history involving a submarine; took place in New York harbor in 1776. The Turtle resembled two upper tortoise shells of equal size, joined together. She measured 7 feet in depth from the bottom of her detachable keep to the top of her upper "shell,' and was constructed of oak timbers. To insure water tightness, the vessel was bound with iron bands and entirely covered with pitch on the outside. Located at the bottom of the submarine were a lead weight for ballast and an aperture with a valve to admit water for descent. Two brass forcing pumps served to eject the water from within for ascent. In front of the seated operator was a screw type oar for propelling the vessel forward or backward while, above him, there was a similar oar for ascending, descending, or maintenance of depth. The rudder, located behind the operator, was operated by foot. Bushnell was the first submarine designer to equip such a vessel with a snorkel breathing device and to use a two-bladed propeller for ship propulsion. He also developed the naval mine.

A Few Characteristics of the Turtle:

• Propelled by pedals and cranks, hand-and-foot operated
  
• Descended using valve to admit water to ballast tank, ascended using pumps to eject water
  
• Equipped with a depth gauge, a compass, and a ventilator to supply fresh air when the vessel was on the surface.
  
• Designed to transport and attach timed explosives to enemy warships
  
• Inflicted no damage to any British vessel, but changed course of British strategy through her use as a potential weapon
  
• Alleged to have been sunk by British while being transported to a battle site
  

[FreedomFarmer]

I found at least two smashing taglines in this treatise:

"I'll sort you out ya bastards."

"Steady on, boys."

[Michael.SF.]

[Rodney King]

The submarine one is false. A submarine was invented by colonials during the Revolution and almost used sucessfully, by the way.

[CaptRon]

they're hit by an atom bomb - also developed (at least, indirectly) by an Irishman, Ernest Walton of Dungarvan in Co. Waterford.

I'd like to know some more about this.

[Rodney King]

http://www.americanrevolution.com/LittleKnownFacts.htm

That's a link to my above claim re: submarines.

[redhead]

Bushmill's
Irish Coffee...

[Sax]

This lady thinks St. Pauli's Girl is a wuss.

[Libertarian444]

Mr. and Mrs. Ireland's "invention:"