Did you know that the average Irish person eats 85 kilograms of potatoes in a year? Even though we eat so many potatoes and the Irish soil is perfect for growing them, potatoes are not from Ireland.
In fact, the potato originates from Peru in South America and was brought to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century. We eat potatoes in many different ways, from chips, to roast potatoes to crisps!
There are many different varieties of potato but the Rooster is the most widely grown potato in Ireland.
Quiz Time!
How well do you know potatoes?
1 True or False, there is a National Potato Day in Ireland?
2 What is the name of this traditional Irish dish?
3 True or False, the first vegetable grown in Space was the potato?
4 What is the most popular potato in Ireland? A) Rooster B) Kerrs Pink C) Maris Piper
5 True or False, 80% of a potato is water?
6 How well do you know your famous potatoes?
Download the activity sheet and match the famous photos with their pictures!
USING THE ACTIVITY SHEET...
Can you match the vegetable with how it grows above ground?
The vegetables are, in order, potato, onion, carrot, turnip and beetroot.
Jokes!
What do you get when you cross a potato with an elephant?
Mashed potatoes!
Why do make potatoes make good detectives?
Because they keep their eyes peeled!
