Irish the world's brainiest, says Mensa
David Schulman, originally from Manchester but living in Ireland for the past 46 years, said that Ireland had more Mensa members per head of population than anywhere else.
The number of Irish members of the brain-busting club is nearly 1,200 while another 162 members joined last year.
That's an increase of 35 on the previous year and comes at a time when the number of Mensa members in Britain is on the slide.
"In terms of our penetration rate we're probably the best in the world I'd say we can certainly stand over that," Mr Schulman said.
"The figure increases fairly consistently. We've got every profession in Mensa, as well as the unemployed and the unemployable."
Mr Schulman said Irish Mensa members included captains of industry and even some of our politicians, although he refused to name names. He would admit that comedian Brendan O'Carroll was a member, and added: "He's very proud to be as well."
However, Mensa members seem to suffer from shyness. Mr Schulman said RTÉ invited a Mensa team to appear on a quiz show last year, "but I couldn't scrape two people who would be prepared to go on."
To join the league of the super intelligent, or the top 2%, would-be brain-boxes must first take a test at home which has a certain time limit for completion.
The result will then give you a good idea as to your IQ level. You then take a similar test under supervised conditions and if you make the grade typically, an IQ of 148 or over is required, although entry is based on gaining a place in the top 2% you become one of the 100,000 Mensa members residing in more than 100 countries worldwide, just as long as you pay your €60 annual fee. There are special rates for the unemployed.
More members are set to join this year as the Cork area will once again have its own supervisory psychologist on hand to oversee the second round test. In the past 18 months any bright sparks from the south had to travel to Dublin or Galway to sit the exam.
And the date for the next Mensa test in Cork? February 14, St Valentine's Day.
Anyone interested in joining Mensa can contact admin@mensa.ie.
