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# historical lies
Farmers from Cork invented Irish dancing to kill mice*
*According to a new John Oliver book.
JOHN OLIVER IS releasing a book about the best historical lies**.
In it, we’ll hear about his favourite incorrect facts, including that Abraham Lincoln pardoned his later assassin John Wilkes Booth for attempted bestiality.
There’s an Irish angle to Stranger Than Truth: John Oliver’s 101 Favorite History Lies [sic], with Oliver explaining:
Irish step dancing was invented by the farmers of Cork county who used to kill pesky field mice by strapping slabs of wood to their feet and clobbering them to death – which really makes you see Riverdance in a different way.
As the host of last Week Tonight puts is: “There is absolutely nothing more fun than lying confidently about history.”
** He also lied about this, but the video is still well worth a watch.
Read: John Oliver’s fake church inundated with thousands of donations
Read; John Oliver has made a sex ed video with a Breaking Bad twist
