Did root beer originally come from Ireland?

Root beer did not originate in Ireland, but rather in North America. The earliest known root beer recipe can be traced back to the 1840s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Root beer was originally created as a temperance drink, as it was an alternative to alcoholic beverages. It was initially made using various herbs, roots, and spices, including sassafras root, ginger, and licorice. The name "root beer" comes from the fact that it was made from the roots of plants.