Dublin
Dublin Overview
Dublin is nestled around the river Liffey and Dublin Bay on Ireland´s east coast. It´s the capital and the largest city of Ireland with more then 1,5 million inhabitants. The city was founded by Vikings in the 10th century nearby „dark pool,“ in Irish Dubh Linn.
The national language is Irish, or Gaelic, but almost everyone speaks English as their main language. In 1922 Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland. The city is a mixture of the busy city center and huge suburban estates. In 60s Dublin was mostly rebuilt, old houses and buildings were torn down and new office blocks were built.
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What to expect in Dublin
Dublin is full of attractions and a great place for night people. The city is overwhelming and noisy, especially during St. Patrick's Festival (around March 17th, the death date of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, AD 385–461), it´s a huge celebration and almost everything and everyone goes green!
Once you visit Dublin you shouldn´t miss The Guinness Brewery. It´s the national brew and one of the longest standing business in Ireland. All about the history of Guinness you can see in the Guinness Storehouse.
Maybe it´s not a surprise for you, but in Dublin you can find more then 1000 pubs! The oldest one is called The Brazen Head and it dates back to 12th century, you´ll find it close to Guinness Brewery. You can enjoy there traditional Irish dishes - Battered sausage, Black pudding, Coddle or Pastie, all the food goes well with the glass of Irish Beer.
Another feature of Ireland, is traditional Folk music and Irish dance. There is nothing like seeing it performed live. There are traditional sessions in pubs and venues all over Dublin.
You can find here the Europe´s largest city park – Phoenix Park, the home of the Dublin´s Zoo. Another place, which can attract you is O'Connell Bridge. It´s very famous and unique in Europe, because it´s wide as it is long. Also O'Connell Street street is one of the widest in Europe, measuring 49 metres across.
Maybe you didn´t know that...
- Dublin is famous for its former residents including: Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Nobel Laureats G.B. Shaw, W.B Yeats and Samuel Beckett. The city has been listed as a UNESCO City of Literature.
The must-see Dublin attractions:
- Guinness Storehouse – is located in the center of the St James´s Gate Brewery, the seven-storey building has been remodeled into the shape of a giant pint of Guinness.
- Dublin Zoo – is one of the world´s oldest zoo, which is located in the Phoenix Park in the heart of Dublin city.
- Kilmainham Gaol– a former prison converted into a public museum. Many leaders of Irish rebellions were detained here.
- Saint Patrick's Cathedral (also known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick) – the largest church in Ireland, you´ll find there an unusual collection of monuments and Celtic grave slabs. The most famous Dean of the cathedral was Jonathan Swift.
- Áras an Uachtaráin – the official residence of the President of the Ireland, built in 1754 and it´s situated in the Phoenix Park.
- Berkely Costume and Toy Collection – an exposition of collection of the 18th and 19th century toys, dolls and costumes, which were once owned by Irish families. It is placed in Rathfarnham Castle.
- Chester Beatty Library – it was voted as the European Museum of the Year 2002, it´s included collections of manuscripts, prints, icons, early printed books, Egyptian papyrus texts, Turkish and Persians miniatures, Buddhist paintings, Japanese woodblock prints, etc.
- Christ Church Cathedral– is located in the former heart of medieval Dublin, it´s officialy claimed as the seat of both the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic archbishops of Dublin. There´s so much to see, you´ll enjoy the cathedral´s beautiful interior and fascinating medieval crypt.
Read less about Dublin ↑
Restaurants
Dating back to 1198, the Brazen Head is officially Ireland's oldest pub. It is located near Guiness brewery and Christchurch...
Sights & culture
Built in 1028, Christ Church Cathedral boasts by beautiful interior and fascinating medieval crypt, one of the largest in Britain...
Sights & culture
Opened in 2000, the Guiness Storehouse became quickly the attraction No. 1 in Dublin. There are 7 floors and glass atrium shaped...
Sights & culture
Established by the Government of Ireland in 1995, St. Patrick’s Festival has become Ireland’s biggest annual celebration which...
Comments
Alfonso 65 points
Dublin is exceptionally ugly city!
24.10.2015
Weather even in summer is cold and humid so you need warm jacket.
Top of everything is absolutely crazy system of blind streets. There are only 8 non-blind roads. Others are either blind or unfinished so the city suffers from a permanent constipation, simply because you can´t drive through the streets.
Perhaps no other capital of the EU has such a poor public transport and lousy transport infrastructure. A subway doesn´t exist, just two lines of trams (!) and double-deckers. Tickets you have to buy just at the driver, nowhere else (price of a ticket is about 2,50 Euro and you must have coins!). Many of Irishmen ride bicycles, this is only solution how to be somewhere on time.
Really terrible experience is looking for renting an apartment. Owners are not ashamed to require 1,400 Euro per month for a small, dirty flat!
Interesting thing is that Irishmen believe that their island is the best :-). Maybe they live in too isolated place or probably don´t travel too much...
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Tamal 35 points
The great atmosphere at "the Temple bar" quarter!
21.02.2015
If you like sightseeing I can recommend the Christ Cathedral from 11th century, it is amazing building and also I liked bridges which are constructed by a special way (I don´t know if other tourists can appreciate but me yes, I am an engineer :-)).
The great atmosphere is in the quarter "Temple bar". There are lot of coffee shops and typical Irish pubs where offer the famous black beer Guinness.
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Steve 50 points
A poor medical care in Ireland
23.11.2015
Generally Ireland is a very unusual country, Irishmen aren´t pleasant and a bureaucracy is incredible.
When I spoke with locals they complained about paying for water at home :-). For them water is going from rain so should be for free. They don´t understand that water is necessary to clean, heat it up, pipe it etc. They are receiving grants for water fees but anyway they protest.
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