Dublin information
Dublin is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Ireland occupying a land area of 11,496 acres. According to the last census the total population of Dublin City is 495,781.When you come to Dublin, you will be impressed by its beautiful center with elegant Georgian buildings. The River Liffey flows through the city dividing it into two parts: the northern and the southern part. You will find major attractions in the central area of the town, all within walking distance. There are two canals forming semicircular arcs around the center - the Grand Canal in the south and the Royal Canal in the north. Located to the north of the river is the most famous street in the town - O'Connell Street, the major shopping area together with Gardiner Street and Parnell Square.
Dublin location
The city of Dublin is located in the central region of Ireland’s east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey, in the middle of the Dublin region. Dublin is situated along the Irish Sea coast. The Irish Sea washes the coast between Dublin and Wales.Dublin is connected to the neighboring cities Arklow, Wicklow, Naas, Carlow, Trim and Drogheda by an efficient network of roads. Dublin’s coordinates are 53°26’ North Latitude and 6°15’ West Longitude.
Dublin weather
The weather in Dublin is temperate and maritime, without extreme variations of temperature. As it has moderate climate throughout the year, Dublin has become a favorite tourist destination.Rainfalls in Dublin are relatively lower than in the rest of Ireland. December and August are the wettest months, receiving about 74mm of rain. April is the driest month with 45 mm of rain. Average annual precipitation of Dublin is 762mm.
Dublin history
The history of Dublin started between the 9th and 10th centuries, with invasions and settlements of three foreign tribes in Dublin, the Vikings, Celts and Gauls. The Vikings occupied the site settling the area of the present day Dublin around 840 A.D.The Viking settlements in Dublin were popularly known as the Dyflins. They were their predominant settlements in this country. The Vikings known as the Ostmen, governed the Irish capital city for more than three decades. They were expelled from the area around 900 A.D. but they returned once more in 920 A.D. restoring their power.
The Gaelic settlement in Dublin was called the "Áth Cliath", and was concentrated along the banks of the Poddle River.
Dublin was a small medieval town surrounded by defensive walls on all sides until the mid-17th century.
Oliver Cromwell seized power in Dublin in the period following the Civil War in England in 1649. When Cromwell attained political and military power in England, Dublin did not have a big population but the inhabitants were very poor. The population in the city increased by the end of 17th century, owing to the immigration of Protestant wanderers from other European nations.
In the 18th century the city of Dublin rapidly developed, the town area expanded witnessing tremendous economic development. It became the second largest city in Great Britain and the largest in Ireland. The financial prosperity of Dublin was initiated by the activities among the Anglo-Irish aristocratic community, collectively known as the Protestant Ascendancy.
In the 19th century, the Parliament of Ireland was abolished by the Act of Union signed between England and Ireland, Dublin lost its status and previous importance. The period of political decline continued to affect the Irish capital for a long period of time. The Irish fought for their independence in a series of battles since 1916 until the nation finally attained their goal in 1922. The Irish Wars of Independence gave birth to the Irish Free State, which gradually became the cultural, political and economic nucleus of Ireland.
In 1934 the Old Dublin Society was formed. In May 1941 Dublin was bombed by the Germans. Dublin Civic Museum opened in 1953.
In 1962 the James Joyce Museum opened its door to the public.
br> The city centre was restored in the 1960s and 1970s. The restoration caused controversies among the inhabitants because some valuable old buildings were demolished.
In the late 20th century the areas of slum housing were demolished and replaced by new, modern structures on the outskirts of the city but in the 1990s new apartments were built in the city center. The traditional industries such as textiles, brewing and distilling declined but the city council had new industrial plants built on the outskirts of the city developing new industries like electronics, chemicals and engineering.
In 2000 a new pedestrian bridge, the Millennium Bridge was opened across the Liffey River and in 2003, The Spire was erected. Trams returned to Dublin in 2004.
Dublin tourist attractions
Dublin boasts with numerous attractions for tourists to see, a lot of landmarks they cannot avoid during their sightseeing tours. The city is a birthplace of many great writers and poets. Walking around the city is a convenient way of sightseeing. The Temple Bar Area is especially attractive with lots of different shops, bars and restaurants vibrating with life.Ha'Penny Bridge, built in Victorian style, is another notable tourist attraction in central Dublin. If you are on vacation here with your family, then it is a must exploring the animal attractions of the Dublin Zoo. Tourists may also like to go on a trip to the Chimney at Smithfield, Trinity College, Newman House, Merrion Square, and the Olympia Theatre or to the James Joyce Center.
Temple Bar has been recently transformed into a lively neighborhood, full of history. With new squares, re-built streets and unique buildings restored to their former glory, Temple Bar district is now full of cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops where you can feel a friendly atmosphere. There is a Book Fair and Food Market held on Saturdays, the large concentration of pubs and bars turn this district into a party zone every evening. Temple Bar is located between the River Liffey and Dame Street, west of College Green and the Bank of Ireland.
Trinity College is without doubt Ireland's best university and it was originally called the "University of Dublin". Covering over 40 acres of greenery and cobbled squares, this institution was founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I and is situated south of the River Liffey, near Pearse Station.
Trinity College is one of the most famous educational institutions in the world and was originally intended for Protestants only. This restriction was abolished in 1793, but the Catholic Church then forbade its youth attending it. The restriction was called off in the 1970s.
In the Old Library, you will see one of the oldest books in the world - the Book of Kells, the famous elaborately illustrated book - 1,200 years old.
The Guinness Storehouse has become the most popular tourist attraction in Dublin. Once a vast brewery and storehouse, nowadays it is transformed into a wonderful museum and a very popular art gallery. It was founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759 and covers a 60-acre site spreading west from Christ Church Cathedral. The museum consists of six floors, built of bricks and cast iron with interesting features including audio-visuals, videos, interactive displays and rich collections of objects of art. The museum was founded in 1904.
There you will see a display of multi – media that will help you to find out how a tiny brewery in St. James's Gate became globally known, serving more than 10 million glasses of Guinness a day.
Opened in 1890, the National Museum is an elegant building exhibiting the largest collection of Celtic antiquities in the world. Marble columns, mosaic floors, detailed ironwork and ornate balustrades will attract your attention. You will be impressed by a wide range of gold jewelery, bronze tools, weapons and carvings. There is the most valuable Treasury Collection consisting of some priceless relics and The Road to Independence Room, which is full of items from the 1916 Easter Uprising and the War of Independence (1919-21), such as weapons and uniforms. On the upper floor there is a permanent, fascinating exhibition about the Vikings.
The Martello Tower was built in 1804 from the fear of Napoleon's invasion. It is one of 34 Martello towers built along Ireland’s coast. This tower has been transformed into the James Joyce Museum in 1962.
James Joyce, a famous writer, stayed here in 1904. A number of his first editions and even some of his clothes are on display in this museum.
The Writers’ Museum displays collections of some rare first editions, manuscripts, diaries and letters of the famous writers: W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Oscar Wild and Samuel Beckett, among many others. The Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 18th century building with a vast central drawing room where valuable paintings are exposed. The books on display include an 1804 edition of Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" and an 1899 first edition of Bram Stoker's "Dracula".