Dublin

This article is about the capital of Ireland. For other uses, seeDublin (disambiguation).

Dublin(/ˈdʌblɪn/;Irish:Baile Átha Cliath,pronounced[ˈbˠalʲəaːhəˈclʲiə]or[ˌbʲlʲaːˈclʲiə]) is thecapitalofIreland.On a bay at the mouth of theRiver Liffey,it is in theprovinceofLeinster,bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of theWicklow Mountainsrange. At the2022 census,the city council area had a population of 592,713, while Dublin City and its suburbs had a population of 1,263,219, andCounty Dublinhad a population of 1,501,500,making it the largest city by size on the island ofIreland.

Dublin Irish:Baile Átha Cliath
Capital city
Samuel Beckett Bridge Convention Centre Trinity College O'Connell Bridge The Custom House Dublin Castle
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname: The Fair City
Motto(s): Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas "The obedience of the citizens produces a happy city" Alternatively translated as "An obedient citizenry produces a happy city"
Dublin Location within Ireland Dublin Location within Europe
Coordinates:53°21′00″N06°15′37″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
Region	Eastern and Midland
County	Dublin
Founded	Unknown
Government
•Local authority	Dublin City Council
• Headquarters	Dublin City Hall
•Lord Mayor	James Geoghegan(Fine Gael)
•Dáil constituencies	Dublin Central Dublin Bay North Dublin North-West Dublin South-Central Dublin Bay South
•EP constituency	Dublin
Area
•Capital city	117.8 km2(45.5 sq mi)
• Urban	345 km2(133 sq mi)
Population (2022)
•Capital city	592,713
• Density	5,032/km2(13,030/sq mi)
•Urban	1,263,219
• Urban density	3,659/km2(9,480/sq mi)
• Ethnicity (2022 census)	Ethnic groups 76.82% White 64.24% White Irish 12.19% White Other 0.39% Irish Traveller 5.11% Asian / Asian Irish 1.58% Black / Black Irish 3.50% Other / Mixed background 12.98% Not stated
Demonyms	Dubliner, Dub
Time zone	UTC0(GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1(IST)
Eircode	D01 to D18, D20, D22, D24 & D6W
Area code	01 (+3531)
ISO 3166 code	IE-D
GDP	€157.2 billion (city) €222.1 billion (greater)
GDP per capita	€108,500 (city) €106,600 (greater)
Website	Official website

A settlement was established in the area by theGaelsduring or before the 7th century,followed by theVikings.As theKingdom of Dublingrew, it became Ireland's principal settlement by the 12th centuryAnglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest in theBritish Empireand sixth largest inWestern Europeafter theActs of Unionin 1800.Following independence in 1922, Dublin became the capital of theIrish Free State,renamed Irelandin 1937. As of 2018,the city was listed by theGlobalization and World Cities Research Network(GaWC) as aglobal city,with a ranking of "Alpha minus", which placed it among the top thirty cities in the world.

Etymology

See also:Other names of Dublin

The nameDublincomes from theMiddle IrishwordDu(i)blind(literally "Blackpool" ),fromdubh[d̪ˠuβˠ]"black, dark" andlinn[l̠ʲin̠ʲ(dʲ)]"pool". This evolved into theEarly Modern IrishformDu(i)bhlinn,which was pronounced "Duílinn"[ˈd̪ˠiːlʲin̠ʲ]in thelocal dialect.The name refers to a dark tidal pool on the site of the castle gardens at the rear ofDublin Castle,where theRiver Poddleentered theLiffey.

Historically, scribes writing inGaelic script,used abwith adotover it to represent a modernbh,resulting in Du(i)ḃlinn. Those without knowledge of Irish omitted the dot, spelling the name asDublin.The Middle Irish pronunciation is preserved in the names for the city in other languages such asOld EnglishDifelin,Old NorseDyflin,modernIcelandicDyflinnand modernManxDivlynas well asWelshDulynandBretonDulenn.Other localities in Ireland also bear the nameDuibhlinn,variously anglicised as Devlin,Divlinand Difflin.Variations on the name are also found in traditionally Gaelic-speaking areas ofScotland(Gàidhealtachd,cognate with IrishGaeltacht), such asAn Linne Dhubh( "the black pool" ), which is part ofLoch Linnhe.

It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known asDuibhlinn,from whichDyflintook its name.Beginning in the 9th and 10th centuries, there were two settlements where the modern city stands. The Viking settlement of about 841,Dyflin,and a Gaelic settlement, Áth Cliath ( "ford of hurdles" )further up the river, at the present-dayFather Mathew Bridge(also known as Dublin Bridge), at the bottom of Church Street.

Baile Átha Cliath,meaning "town of the hurdledford",is the common name for the city in Modern Irish, which is often contracted toBleá CliathorBlea Cliathwhen spoken.Áth Cliathis a place name referring to a fording point of the River Liffey near Father Mathew Bridge.Baile Átha Cliathwas an early Christian monastery, believed to have been in the area of Aungier Street, currently occupied byWhitefriar Street Carmelite Church.There are other towns of the same name, such asÀth CliathinEast Ayrshire,Scotland, which is anglicised asHurlford.

History

Main article:History of Dublin

For a chronological guide, seeTimeline of Dublin.

The area ofDublin Bayhas been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times; fish traps discovered from excavations during the construction of theConvention Centre Dublinindicate human habitation as far back as 6,000 years ago. Further traps were discovered closer to the old settlement of the city of Dublin on the south quays nearSt. James's Gatewhich also indicatemesolithichuman activity.

Ptolemy's map of Ireland,of about 140 AD, provides possibly the earliest reference to a settlement near Dublin.Ptolemy,the Greco-Roman astronomer andcartographer,called itEblanapolis(Greek:Ἔβλανα πόλις).

A statue of aVikingon alongshipin Dublin

Father Mathew Bridge,also known as Dublin Bridge

Dublin celebrated its 'official' millennium in 1988, meaning the Irish government recognised 988 as the year in which the city was settled and that this first settlement would later become the city of Dublin.

It is now thoughtthe Viking settlement of about 841 was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known asDuibhlinn,from whichDyflintook its name. Evidence indicating that Anglo-Saxons occupied Dublin before the Vikings arrived in 841 has been found in an archaeological dig inTemple Bar.

Beginning in the 9th and 10th centuries, there were two settlements which later became modern Dublin. The subsequent Scandinavian settlement centred on theRiver Poddle,a tributary of the Liffey in an area now known asWood Quay.The Dubhlinn was a pool on the lowest stretch of the Poddle, where ships used to moor. This pool was finally fully infilled during the early 18th century, as the city grew. The Dubhlinn lay where the Castle Garden is now located, opposite theChester Beatty LibrarywithinDublin Castle.Táin Bó Cuailgne( "The Cattle Raid of Cooley" ) refers toDublind rissa ratter Áth Cliath,meaning "Dublin, which is called Ath Cliath".

Middle Ages

In 841, theVikingsestablished a fortified base in Dublin.The town grew into a substantial commercial center underOlaf Guthfrithsonin the mid-to-late 10th centuryand, despite a number of attacks by the native Irish, it remained largely under Viking control until theNorman invasion of Irelandwas launched from Wales in 1169.Thehinterlandof Dublin in the Norse period was named inOld Norse:Dyflinnar skíði,lit. 'Dublinshire'.It was upon the death ofMuirchertach Mac Lochlainnin early 1166 thatRuaidrí Ua Conchobair,King of Connacht,proceeded to Dublin and was inauguratedKing of Irelandwithout opposition.

According to some historians, part of the city's early economic growth is attributed to a trade in slaves.Slavery in Irelandand Dublin reached its pinnacle in the 9th and 10th centuries.Prisoners from slave raids and kidnappings, which captured men, women and children, brought revenue to the Gaelic Irish Sea raiders, as well as to the Vikings who had initiated the practice.The victims came fromWales,England, Normandy and beyond.

The King of Leinster,Diarmait Mac Murchada,after his exile by Ruaidhrí, enlisted the help ofStrongbow,the Earl of Pembroke, to conquer Dublin. Following Mac Murrough's death, Strongbow declared himself King of Leinster after gaining control of the city. In response to Strongbow's successful invasion,Henry II of Englandaffirmed his ultimate sovereignty by mounting a larger invasion in 1171 and pronounced himselfLord of Ireland.Around this time, thecounty of the City of Dublinwas established along with certain liberties adjacent to the city proper. This continued down to 1840 when thebaronyof Dublin City was separated from thebarony of Dublin.Since 2001, both baronies have been redesignated as theCity of Dublin.

Dublin Castle,with its 13th-century tower, was the fortified seat ofBritish rule in Irelanduntil 1922.

Dublin Castle,which became the centre of Anglo-Norman power in Ireland, was founded in 1204 as a major defensive work on the orders of KingJohn of England.Following the appointment of the firstLord Mayor of Dublinin 1229, the city expanded and had a population of 8,000 by the end of the 13th century. Dublin prospered as a trade centre, despite an attempt by KingRobert I of Scotlandto capture the city in 1317.It remained a relatively small walled medieval town during the 14th century and was under constant threat from the surrounding native clans. In 1348, theBlack Death,a lethal plague which had ravaged Europe, took hold in Dublin and killed thousands over the following decade.

Dubline, 1610; a contemporary map by John Speed (1896 reprint)

Dublin was the heart of the area known asthe Pale,a narrow strip of English settlement along the eastern coast, under the control of theEnglish Crown.TheTudor conquest of Irelandin the 16th century spelt a new era for Dublin, with the city enjoying a renewed prominence as the centre of administrative rule in Ireland where English control and settlement had become much more extensive. Determined to make Dublin a Protestant city, QueenElizabeth IestablishedTrinity Collegein 1592 as a solely Protestant university and ordered that the CatholicSt. Patrick'sandChrist Churchcathedrals be converted to the Protestant church. The earliest map of the city of Dublin dates from 1610, and was byJohn Speed.

The city had a population of 21,000 in 1640 before a plague from 1649 to 1651 wiped out almost half of the inhabitants. However, the city prospered again soon after as a result of the wool and linen trade with England and reached a population of over 50,000 in 1700.By 1698 the manufacture of wool employed 12,000 people.

Early modern

Henrietta Street,developed in the 1720s, is the earliestGeorgian streetin Dublin.

As the city continued to prosper during the 18th century,Georgian Dublinbecame, for a short period, the second-largest city of theBritish Empireand the fifth largest city in Europe, with the population exceeding 130,000. While some medieval streets and layouts (including the areas aroundTemple Bar,Aungier Street, Capel Street and Thomas Street) were less affected by the wave of Georgian reconstruction, much of Dublin's architecture and layout dates from this period.

Dublin grew even more dramatically during the 18th century, with the construction of many new districts and buildings, such asMerrion Square,Parliament Houseand theRoyal Exchange.TheWide Streets Commissionwas established in 1757 at the request ofDublin Corporationto govern architectural standards on the layout of streets, bridges and buildings.In 1759, theGuinness brewerywas founded, and would eventually grow to become the largest brewery in the world and the largest employer in Dublin.During the 1700s, linen was not subject to the same trade restrictions with England as wool, and became the most important Irish export. Over 1.5 million yards of linen was exported from Ireland in 1710, rising to almost 19 million yards by 1779.

Late modern and contemporary

The GPOonO'Connell Streetwas at the centre of the 1916Easter Rising.

Dublin suffered a period of political and economic decline during the 19th century following theActs of Union 1800,under which the seat of government was transferred to theWestminster Parliamentin London. The city played no major role in theIndustrial Revolution,but remained the centre of administration and a transport hub for most of the island. Ireland had no significant sources of coal, the fuel of the time, and Dublin was not a centre of ship manufacturing, the other main driver of industrial development in Britain and Ireland.Belfastdeveloped faster than Dublin during this period on a mixture of international trade, factory-based linen cloth production and shipbuilding.By 1814, the population of Dublin was 175,319 as counted under the Population Act, making the population of Dublin higher than any town in England except London.

Damage in Dublin city centre following the 1916Easter Risingwith the ruins of the GPO to the left

TheEaster Risingof 1916, theIrish War of Independence,and the subsequentIrish Civil Warresulted in a significant amount of physical destruction in central Dublin. TheGovernment of the Irish Free Staterebuilt the city centre and located the new parliament, theOireachtas,inLeinster House.Since the beginning ofNormanrule in the 12th century, the city has functioned as the capital in varying geopolitical entities:Lordship of Ireland(1171–1541),Kingdom of Ireland(1541–1800), as part of theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland(1801–1922), and theIrish Republic(1919–1922). Following thepartition of Irelandin 1922, it became the capital of theIrish Free State(1922–1937) and now is the capital of Ireland. One of the memorials to commemorate that time is theGarden of Remembrance.

Dublin was also a victim of the Northern IrishTroubles,although during this 30-year conflict, violence mainly occurred within Northern Ireland. A Loyalist paramilitary group, theUlster Volunteer Force,bombed the city during this time – notably in an atrocity known as theDublin and Monaghan bombingsin which 34 people died, mainly in central Dublin.

Large parts of Georgian Dublin were demolished or substantially redeveloped in the mid-20th century during a boom in office building. After this boom, the recessions of the 1970s and 1980s slowed down the pace of building. Cumulatively, this led to a large decline in the number of people living in the centre of the city, and by 1985 the city had approximately 150 acres of derelict land which had been earmarked for development and 10 million square feet (900 thousand square metres) of office space.

Since 1997, the landscape of Dublin has changed. The city was at the forefront of Ireland's economic expansion during theCeltic Tigerperiod, with private sector and state development of housing, transport and business. Following an economic decline during the Great Recession, Dublin has rebounded and as of 2017has close to full employment,but has a significant problem with housing supply in both the city and surrounds.

Government

Local

Further information:Local government in Dublin

Civic Offices ofDublin City Council

Dublin City Councilis aunicameralassembly of 63 members elected every five years fromlocal electoral areas.It is presided over by theLord Mayor,who is elected for a yearly term and resides in Dublin'sMansion House.Council meetings occur atDublin City Hall,while most of its administrative activities are based in the Civic Offices onWood Quay.The party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats assigns committee members, introduces policies, and proposes the Lord Mayor. The Council passes an annual budget for spending on areas such as housing, traffic management, refuse, drainage, and planning. The Dublin City Manager is responsible for implementing City Council decisions but also has considerable executive power.

National

Leinster Houseon Kildare Street houses theOireachtas.

As the capital city, Dublin is the seat of the national parliament of Ireland, theOireachtas.It is composed of thePresident of Ireland,Dáil Éireannas the house of representatives, andSeanad Éireannas the upper house. The President resides inÁras an UachtaráininPhoenix Park,while both houses of the Oireachtas meet inLeinster House,a former ducal residence onKildare Street.It has been the home of the Irish parliament since the foundation of theIrish Free Statein 1922. The oldIrish Houses of Parliamentof theKingdom of Ireland,which dissolved in 1801, are located inCollege Green.

Government Buildingshouse theDepartment of the Taoiseach,the Council Chamber, the Department of Finance and theOffice of the Attorney General.It consists of a main building (completed 1911) with two wings (completed 1921). It was designed by Thomas Manley Dean and SirAston Webbas theRoyal College of Science.TheFirst Dáiloriginally met in theMansion Housein 1919. The Irish Free State government took over the two wings of the building to serve as a temporary home for some ministries, while the central building became the College of Technology until 1989.Although both it and Leinster House were intended to be temporary locations, they became the permanent homes of parliament from then on.

For elections toDáil Éireann,there are five constituencies that are wholly or predominantly in the Dublin City area:Dublin Central(4 seats),Dublin Bay North(5 seats),Dublin North-West(3 seats),Dublin South-Central(4 seats) andDublin Bay South(4 seats). Twenty TDs are elected in total.The constituency ofDublin West(4 seats) is partially in Dublin City, but predominantly inFingal.

At the2020 general election,the Dublin city area elected 5Sinn Féin,3Fine Gael,3Fianna Fáil,3Green Party,3Social Democrats,1Right to Change,1Solidarity–People Before Profitand 1LabourTDs.

Geography

Landscape

Satellite image showing theRiver Liffeyentering theIrish Seaas it divides Dublin into theNorthsideand theSouthside

Dublin is situated at the mouth of theRiver Liffeyand its urban area encompasses approximately 345 square kilometres (133 sq mi) in east-central Ireland. It is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range and sub range of theWicklow Mountains,to the south and surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west.

Watercourses

See also:List of rivers of County Dublin

The River Liffey divides the city in two, between the Northside and the Southside. The Liffey bends atLeixlipfrom a northeasterly route to a predominantly eastward direction, and this point also marks the transition to urban development from more agricultural land usage.The city itself was founded where theRiver Poddlemet the Liffey, and the early Viking settlement was also facilitated by the small Stein or Steyne River, the larger Camacand the Bradogue,in particular.

Two secondary rivers further divide the city: theRiver Tolka,running southeast into Dublin Bay, and theRiver Dodderrunning northeast to near the mouth of the Liffey, and these and the Liffey have multiple tributaries. A number of lesser rivers and streams also flow to the sea within the suburban parts of the city.

Two canals – theGrand Canalon the southside and theRoyal Canalon the northside – ring the inner city on their way from the west, both connecting with theRiver Shannon.

Climate

Similar to much of the rest of northwestern Europe, Dublin experiences amaritime climate(Cfb) with mild-warm summers, cool winters, and a lack of temperature extremes. AtMerrion Square,the coldest month is February, with an average minimum temperature of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F), and the warmest month is July, with an average maximum temperature of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F). Due to theurban heat islandeffect, Dublin city has the warmest summertime nights in Ireland. The average minimum temperature at Merrion Square in July is 13.5 °C (56.3 °F), and the lowest July temperature ever recorded at the station was 7.8 °C (46.0 °F) on 3 July 1974.

The highest temperature officially recorded in Dublin is 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) on 18 July 2022, at thePhoenix Park.A non-official record of 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) was also recorded at Phoenix Park in July 1876

Dublin's sheltered location on the east coast makes it the driest place in Ireland, receiving only about half the rainfall of the west coast.Ringsendin the south of the city records the lowest rainfall in the country, with an average annual precipitation of 683 mm (27 in),with the average annual precipitation in the city centre being 726 mm (29 in). At Merrion Square, the wettest year and driest year on record occurred within 5 years of each other, with 1953 receiving just 463.1 mm (18.23 in) of rainfall, while 1958 recorded 1,022.5 mm (40.26 in).The main precipitation in winter is rain; however snow showers do occur between November and March. Hail is more common than snow. Strong Atlantic winds are most common in autumn. These winds can affect Dublin, but due to its easterly location, it is least affected compared to other parts of the country. However, in winter, easterly winds render the city colder and more prone to snow showers.

The city experiences long summer days and short winter days. Based on satellite observations,Met Éireannestimates that Dublin's coastal areas typically receive over 1,600 hours of sunshine per year,with the climate getting progressively duller inland. Dublin airport, located north of city and about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the coast, records an average of 1,485 hours of sunshine per year. The station at Dublin airport has been maintaining climate records since November 1941. The sunniest year on record was 1,740 hours in 1959, and the dullest year was 1987 with 1,240 hours of sunshine. The lowest amount of monthly sunshine on record was 16.4 hours in January 1996, while the highest was 305.9 hours in July 1955.

In the 20th century, smog and air-pollution were an issue in the city, precipitating a ban on bituminous fuels across Dublin.The ban was implemented in 1990 to address black smoke concentrations, that had been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory deaths in residents. Since the ban, non-trauma death rates, respiratory death rates and cardiovascular death rates have declined – by an estimated 350 deaths annually.

Climate data for Dublin Airport (DUB),1991–2020 normals, extremes 1881–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	18.5 (65.3)	18.1 (64.6)	23.6 (74.5)	22.7 (72.9)	26.8 (80.2)	32.3 (90.1)	33.0 (91.4)	30.6 (87.1)	27.6 (81.7)	24.2 (75.6)	19.4 (66.9)	18.1 (64.6)	33.0 (91.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	8.0 (46.4)	8.5 (47.3)	10.1 (50.2)	12.3 (54.1)	14.8 (58.6)	17.7 (63.9)	19.5 (67.1)	19.1 (66.4)	16.9 (62.4)	13.6 (56.5)	10.3 (50.5)	8.3 (46.9)	13.3 (55.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	5.2 (41.4)	5.3 (41.5)	6.6 (43.9)	8.2 (46.8)	10.7 (51.3)	13.3 (55.9)	15.4 (59.7)	15.1 (59.2)	13.2 (55.8)	10.4 (50.7)	7.3 (45.1)	5.5 (41.9)	9.7 (49.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	2.3 (36.1)	2.2 (36.0)	3.0 (37.4)	4.0 (39.2)	6.6 (43.9)	9.0 (48.2)	11.3 (52.3)	11.2 (52.2)	9.5 (49.1)	7.1 (44.8)	4.3 (39.7)	2.6 (36.7)	6.1 (43.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−15.6 (3.9)	−13.4 (7.9)	−9.8 (14.4)	−7.2 (19.0)	−5.6 (21.9)	−0.7 (30.7)	1.8 (35.2)	0.6 (33.1)	−1.7 (28.9)	−5.6 (21.9)	−9.3 (15.3)	−15.7 (3.7)	−15.7 (3.7)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	61.8 (2.43)	52.4 (2.06)	51.4 (2.02)	55.0 (2.17)	57.0 (2.24)	64.0 (2.52)	61.0 (2.40)	73.4 (2.89)	63.3 (2.49)	78.4 (3.09)	82.7 (3.26)	72.1 (2.84)	772.5 (30.41)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm)	12.5	11.0	10.7	11.1	10.5	9.8	11.6	11.8	10.7	11.6	12.5	13.3	137.1
Average snowy days	3.2	3.2	2.4	0.7	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	2.3	12.5
Averagerelative humidity(%)(at 15:00 UTC)	81.6	76.9	71.6	68.7	67.8	67.7	69.0	69.8	71.9	75.8	81.6	83.9	73.9
Averagedew point°C (°F)	3.2 (37.8)	3.0 (37.4)	3.6 (38.5)	4.8 (40.6)	7.1 (44.8)	9.7 (49.5)	11.6 (52.9)	11.6 (52.9)	10.2 (50.4)	7.8 (46.0)	5.5 (41.9)	3.8 (38.8)	6.8 (44.3)
Mean monthlysunshine hours	60.2	81.8	121.0	165.9	197.3	180.1	158.3	155.4	129.4	105.9	73.5	56.6	1,485.4
Mean dailydaylight hours	8.2	9.9	11.9	14.0	15.9	16.9	16.4	14.7	12.7	10.5	8.6	7.6	12.3
Averageultraviolet index	0	1	2	4	5	6	6	5	4	2	1	0	3
Source 1: Met Éireann
Source 2:NOAA(dew point)WeatherAtlas (Daylight hours and UV Index)

Climate data forMerrion Square,Dublin, (1991–2020), elevation: 13 m (43 ft)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.5 (63.5)	17.2 (63.0)	19.6 (67.3)	22.7 (72.9)	24.1 (75.4)	27.7 (81.9)	29.1 (84.4)	30.0 (86.0)	26.2 (79.2)	22.5 (72.5)	18.6 (65.5)	16.6 (61.9)	30.0 (86.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	8.8 (47.8)	9.1 (48.4)	10.7 (51.3)	12.6 (54.7)	15.4 (59.7)	18.1 (64.6)	20.1 (68.2)	19.6 (67.3)	17.4 (63.3)	14.2 (57.6)	11.1 (52.0)	9.2 (48.6)	13.9 (57.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	4.1 (39.4)	4.2 (39.6)	5.1 (41.2)	6.6 (43.9)	9.1 (48.4)	11.7 (53.1)	13.5 (56.3)	13.3 (55.9)	11.3 (52.3)	8.9 (48.0)	6.1 (43.0)	4.4 (39.9)	8.2 (46.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−8.1 (17.4)	−4.6 (23.7)	−4.2 (24.4)	−2.5 (27.5)	0.4 (32.7)	4.2 (39.6)	7.8 (46.0)	6.4 (43.5)	3.6 (38.5)	0.1 (32.2)	−5.1 (22.8)	−7.6 (18.3)	−8.1 (17.4)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	61.2 (2.41)	49.0 (1.93)	50.0 (1.97)	48.5 (1.91)	53.6 (2.11)	60.4 (2.38)	57.9 (2.28)	64.1 (2.52)	60.6 (2.39)	75.0 (2.95)	80.6 (3.17)	65.5 (2.58)	726.4 (28.6)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm)	12.0	9.9	9.0	9.9	9.6	8.8	10.5	9.7	9.5	11.0	11.6	11.8	123.3
Source 1: Met Éireann
Source 2: European Climate Assessment & Dataset

Cityscape

Areas

City centre

The historic city centre of Dublin is encircled by theRoyal CanalandGrand Canal,bounded to the west byHeuston railway stationandPhoenix Park,and to the east by theIFSCand theDocklands.O'Connell Streetis the main thoroughfare of the inner city and many Dublin Bus routes, as well as the Green line of theLuas,have a stop at O'Connell Street. The main shopping streets of the inner city includeHenry Streeton the Northside, andGrafton Streeton the Southside.

Victorian-era buildings, such as theGeorge's Street Arcade,are common in the south inner city.

In some tourism and real-estate marketing contexts, inner Dublin is sometimes divided into a number of quarters.These include the Medieval Quarter (in the area ofDublin Castle,Christ ChurchandSt Patrick's Cathedraland the old city walls),the Georgian Quarter (including the area around St Stephen's Green, Trinity College, andMerrion Square), the Docklands Quarter (around theDublin DocklandsandSilicon Docks), the Cultural Quarter (aroundTemple Bar), and Creative Quarter (between South William Street and George's Street).

Suburbs

High density apartments inSandyford

Dublin's Northside suburbs include areas such asFinglas,Ballymun,Clontarf,andHowth.The Southside's suburbs includeTallaght,Sandyford,andDún Laoghaire.

Starting in the late 2010s, there was a significant amount of high density residential developments in the suburbs of Dublin,with mid to high-rise apartments being built in Sandyford,Ashtown,and Tallaght.

Molly Malonestatue

Cultural divide

A north–south division once, to some extent, traditionally existed, with the River Liffey as the divider.The southside was, in recent times, generally seen as being more affluent and genteel than the northside.There have also been some social divisions evident between the coastal suburbs in the east of the city, and the newer developments further to the west.

Landmarks

Further information:List of public art in Dublin

Dublin has many landmarks and monuments dating back hundreds of years. One of the oldest isDublin Castle,which was first founded as a major defensive work on the orders of England'sKing Johnin 1204, shortly after theNorman invasion of Irelandin 1169, when it was commanded that a castle be built with strong walls and good ditches for the defence of the city, the administration of justice, and the protection of the King's treasure.Largely complete by 1230, the castle was of typical Norman courtyard design, with a central square without akeep,bounded on all sides by tall defensive walls and protected at each corner by a circular tower. Sited to the south-east of Norman Dublin, the castle formed one corner of the outer perimeter of the city, using theRiver Poddleas a natural means of defence.

One of Dublin's most prominent landmarks is theSpire of Dublin,officially entitled the "Monument of Light."It is a 121.2-metre (398 ft) conical spire made of stainless steel, completed in 2003 and located onO'Connell Street,where it meets Henry Street and North Earl Street. It replacedNelson's Pillarand is intended to mark Dublin's place in the 21st century. The spire was designed byIan Ritchie Architects,who sought an "Elegant and dynamic simplicity bridging art and technology". The base of the monument is lit and the top is illuminated to provide a beacon in the night sky across the city.

The Old Library ofTrinity College Dublin,holding theBook of Kells,is one of the city's most visited sites.The Book of Kells is an illustrated manuscript created by Irish monks circa 800 AD. TheHa'penny Bridge,an iron footbridge over the River Liffey, is one of the most photographed sights in Dublin and is considered to be one of Dublin's most iconic landmarks.

TheSpire of Dublinrises behind the statue ofJim Larkin.

Other landmarks and monuments includeChrist Church CathedralandSt Patrick's Cathedral,theMansion House,theMolly Malonestatue, the complex of buildings around Leinster House, including part of theNational Museum of Irelandand theNational Library of Ireland,The Custom HouseandÁras an Uachtaráin.Other sights include theAnna Livia monument.ThePoolbeg Towersare also landmark features of Dublin, and visible from various spots around the city.

Parks

Aerial view ofSt Stephen's Green

There are 302 parks and 66 green spaces within theDublin City Councilarea as of 2018,with the council managing over 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of parks.Public parks include thePhoenix Park,Herbert Park,St Stephen's Green,Saint Anne's ParkandBull Island.The Phoenix Park is about 3 km (2 miles) west of the city centre, north of theRiver Liffey.Its 16-kilometre (10 mi) perimeter wall encloses 707 hectares (1,750 acres), making it one of the largest walled city parks in Europe.It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the 17th century has been home to a herd of wildfallow deer.The residence of thePresident of Ireland(Áras an Uachtaráin), which was built in 1751,is located in the park. The park is also home toDublin Zoo,Ashtown Castle,and the official residence of theUnited States Ambassador.Music concerts are also sometimes held in the park.

St Stephen's Green is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets,Grafton Street,and toa shopping centre named after it,while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies.

Saint Anne's Parkis a public park and recreational facility, shared betweenRahenyandClontarf,both suburbs on the Northside. The park, the second largest municipal park in Dublin, is part of a former 2-square-kilometre (0.8 sq mi; 500-acre) estate assembled by members of theGuinness family,beginning withBenjamin Lee Guinnessin 1835. The largest municipal park is adjacent (North)Bull Island,also shared between Clontarf and Raheny, featuring a 5 km beach, Dollymount Strand.

City boundaries

From 1842, the boundaries of the city were comprehended by thebaroniesof Dublin City and the barony ofDublin.Over time, the city has absorbed area previously administered as part of County Dublin (now the three counties of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin), with a change in 1985 also returning areas to the county.

Changes to city boundaries

Year	Changes
1900	Transfer of former urban districts ofClontarf,Drumcondra, Clonliffe and Glasnevin,andNew Kilmainhamfrom County Dublin
1930	Transfer of former urban districts ofPembrokeandRathmines and Rathgarfrom County Dublin
1931	Transfer ofDrumcondra,Glasnevin,DonnybrookandTerenurefrom County Dublin
1941	Transfer ofCrumlinfrom County Dublin
1942	Transfer of former urban district ofHowthfrom County Dublin
1953	Transfer ofFinglas,CoolockandBallyfermotfrom County Dublin.
1985	Transfer ofSantryandPhoenix Parkfrom County Dublin; transfer of Howth,Suttonand parts ofKilbarrackincludingBaysideto County Dublin
1994	Alterations to western boundaries in the vicinities ofBallyfermotandCabraon establishment of new counties

Economy

Main article:Economy of Dublin

See also:Economy of County Dublin

Ulster BankonGeorge's Quay Plaza

The Dublin region is the economic centre of Ireland, and was at the forefront of the country's economic expansion during theCeltic Tigerperiod. In 2009, Dublin was listed as the fourth richest city in the world bypurchasing powerand 10th richest by personal income.According toMercer's 2011 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey,Dublin was the 13th most expensive city in theEuropean Union(down from 10th in 2010) and the 58th most expensive place to live in the world (down from 42nd in 2010).As of 2017,approximately 874,400 people were employed in theGreater Dublin Area.Around 60% of people who are employed in Ireland's financial, ICT, and professional sectors are located in this area.

A number of Dublin's traditional industries, such as food processing, textile manufacturing, brewing, and distilling have gradually declined, althoughGuinnesshas been brewed at theSt. James's Gate Brewerysince 1759. Economic improvements in the 1990s attracted a number of global pharmaceutical, information and communications technology companies to the city and Greater Dublin Area. Companies such asMicrosoft,Google,Amazon,eBay,PayPal,Yahoo!,Facebook,Twitter,Accenture,TikTokandPfizernow have European headquarters or operational bases in the city with several located in enterprise clusters like theDigital HubandSilicon Docks.The presence of these companies has driven economic expansion in the city and led to Dublin sometimes being referred to as the "Tech Capital of Europe".

Financial services have also become important to the city since the establishment of Dublin'sInternational Financial Services Centrein 1987. More than 500 operations are approved to trade under the IFSC programme. The centre is host to half of the world's top 50 banks and to half of the top 20 insurance companies.Many international firms have established major headquarters in the city, such asCitibank.TheIrish Stock Exchange(ISEQ),Internet Neutral Exchange(INEX) and Irish Enterprise Exchange (IEX) are also located in Dublin. Dublin has been positioned as one of the main cities vying to host Financial Services companies hoping to retain access to the Eurozone afterBrexit.The Celtic Tiger also led to a temporary boom in construction, with large redevelopment projects in theDublin DocklandsandSpencer Dock.Completed projects include theConvention Centre,the3Arena,and theBord Gáis Energy Theatre.

In the second quarter of 2018, Dublin touched its lowest unemployment rate in a decade, when it fell down to 5.7% as reported by the Dublin Economic Monitor.In November 2022, Dublin was ranked as one of the worst cities in the world for travel, health and cost of living.On 24 September 2022, thousands took to the streets in protest against the cost of living crisis.

As of 2024, theGross Domestic Productof Dublin is €253.6 billion, meaning it has one of the biggest city economies in theEuropean Union.

Transport

Main article:Transport in Dublin

Road

TheM50 motorwaysurrounding Dublin

The road network in Ireland is primarily focused on Dublin. TheM50 motorway,a semi-ring roadwhich runs around the south, west and north of the city, connects important national primary routes to the rest of the country. In 2008, theWest-Linktoll bridge was replaced by theeFlowbarrier-free tolling system, with a three-tiered charge system based on electronic tags and car pre-registration.

The first phase of a proposed eastern bypass for the city is theDublin Port Tunnel,which officially opened in 2006 to mainly cater for heavy vehicles. The tunnel connectsDublin Portand theM1 motorwayclose to Dublin Airport. The city is also surrounded by an inner and outer orbital route. The inner orbital route runs approximately around the heart of the Georgian city and the outer orbital route runs primarily along the natural circle formed by Dublin's two canals, theGrand Canaland theRoyal Canal,as well as the North and South Circular Roads.

The 2016TomTomTraffic Index ranked Dublin the 15th most congested city in the world and the 7th most congested in Europe.

Bus

Dublin is served by a network of nearly 200 bus routes which cover the city and suburbs. The majority of these are provided byDublin Bus,with a modest number having been transferred to Go Ahead Ireland in 2018. A number of smaller companies also operate. Fares are generally calculated on a stage system based on distance travelled. There are several different levels of fares, which apply on most services. A "Real Time Passenger Information" system was introduced at Dublin Bus bus stops in 2012 in which signs relay display the projected time of the next buses' arrival based on its GPS position. TheNational Transport Authorityis responsible for integration of bus and rail services in Dublin and has been involved in introducing a pre-paid smart card, called aTFI Leap Card,which can be used on all of Dublin's public transport services.

TheBusConnectsprogramme includes a number of proposed improvements to Dublin's bus network, including new spine and orbital routes. The spine routes are intended to increase the frequency of buses along major corridors, and the orbital routes aim to "provide connections between suburbs and town centres, without having to travel into the City Centre".In 2022, Dublin Bus began the process of electrifying its fleet with newbattery-powered buses,with plans for 85% of Dublin buses to be zero-emission by 2032.

Cycling

Dublinbikesterminal in theDocklands

The2011 censusindicated that 5.9% of commuters in Dublin cycled. A 2013 report by Dublin City Council on traffic flows crossing the canals in and out of the city found that just under 10% of all traffic was made up of cyclists, representing an increase of 14.1% over 2012 and an 87.2% increase over 2006 levels. The increase was attributed to measures such as the Dublinbikes bike rental scheme, the provision of cycle lanes, public awareness campaigns to promote cycling and the introduction of the 30 km/h city centre speed limit.

Dublin City Council began installing cycle lanes and tracks throughout the city in the 1990s, and as of 2012the city had over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of specific on- and off-road tracks for cyclists.In 2011, the city was ranked 9th of major world cities on theCopenhagenize Index of Bicycle-Friendly Cities.The same index showed a fall to 15th in 2015,and Dublin was outside the top 20 in 2017.

Dublinbikesis aself-service bicycle rental schemewhich has been in operation in Dublin since 2009. Sponsored byJCDecauxandJust Eat,the scheme consists of hundreds of unisex bicycles stationed at 44 terminals throughout the city centre. Users must make a subscription for either an annual Long Term Hire Card or purchase a three-day ticket.As of 2018,Dublinbikes had over 66,000 long-term subscribers making over 2 million journeys per year.

Rail

Luastrams at theTallaghtterminus

HeustonandConnollystations are the two main railway termini in Dublin. Operated byIarnród Éireann,theDublin Suburban Railnetwork consists of five railway lines serving the Greater Dublin Area and commuter towns such asDroghedaandDundalkin County Louth,GoreyinCounty Wexford,and extending as far asPortlaoisein County Laois, and once a day toNewry.One of the five lines is the electrifiedDublin Area Rapid Transit(DART) line, which runs primarily along the coast of Dublin, comprising 31 stations, fromMalahideandHowthsouthwards as far asBrayandGreystonesin County Wicklow.Commuter railoperates on the other four lines using Irish Raildiesel multiple units.In 2013, passengers for DART and Dublin Suburban lines were 16 million and 11.7 million, respectively (around 75% of all Irish Rail passengers).

Dublin once had an extensive system oftramsbut this was largely phased out by 1949. A newlight railsystem, often described as a tram system, theLuas,was launched in 2004, and is run byTransdevIreland (under contract fromTransport Infrastructure Ireland), carrying over 34 million passengers annually.The network consists of two interconnecting lines; theRed Linelinks theDocklandsand city centre with the south-western suburbs ofTallaghtandSaggart,while theGreen Lineconnects northern inner city suburbs and the main city centre with suburbs to the south of the city includingSandyfordandBrides Glen,mostly along the former route of theHarcourt Street railway line.Together these lines comprise a total 67 stops and 44.5 kilometres (27.7 mi) of track.Construction of a 6 km extension to the Green Line, bringing it into the north of the city, commenced in June 2013 and was opened for passenger travel on 9 December 2017.

Ametroservice is proposed under the name ofMetrolink,and planned to run from Dublin'snorthsidetoCharlemontviaDublin AirportandSt. Stephen's Green.

Rail and ferry

Dublin Connollyis connected by bus toDublin Portand ferries run byIrish FerriesandStena LinetoHolyheadfor connecting trains on theNorth Wales Coast LinetoChester,CreweandLondon Euston.Dublin Connollyto Dublin Port can be reached viaAmiens Street, DublinintoStore Streetor by Luas viaBusáraswhereDublin Busoperates services to the Ferry Terminal.

Air

Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport(owned and operated byDAA) is located north of Dublin city, nearSwordsin the administrative county ofFingal.The headquarters of Ireland's flag carrierAer Lingusand regional airlineCityJetare located there, and those of low-cost carrierRyanairnearby. The airport offers a short and medium-haul network, domestic services to regional airports in Ireland, and long-haul services to the United States, Canada, the Middle East and Hong Kong. Dublin Airport is the 11th busiest in the European Union,and by far the busiest airport on the island of Ireland.

In 2015 and 2016, transatlantic traffic grew, with 158 summer flights a week to North America, making it the sixth largest European hub for that route over the year.Transatlantic traffic was also the fastest-growing segment of the market for the airport in 2016, in which a 16% increase from 2015 brought the yearly number of passengers travelling between Dublin and North America to 2.9 million.

From 2010 to 2016, Dublin Airport saw an increase of nearly 9.5 million passengers in its annual traffic,as the number of commercial aircraft movements has similarly followed a growth trend from 163,703 in 2013 to 191,233 in 2015.

In 2019, Dublin Airport was the 12th busiest airport in Europe, with almost 33 million passengers passing through the airport.

Other air transport

Dublin is also served byWeston Airportand other small facilities, by a range of helicopter operators, and the military and some State services useCasement Aerodromenearby.

Education

Dublin is the largest centre of education in Ireland, and is home to four universities and a number of other higher education institutions. It was the European Capital of Science in 2012.

Trinity College

The Old Library atTrinity College

TheUniversity of Dublinis the oldest university in Ireland, dating from the 16th century, and is located in the city centre. Its sole constituent college,Trinity College(TCD), was established byRoyal Charterin 1592 underElizabeth I.It was closed to Roman Catholics until 1793, and theCatholic hierarchythen banned Roman Catholics from attending until 1970.It is situated in the city centre, on College Green, and has over 18,000 students.

TheNational University of Ireland(NUI) has its seat in Dublin, which is also the location of the associatedconstituent universityofUniversity College Dublin(UCD), which has over 30,000 students. Founded in 1854, it is now the largest university in Ireland. UCD's main campus is at Belfield, about 5 km (3 mi) from the city centre, in the southeastern suburbs.

As of 2019, Dublin's principal, and Ireland's largest, institution for technological education and research,Dublin Institute of Technology(DIT), with origins in 1887, has merged with two major suburban third level institutions,Institute of Technology, TallaghtandInstitute of Technology, Blanchardstown,to formTechnological University Dublin,Ireland's second largest university by student population. The new university offers a wide range of courses in areas include engineering, architecture, the sciences, health, journalism, digital media, hospitality, business, art and design, music and the humanities programmes, and has three long-term campuses, atGrangegorman,Tallaght and Blanchardstown.

Dublin City University(DCU), formerly theNational Institute for Higher Education(NIHE) Dublin, offers courses in business, engineering, science, communication courses, languages and primary education. It has around 16,000 students, and its main campus is located about 7 km (4 mi) from the city centre, in the northern suburbs. Aside from the main Glasnevin Campus, the Drumcondra campuses includes the formerSt. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondranow also hosting students from the nearbyMater Dei Institute of Educationand students from theChurch of Ireland College of Educationat the DCU Campus atAll Hallows College.

TheRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland(RCSI) conducts a medical school which is both a university (since 2019) and a recognised college of the NUI, and is situated atSt. Stephen's Greenin the city centre; there are also large medical schools within UCD and Trinity College. TheNational College of Art and Design(NCAD) provides education and research in art, design and media. TheNational College of Ireland(NCI) is also based in Dublin, as well as theEconomic and Social Research Institute,a social science research institute, onSir John Rogerson's Quay,and theDublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

TheInstitute of International and European Affairsis also in Dublin.Dublin Business School(DBS) is Ireland's largest private third level institution with over 9,000 students located on Aungier Street, andGriffith College Dublinhas its main facility in Portobello. There are also smaller specialised colleges, includingThe Gaiety School of Acting.The Irish public administration and management training centre has its base in Dublin, the Institute of Public Administration provides a range of undergraduate and post graduate awards via the National University of Ireland and in some instances, Queen's University Belfast.

Dublin is also home to theRoyal Irish Academy,membership of which is considered Ireland's highest academic honour.

The suburban town of Dún Laoghaire is home to theDún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology(IADT), which supports training and research in art, design, business, psychology and media technology. Dublin joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2019.

Demographics

See also:Demographics of County Dublin

Dublin (city) population pyramid in 2022

Main immigrant groups in Dublin City and suburbs (2016)

Nationality	Population
Poland	33,751
UK	19,196
Romania	16,808
Lithuania	9,869
Brazil	8,903
Italy	6,834
India	6,546
Spain	6,341
Latvia	5,771
Mainland China	5,748
France	5,576
United States	4,042
Nigeria	2,563
Pakistan	2,515
Philippines	2,204

The City of Dublin is the area administered byDublin City Council.The traditionalCounty Dublinincludes the city and the administrative counties ofDún Laoghaire–Rathdown,FingalandSouth Dublin.TheGreater Dublin Areaincludes County Dublin and the adjoining counties,County Kildare,County MeathandCounty Wicklow.

In the2022 census,the population of the City of Dublin was 592,713,while the population of Dublin city and suburbs was 1,263,219.County Dublin had a population of 1,458,154,and the population of the Greater Dublin Area was 2,082,605.

Of the population of Dublin city and its suburbs, 62.9% (794,925) were born in Dublin, 26.6% (336,021) were born outside of Ireland, while the remaining 10.5% (132,273) were born in a county other than Dublin.

AfterWorld War II,Italians were by far the largest immigrant group in both Dublin and Ireland and became synonymous with the catering and restaurant landscape.Since the late 1990s, Dublin has experienced a significant level of net immigration, with the greatest numbers coming from the European Union, especially the United Kingdom, Poland and Lithuania.There is also immigration from outside Europe, including from Brazil, India, the Philippines, China and Nigeria. Dublin is home to a greater proportion of newer arrivals than any other part of the country. Sixty percent of Ireland's Asian population lives in Dublin.

The capital attracts the largest proportion of non-Catholic migrants from other countries. Increased secularisation in Ireland has prompted a drop in regular Catholic church attendance in Dublin from over 90 percent in the mid-1970s down to 14 percent according to a 2011 survey and less than 2% in some areasAs of the2016 census,68.2% of Dublin's population identified as Catholic, 12.7% as other stated religions, with 19.1% having no religion or no religion stated.

According to the 2022 census, the population ofCounty Dublinself-identified as 80.4% white (68.0% white Irish, 12.0% other white and 0.4% Irish traveller), 5.8% Asian, 3.0% mixed backgrounds, 2.2%Blackand 8.5% not stated.In the same census, the ethnic makeup of Dublin city was 76.81% white (including 64.23% white Irish and 12.19% other white people), 12.98% not stated, 5.11% Asian, 3.50% other and 1.58%black.

As of July 2018,there were 1,367 families within the Dublin region living in homeless accommodation or other emergency housing.

Culture

National Museum of Ireland

The arts

Dublin has a significant literary history, and produced many literary figures, includingNobel laureatesWilliam Butler Yeats,George Bernard ShawandSamuel Beckett.Other influential writers and playwrights includeOscar Wilde,Jonathan Swiftand the creator ofDracula,Bram Stoker.It is also the location of key and notable works ofJames Joyce,includingUlysses,which is set in Dublin and includes much topical detail.Dublinersis a collection of short stories by Joyce about incidents and typical characters of the city during the early 20th century. Other renowned writers includeJ. M. Synge,Seán O'Casey,Brendan Behan,Maeve Binchy,John BanvilleandRoddy Doyle.Ireland's biggest libraries and literary museums are found in Dublin, including theNational Print Museum of IrelandandNational Library of Ireland.In July 2010, Dublin was named as a UNESCOCity of Literature,joiningEdinburgh,MelbourneandIowa Citywith the permanent title.

Book of Kells

Handel's oratorioMessiahwas first performed atNeal's Music Hall,inFishamble Street,on 13 April1742.

There are several theatres within the city centre, and various well-known actors have emerged from the Dublin theatrical scene, includingNoel Purcell,Michael Gambon,Brendan Gleeson,Stephen Rea,Colin Farrell,Colm MeaneyandGabriel Byrne.The best known theatres include theGaiety,Abbey,Olympia,Gate,andGrand Canal.The Gaiety specialises in musical and operatic productions, and also opens its doors after the evening theatre production to host a variety of live music, dancing, and films. The Abbey was founded in 1904 by a group that includedYeatswith the aim of promoting indigenous literary talent. It went on to provide a breakthrough for some of the city's most famous writers, such asSynge,Yeats himself and George Bernard Shaw. The Gate was founded in 1928 to promote European and American Avant Garde works. The Grand Canal Theatre is a newer 2,111 capacity theatre which opened in 2010 in theGrand Canal Dockarea.

Apart from being the focus of the country's literature and theatre, Dublin is also the focal point for much ofIrish artand the Irish artistic scene. TheBook of Kells,a world-famous manuscript produced by Celtic monks in AD 800 and an example ofInsular art,is on display inTrinity College.TheChester Beatty Libraryhouses a collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books anddecorative artsassembled by American mining millionaire (and honorary Irish citizen)Sir Alfred Chester Beatty(1875–1968). The collections date from 2700 BCE onwards and are drawn from Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

Mosaic of the coat of arms of Dublin on the floor of City Hall

In addition publicart galleriesare found across the city and are free to visit, including theIrish Museum of Modern Art,theNational Gallery,theHugh Lane Municipal Gallery,the Douglas Hyde Gallery,theProject Arts Centreand the exhibition space of theRoyal Hibernian Academy.Private galleries in Dublin include Green on Red Gallery,Kerlin Gallery,Kevin Kavanagh Gallery and Mother's Tankstation.

Three branches of theNational Museum of Irelandare located in Dublin:ArchaeologyinKildare Street,Decorative Arts and HistoryinCollins BarracksandNatural HistoryinMerrion Street.Dublin is home to theNational College of Art and Design,which dates from 1746, andDublin Institute of Design,founded in 1991.Dubliniais aliving historyattraction showcasing the Viking and Medieval history of the city.

Dublin has long had an 'underground' arts scene, with Temple Bar hosting artists in the 1980s, and spaces such as the Project Arts Centre acting as a hub for collectives and new exhibitions.The Guardiannoted that Dublin's independent and underground arts flourished during the economic recession ofc. 2010.Dublin also has many dramatic, musical and operatic companies, including Festival Productions, Lyric Opera Productions, the Pioneers' Musical & Dramatic Society,Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society,the Glasnevin Musical Society, Third Day Chorale, Second Age Theatre Company,Irish National Opera.

Dublin was shortlisted to beWorld Design Capital2014.TaoiseachEnda Kennywas quoted to say that Dublin "would be an ideal candidate to host the World Design Capital in 2014".

In October 2021, Dublin was shortlisted for theEuropean Commission's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award along withBordeaux,Copenhagen,Florence,Ljubljana,Palma de MallorcaandValencia.

Entertainment

Dublin has a vibrant nightlife and is reputedly one of Europe's most youthful cities, with an estimate of 50% of citizens being younger than 25.There are many pubs across the city centre, with the area aroundSt. Stephen's GreenandGrafton Street,especiallyHarcourt Street,Camden Street,Wexford StreetandLeeson Street,the location of many nightclubs and pubs.

Temple Bar

The best known area for nightlife isTemple Bar,south of the River Liffey. The area has become popular among tourists, includingstagandhenparties from the UK.It was developed as Dublin's cultural quarter and does retain this spirit as a centre for small arts productions, photographic and artists' studios, and in the form of street performers and small music venues; however, it has been criticised as overpriced, false and dirty by Lonely Planet.The areas around Leeson Street, Harcourt Street, South William Street and Camden/George's Street are popular nightlife spots for locals.

Music

Live music is played on streets and at venues throughout Dublin, and the city has produced several musicians and groups of international success, includingthe Dubliners,Thin Lizzy,the Boomtown Rats,U2,the Script,Sinéad O'Connor,Boyzone,Kodaline,Fontaines D.C.andWestlife.Dublin has several mid-range venues that host live music throughout the week, includingWhelansandVicar Street.The3Arenavenue in theDublin Docklandsplays host to visiting global performers.

Shopping

Moore StreetMarket

Grafton Street

Dublin city centre is a popular shopping destination for both locals and tourists. The city has numerous shopping districts, particularly aroundGrafton StreetandHenry Street.The city centre is also the location of large department stores, includingArnotts,Brown Thomasand (prior to its 2015 closure)Clerys.

While the city has seen the loss of some traditional market sites,Moore Streetremains one of the city's oldest trading districts.There has also been some growth in local farmers' markets and other markets.In 2007,Dublin Food Co-oprelocated to a warehouse inThe Libertiesarea, where it is home to market and community events.Suburban Dublin has several modern retail centres, includingDundrum Town Centre,Blanchardstown Centre,the Squarein Tallaght,Liffey Valley Shopping CentreinClondalkin,Omni Shopping CentreinSantry,Nutgrove Shopping CentreinRathfarnham,Northside Shopping CentreinCoolockandSwords PavilionsinSwords.

Media

Dublin is the centre of both media and communications in Ireland, with many newspapers, radio stations, television stations and telephone companies based there.RTÉis Ireland's national state broadcaster, and is based inDonnybrook.Fair Cityis RTÉ's soap opera, located in the fictional Dublin suburb ofCarraigstown.

Virgin Media Television,eir Sport,MTV IrelandandSky Newsare also based in the city. The headquarters ofAn Postand telecommunications companies such asEir,as well as mobile operatorsVodafoneand3are all located there. Dublin is also the headquarters of national newspapers such asThe Irish TimesandIrish Independent,as well as local newspapers such asThe Evening Herald.

As well as being home toRTÉ Radio,Dublin also hosts the national radio networksToday FMandNewstalk,and local stations. Commercial radio stations based in the city include4fm(94.9MHz),Dublin's 98FM(98.1 MHz),Radio Nova 100FM(100.3 MHz),Q102(102.2 MHz),SPIN 1038(103.8 MHz),FM104(104.4 MHz),Sunshine 106.8(106.8 MHz). There are also numerous community and special interest stations, includingDublin City FM(103.2 MHz),Dublin South FM(93.9 MHz),Liffey Sound FM(96.4 MHz),Near FM(90.3 MHz), andRaidió Na Life(106.4 MHz).

Sport

GAA

Croke Park

Croke Parkis the largest sport stadium in Ireland. The headquarters of theGaelic Athletic Association,it has a capacity of 82,300. It is the third-largest stadium in Europe afterNou Campin Barcelona andWembley Stadiumin London.It hosts the premierGaelic footballandhurlinggames,international rules footballand irregularly other sporting and non-sporting events including concerts. Muhammad Ali fought there in 1972 and it played host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003Special Olympics.It also has conference and banqueting facilities. There is a GAA Museum there and tours of the stadium are offered, including a rooftop walk of the stadium. During the redevelopment ofLansdowne Road,Croke Park played host to theIrish Rugby Union TeamandRepublic of Ireland national football teamas well as hosting theHeineken Cuprugby2008–09 semi-finalbetween Munster and Leinster, which set a world record attendance for a club rugby match.TheDublin GAAteam plays most of their home league hurling games atParnell Park.

Rugby Union

Aviva Stadium

IRFU Stadium Lansdowne Roadwas laid out in 1874. This was the venue for home games of both the Irish Rugby Union Team and the Republic of Ireland national football team. A joint venture between theIrish Rugby Football Union,theFAIand the Government, saw it redeveloped into a new state-of-the-art 50,000 seatAviva Stadium,which opened in May 2010.Lansdowne Road/Aviva Stadium hosted theHeineken Cup finalin 1999, 2003, and 2013, and is also due to host the 2023 final.Rugby unionteamLeinster Rugbyplay their competitive home games in theRDS Arenaand theAviva Stadium,whileDonnybrook Stadiumhosts their friendlies and A games, Ireland A and Women, Leinster Schools and Youths and the home club games ofAll Ireland LeagueclubsOld WesleyandBective Rangers.County Dublinis home for 13 of the senior rugby union clubs in Ireland including 5 of the 10 sides in the top division 1A.

Association football

Dublin is home to fiveLeague of Irelandassociation football clubs:Bohemian,Shamrock Rovers,Shelbourne,St Patrick's AthleticandUniversity College Dublin.The first Irish side to reach the group stages of a European competition (2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage) areShamrock Rovers,who play atTallaght StadiuminSouth Dublin.Bohemian F.Cplay atDalymount Park,the oldest football stadium in the country, and home ground for theIreland football teamfrom 1904 to the 1970s.St Patrick's Athleticplay atRichmond Park;University College Dublinat theUCD BowlinDún Laoghaire–Rathdown;andShelbourneatTolka Park.Tolka Park, Dalymount Park, UCD Bowl and Tallaght Stadium, along with theCarlisle GroundsinBray,hosted all Group 3 games in the intermediary round of the2011 UEFA Regions' Cup.TheAviva Stadiumhosted the2011 UEFA Europa League finaland the2024 UEFA Europa League final.

Cricket

Dublin has twoODI cricket groundsinCastle Avenue(Clontarf Cricket Club) andMalahide Cricket Club Ground.College Parkhas Test status and played host to Ireland's first Test cricket match, a women's match against Pakistan in 2000.The men's Irish cricket team also played their firstTest matchagainstPakistanat Malahide Cricket Club Ground during 2018.Leinster Lightningplay their homeinter-provincialmatches in Dublin at College Park.

Other

TheDublin Marathonhas been run since 1980 at the end of October. TheWomen's Mini Marathonhas been run since 1983 on the first Monday in June, which is also a bank holiday in Ireland. It is said to be the largest all female event of its kind in the world.TheGreat Ireland Runtakes place in Dublin's Phoenix Park in mid-April.

Two Dublin baseball clubs compete in theIrish Baseball League.The Dublin Spartans and the Dublin Bay Hurricanes are both based at The O'Malley Fields atCorkagh Park.The Portmarnock Red Rox, from outside the city, competes in the Baseball Ireland B League.

The Dublin area hostsgreyhound racingatShelbourne Parkandhorse racingatLeopardstown.The Dublin Horse Show takes place at theRDS,which hosted theShow Jumping World Championshipsin 1982. The national boxing arena is located inThe National Stadiumon theSouth Circular Road.TheNational Basketball Arenais located in Tallaght, is the home of theIrish basketball team,the venue for the basketball league finals, and has also hosted boxing and wrestling events.The National Aquatic CentreinBlanchardstownis Ireland's largest indoor water leisure facility. There are alsoGaelic Handball,hockey and athletics stadia, most notably Morton Stadium inSantry,which held the athletics events of the2003 Special Olympics.

Cuisine

As of the 2022Michelin Guide,six Dublin restaurants shared nineMichelin stars– includingRestaurant Patrick Guilbaud,LiathandChapter Onewith two.Irish-bornKevin Thorntonwas awarded two Michelin stars in 2001 – though his restaurant,Thornton's,closed in 2016.TheDublin Institute of Technologycommenced a bachelor's degree in culinary skills in 1999.

Historically, Irish coffee houses and cafes were associated with those working in media.Since the beginning of the 21st century, with the growth of apartment living in the city, Dublin's cafés attracted younger patrons looking for an informal gathering place and an ad hoc office.Cafés became more popular in the city, and Irish-owned coffee chains like Java Republic, Insomnia, and O'Brien's Sandwich Bars now compete internationally. In 2008, Irish barista Stephen Morrissey won the title of World Barista Champion.

English and Irish languages

Dublin was traditionally a city of two languages, English andIrish,a situation found also in the area around it,the Pale.The Irish of County Dublin represented the easternmost extension of a broad central dialect area which stretched between Leinster andConnacht,but had its own local characteristics. It may also have been influenced by the eastUlsterdialect ofCounty MeathandCounty Louthto the north.

In the words of a 16th-century English administrator,William Gerard(1518–1581): "All Englishe, and the most part with delight, even in Dublin, speak Irishe".TheOld EnglishhistorianRichard Stanihurst(1547–1618) wrote as follows: "When their posteritie became not altogither so warie in keeping, as their ancestors were valiant in conquering, the Irish language was free dennized in the English Pale: this canker tooke such deep root, as the bodie that before was whole and sound, was by little and little festered, and in manner wholly putrified".

English authorities of the Cromwellian period accepted the fact that Irish was widely spoken in the city and its surrounds. In 1655 several local dignitaries were ordered to oversee a lecture in Irish to be given in Dublin. In March 1656 a converted Catholic priest, Séamas Corcy, was appointed to preach in Irish at Bride's parish every Sunday, and was also ordered to preach atDroghedaandAthy.In 1657 the English colonists in Dublin presented a petition to the Municipal Council complaining that in Dublin itself "there is Irish commonly and usually spoken".

In early 18th century Dublin, Irish was the language of a group of poets and scribes led by Seán and Tadhg Ó Neachtain.Scribal activity in Irish persisted in Dublin right through the 18th century.There were still native Irish speakers in County Dublin at the time of the 1851 census.

Though the number of Irish speakers declined throughout Ireland in the 19th century, the end of the century saw aGaelic revival,centred in Dublin and accompanied by renewed literary activity.This was the harbinger of a steady renewal of urban Irish, though with new characteristics of its own.

Current era

The native language of most Dubliners today is English, and several local dialects are subsumed under the labelDublin English.Dublin also has many thousands of habitual Irish speakers, with the2016 censusshowing that daily speakers (outside the education system) numbered 14,903. They form part of an urban Irish-speaking cohort which is generally better-educated than monoglot English speakers.

The Dublin Irish-speaking cohort is supported by a number of Irish-medium schools. There are 12,950 students in the Dublin region attending 34gaelscoileanna(Irish-language primary schools) and 10gaelcholáistí(Irish-language secondary schools).

Two Irish language radio stations,Raidió Na LifeandRTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta,have studios in the city, and the online stationRaidió Rí-Rábroadcasts from studios in the city. A number of Irish language agencies are also located in the capital.Conradh na Gaeilgeoffers language classes and is used as a meeting place for different groups.The closest Gaeltacht to Dublin is theCounty MeathGaeltachtofRáth CairnandBaile Ghibwhich is 55 km (34 mi) away.

International relations

Dublin city council has an International Relations Unit, established in 2007. It works on hosting of international delegations, staff exchanges, international promotion of the city, twinning and partnerships, work with multi-city organisations such asEurocities,economic partnerships and advice to other Council units.

Twin and partner cities

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland

Dublin istwinnedwith five places:

City	Nation	Since
San Jose	United States	1986
Liverpool	United Kingdom	1997
Barcelona	Spain	1998
Beijing	China	2011
Ramallah	Palestine	2023

The city also has "friendship" or "co-operation agreements" with a number of other cities:Moscow(since 2009) andSt Petersburg(since 2010) in Russia andGuadalajarain Mexico (since 2013),and has previously proposed an agreement withRio de Janeiroalso.Previous agreements have included those withMexico City(2014−2018),Tbilisiin Georgia (2014−2017) andWuhanin China (2016−2019).

Notable people

Main article:List of people from Dublin

See also

• Dublin English
• List of people from Dublin
• List of subdivisions of County Dublin

References

Sources

• Maxwell, Constantia (1997).Dublin Under the Georges.Lambay Books.ISBN0-7089-4497-3.

Further reading

See also:Bibliography of the history of Dublin

• John Flynn and Jerry Kelleher,Dublin Journeys in America(High Table Publishing, 2003),ISBN0-9544694-1-0
• Pat Liddy,Dublin A Celebration: From the 1st to the 21st century(Dublin City Council, 2000),ISBN0-946841-50-0
• Maurice Craig,The Architecture of Ireland from the Earliest Times to 1880(Batsford, Paperback edition 1989),ISBN0-7134-2587-3
• Frank McDonald,Saving the City: How to Halt the Destruction of Dublin(Tomar Publishing, 1989),ISBN1-871793-03-3
• Edward McParland,Public Architecture in Ireland 1680–1760(Yale University Press,2001),ISBN0-300-09064-1

External links

• Dublin City Council– Official website of the local authority for Dublin
• Dublin Tourist Board– Official tourism site
• Dublin UNESCO City of Literature official site
• Dublin Historic Maps, Boundaries & an OSM Miscellany