Dublin-Ireland | Vibrant and Inspiring Gaelic Capital.


Dublin,is one of Europe's most popular destinations especially for short breaks.The majot city of Ireland, vibrant and inspiring Gaelic Capital with its welcoming atmosphere is friendly as a village and intimate as one of its several iconic Pubs making that centre simply unique and full of life.

Literature Nobel Prize William Butler about the capital of Ireland  said : "Dublin is a city full of humour, Dublin is a city full of wit".A place well known and  famous for its, friendliness,culture,literary inspirations,vibrant nightlife and fun.

The largest city of the country with a population of approximately 1,4 millions of inhabitants including the extra radius suburbs is situated near the midpoint of Irish eastern coast at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Region.

Dublin is a main centre of music and imagination in an atmosphere which often ends up being a little magic.The city is a  harmonious blend of the most classic and traditional Ireland and the past of the typical old England with its Victorian and Georgian houses,huge parks and more a great bustle of everyday life,youthful enthusiasm and great hospitality.

The famous French weekly Magazine Paris Match in a sort of tourist promotion referred to the Irish Capital  suggested Dublin as destination with that famous phrase: "Let yourself be seduced by the charming hospitality of Dublin and the Dubliners it is marvellous sense of celebration"

That was undoubtedly a great message to promote and launch the Irish Capital but that city is so special which could be described in many ways with rivers of titles because in its kind it is unique and inimitable. 

The Irish Capital is a place which inspires at first sight,a cradle of talented people who are the symbol of a city so imaginative and special.About that Austrian Sigmund Freud,known as the father of psychoanalysis after a professional trip to Dublin said and wrote: "Irish and Dubliners are the only people that can not be psyche.They are too prone to creativity..They are Imaginative and ingenious".

Probably that prominent figure was right and it is enough to think about the creations of Dracula by Bram Stoker,The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde authentic masterpieces of literature which were created there in that Gaelic Capital,sublime works by talented artists who used an endless imagination.
  
In addition to that we could continue with other figures as that of Mr.Arthur Guinness,who did not just invent the famed dark beer Guinness stout beer famous worldwide,but also created the even more famous Guinness Book of Records.

With over 80 million copies sold in over 70 countries,the biggest publishing success story perhaps now superseded by Harry Potter Saga.Guinness today is a beer Empire and publications and from Dublin is also Sir William Rowan Hamilton a famous mathematician and the inventor of quaternions.

The current name Dublin derives from the name Dubh Linn which means black pool,it was a lake used by the Vikings to moor their ships and it was connected to the river Liffey while the former settlement in the 2nd century was named Eblana.

Despite that about Dublin name there are many other controversial versions.Founded by the Vikings in 988 by High King Maél Sechnaill mac Domnail.The name according other historic researches is of Scandinavian origin with the name Djup Lind which in the ancient Icelandic language means deep pond, or from the ancient Norwegian word Dyflinn.

A furthe is the famous Gaelic city name consisting in Baile Átha Cliath or simply Atha Cliath which means Town of The Hurdled Ford.

The history of that splendid city is rich in events,civilisations and facts.The current Irish Capital and the country were populated by Celts subdivided in several tribes such as Nemedians,Fomorians,Fir Bolg,Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians.Áth Cliath.

The name of that latter population gave the territory its name referred to a fording point of the Liffey river in the vicinity of Heuston Station. 

Baile Átha Cliath was also a name later applied to an early Christian Monastery which is believed to have been situated in the area of Aungier Street currently occupied by Whitefriar Street and Carmelite Church.Many artifacts,old walls and ancient rests of buildings were discovered on the first site at Wood Quay in the current City centre.

The official date of establishment of a settlement was in in the year 988 but in the 9th century the town before to be captured by the Vikings already was a pretty famous Gaelic settlement.

In the following centuries with the land of that population coming from Scandinavia,Dublin started to flourish at the beginning in local trades and later it began to interact culturally with the Vikings from Norway, Icelanders,Scots and Britons.

During the next centuries until 1124 in three occasion the local Celtic tribes fought against the Vikings and in 1171 the Vikings were expelled by the Anglo-Normans,led by Henry II, king of England who occupied the island.

Until the middle of the 17th century Dublin remained a small,walled medieval town.In 1649 after the English Civil Wars the current capital of Eire was taken over by Oliver Cromwell and at the end of the 17th century however a remarkable growth began with Protestant refugees from the European Continent pouring in Dublin.

One century later Dublin grew enormously in size and wealth and soon became the second city of the British Empire.That prosperity made it an exciting city for the Protestant ascendancy members of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy who had denied basic civil rights to the native Roman Catholic Church. 

In 1800 the Act of Union between England and Ireland abolished the Irish Parliament and drastically reduced the Dublin's status.It was the start of a long decline set in that only began to be reversed after Ireland became independent in 1922.

All  the urban territory was the scene of some of the most severe fighting of the Irish rebellion in 1916 and the revolt from 1919 to 1921 which resulted in the establishment of the Irish Free State.

After the Independence the city it became the political,economic and cultural centre of Ireland and place of the Government of the country Dail Eireann in which was established in the famous Leinster House.

At the end of the 80s there was a revival of a new Dublin with an unexpected economic boom which baptised the city with the peculiar nickname The Gaelic Tiger,a fatal blow which made it back pretty.

An architectonic face lift done in record time,well being that has suddenly turned into a sad Grafton Street shopping mecca designer and turn around immigration flows with many Irish families coming back from America ready to establish new business thanks several prodigal investments.

Visiting Dublin is a great experience and you can start from Trinity College also called in Irish language Coláiste na Tríonóide an emblematic symbol of the city.It is a must,a virtually mandatory during a trip to the Irish Capital.it is the Ireland's oldest university and one of the most famous in the world.

Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I and built on a former Augustinian Monastery known worldwide and so famous for the entire Bible translation.

In addition to those relevant details in that prestigious University studied prominent figures as Jonathan Swift,Bram Stoker,Oscar Wilde and two Nobel Prizes such as  Samuel Beckett Nobel in literature and Ernest Walton who received the Nobel in Physics.

The classical view of Trinity College is actually hidden behind the small wooden doors which are the original entrance,walking through them you will admire the glorious bell tower built by Charles Lanyon in front of the old Rubrics.

The campus covers an area of approximately 190,000 square meters which make up a sort of beautiful oasis for the students.Although in its early days it was an exclusive place for Protestants,in 1970 the University opened its doors to Catholic students.

The Library of Trinity College has the largest collection of manuscripts and printed books in Ireland and in  1801it receives a copy of all works published in Ireland and Great Britain which by now has nearly three million  books spread over 8 buildings.

The Old Library was erected between 1712 and 1732 and it is the oldest of which are preserved. The main hall known as Long Room is 65 meters long and contains over 200,000 of the oldest books of the former library.

The endless bookshelves fill the air with its smell of old wood as dozens of marble busts guarding the room while a glass case exposes the oldest harp of Ireland in which is preserved made by oak and willow with brass strings.

The Book of Kells is the jewel of the library,it contains a Latin text of the four gospels written in ornate calligraphy done with coloured pigments and it is believed that it was created by the Monks of Iona in the early 9th century.

After the sacking of Iona  a an island in Scotland at the hands of the Vikings in the year 806 the Monks who survived moved to Kells.Hundreds of years later,for security reasons,the book was sent to Dublin and came in  Trinity College in the year 1661.

 Today that great and historic masterpiece is located in the Old Library accompanied by a statement explaining its contents.

Another Dublin landmark very close to Trinity College is Banc na Éireann the Bank of Ireland.It is the former,old Irish House of the Parliament at College Green, a magnificent,fine structure in typical Georgian style built by the architect James Gandon.

The building was originally erected in 1729 to house the Parliament but after less than a century with the Act of Union in 1801 representative offices were moved to that of Westminster in London ending the nation's most important institutional body.

It still offers many architectonic elements of its heyday n particular it has seen the House of Lords made by oak and tapestries of the 18th century as well as the fine crystal chandelier.

Inside it also is housed the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre which offers interesting art exhibitions,concerts and literary events.The adjacent islet of College Street outside Trinity College lies a curious 19th century statue of the poet Thomas Moore who shared space with a public toilet as he was known as The Meeting of the Waters referring both to the public bath and a famous poem by the writer.

Nassau Street is well known to be a relevant artery ideal for shopping famous for quality Irish design, including woollens and tweeds both traditional and modern designer styles and also ceramics glassware.

That street is also an ideal place for people with Irish ancestry with a wide number of heraldic shops and Pretty indicated for Irish gifts and souvenirs, it is also famed for being the location in  which the Irish writer James Joyce met his lifelong love : Nora Barnacle in a meeting dating back the year 1904.

Merrion Square is one of the biggest green lungs in Dublin surrounded by Georgian buildings.It is still one of the most attractive areas in the city also known for having been the favourite from the artistic local nomenclature bringing there a bohemian air and also becoming residence of several iconic writers.

One of them was Oscar Wilde who is commemorated there with a statue and two marble columns but also worth a mention Yeats who lived at 52 Merrion Square,George Russell who lived at number 84 and Daniel O'Connell the author of Irish Catholic Emancipation among others.

On its side do not miss to walk along Lower Fitzwilliam Street with the great chance to admire a series of splendid Georgian buildings and apparently the longest in Europe with that kind of architectonic style.

At the corner of  its access on the northern side lies a statue depicting Oscar Wilde made of stone of different colours,sitting on a granite rock.That has been dubbed The Queer with the Leer,The Fag on the Crag or The Quare in the Square,quare is a dialectal Irish pronunciation of queer,fag,those would become as the fag with leering,the queen of rock or the fag of the square.

Merrion Square Park, is also known as Archbishop Ryan Park, is a haven of peace in the heart of the city surrounded by several buildings of relevant architectonic and historical interest such as the Government House,the Senate,the National Gallery, National Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of Natural History.

After its development,it was a private park used only by locals in particular wealthy people who lived in the lovely Georgian houses surrounding that ample green space.For many years those buildings were mainly occupied by leading figures.

In 1930 the Irish Catholic Church purchased the land for the park to build a Cathedral, but that never took place and in the year 1974,the Archbishop Dermot Ryan gave the land to the city of Dublin for use as a public park.

After the death of the Archbishop the park was renamed in his Honor as Archbishop Ryan Park.Under the hill of the grass of the park in the southeast side there are the remains of a bomb shelter which was built to protect 1,100 people by the attacks occurred during the war.

That splendid place contains an extensive collection of sculptures, among which should be noted that of the well known Oscar Wilde and it is also interesting to see the collection of lamps which were used for street lighting of the city during the last hundred years.

Between Merrion Square and St.Clare Street is situated Gailearaí Náisiúnta na Héireann The National Gallery of Ireland.Opened in 1864,the museum hosts a rich collection including over 2,500 paintings and 10,000 other works including,sculptures,watercolours, drawings and prints.

It is a must a visit that Gallery because you can admire every major European School of painting represented by famed artists such as Rembrandt,Titian,Caravaggio,Goya,Zurbaran,Vermeer,Frá Angelico, Reynolds among others.

The highlights of that exhibition are of course the Caravaggio masterpiece The Taking of Christ, Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid by Vermeer and the famous La main chaud by Rembrandt.

The National  Gallery also houses a renowned rich section devoted to Irish paintings with works by Purse,Osborne,Henry and others dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries.Furthermore it also contains a National Portrait Collection and a room dedicated to the works by Nobel Prize Jack Yeats.

Very close to that iconic site there is another symbol of the city the House Number 29 and it worth a visit of course. 

Number Twenty Nine is a Georgian house built in 1794 which recreates the lifestyle of the bourgeoisie class of Dublin between 1790 and 1820.The visit starts with a multimedia introduction in which Mrs.Olivia Beatty the former tenant of the house,introducing the family and her life during the 12 years she lived there.

During the visit of that huge building,in the basement you can see a large kitchen,pantry and also the housekeeper's room.Going up one floor,you can reach the dining room in which there is a wooden bar which was used to cool the wine and that was a stored tea,it was locked closed to prevent thefts by servants.

On the first floor stood a large room dedicated to social events and a little familiar room which is known as the fourth of anger,it was a toilet in which the lady of the house kept her sewing table and a desk.

The master bedroom has a bed made in the early 19th century,a curious chair exercises and a rudimentary toilet.That room even more striking when compared with the austere room of the governess located on the top floor of the building.

It can see some samples of sewing lessons received by children and in the last room of the building,it is place of the nursery where you can see some original toys among them two great fully furnished dollhouses.

If you are fond about ancient art and archaeology in Kildare Street you can visit the National Museum of Ireland.That collection shows many elements of the prehistoric Ireland,including early work in gold and objects of the Viking and medieval periods.

A special mention worth also for a section which displays pieces from Egypt,Cyprus,Middle East and the Roman world.Another space contains some local relevant items such as the Ardagh Chalice,the Tara Brooch and the the treasure Derrynaflan Broighter all famous examples of medieval goldsmith in Ireland.

Very interesting is the collection of  the prehistoric ornaments from the Bronze Age in the country.Many of those pieces were found in the 19th century by farmers when the expansion of the local population led to the cultivation of the land which had not been touched since the Middle Ages.

In Kildare Street you can also see Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann,the National Library of Ireland designed by Thomas Newenham Deane.Inside there is a large collection consisting in books,journals, maps,newspapers, magazines,manuscripts,prints,drawings,printed music photographs and other items referred to the Irish society.

Adjacent to the Library you can admire the iconic Leinster House the former townhouse of the Dukes of Leinster which since 1922 has been the seat of both houses of the Irish parliament.Built in 1745 by Richard Cassels for Lord Kildare, Duke of Leinster it is a typical  county house erected in limestone and the project of the northern side of the house is said to be the prototype for the bow fronted White House in Washington.

The construction was originally built by Fitzgeralds,the 20th Earl James Fitzgerald and 1st Duke of Leinster and the building remained as property of the family for 70 years until it was acquired by the Royal Dublin Society from whom it was bought by the Irish Government in 1925.

Grafton Street is the emblematic Dublin shopping core for excellence,named after the son of Charles II, Duke of Grafton.The street is entirely pedestrian and the atmosphere exudes a great charm,very lively,busy and packed by a multitude of different shops.

Along it you can find the Switzers department stores,boutiques also popular chains,furthermore a lot of street artists,including excellent musicians playing guitar,extravagant human statues bizarre magicians and jugglers all them giving colour and atmosphere to that popular place.

Bewley's Grafton Street Café,situated at the civic number 78 is more than a standard cafe where you can take from a hearty Irish breakfast to tea.Bewleys is a monument and a reference for the citizens and for many people it is the best Cafe in Ireland.

That establishment offers excellent salads,soups,cakes and desserts are other specialities, the local is decorated with marble sculptures and stained glasses and it is an iconic place of the most traditional Dublin.

At the bottom of that street there is another landmark of Dublin,the iconic statue of Molly Malone a sculpture of  a busty young woman wearing a 17th century costume.

Erected to commemorate the Dublin  millennium in 1888 by sculptor Jeanne Rynhart,the locals immediately christened the well-endowed Molly with a phrase the tart with the cart but also the great Irish humour created many other nicknames to that figure such The Dish With The Fish,The Trollop With The Scallop,The Dolly With the Trolley and the popular Molly is the subject of the song Molly Malone also referred to as Cockles and Mussels and  

That song is related to In Dublin's Fair City which tells the story of a fictional fishmonger who sold her wares (cockles and mussels) on the streets of Dublin but who died young and whose ghost is said to haunt the streets of the city.

On 13th June in Ireland was declared Molly Malone Day and all that testify the great popular traditions in Dublin and Ireland creating with imagination characters.

There is also a popular Dublin Hymn related to Molly Malone which says : "In the beautiful city of Dublin, where the girls are pretty I saw for the first time the sweet Molly Malone carrying his cart,to streets broad and narrow crying "cockles and mussels!"

At the end of Grafton Street you can reach Faiche Stiabhna which is the Irish name of St.Stephens Green the Dublin's most famous park.Much smaller than the impressive Phoenix Park but more central and more cared and very loved by locals.

It is a place in which you can admire beautiful Georgian houses and the Arch of Fusiliers who seems to remember some of the monuments of the ancient Rome,a smaller version of the Arch of Titus of the Italian Capital.

That monument commemorates the 212 troops Royal Dublin Fusiliers who were killed in the fight against the British troops in the War between the 1899 and the1902. 

In the park you can also see the splendid Newman House and the nearby  Iveagh gardens,probably the prettiest in all the urban area.The Park is an ideal place for walking or sitting for a while to contemplate the pond and the gardens on sunny days.

Located between the shopping areas of Grafton Street and Clarendon Street you can see St. Therese's Church which began in 1793 but it was not completed until 1808 famous to become the first Church built after the Catholic Reformation.

The interior is curious for its walls decorated with pastel colours as a child's bedroom.It has a plan correspoding to a sort of letter "T" shape and it features three entries from three different streets.The decoration of the Church is is very simple and it has some statues of John Hogan's among which the Virgin and child.

At the top of the walls you can see the seven windows of Phyllis Burke valuable projecting a dim light on the colourful interior.

Do not miss in that area in Duke Street the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl also called simply Duke Pub which is a sort of full immersion in the Irish cultural life.That place is great to know the most brilliant figures of Irish literature,history and architecture and the chance in that legendary and inspiring pub is also to enjoy a big variety of excellent beers.

The other pub Favy Byrnes located in 21 Duke Street is mentioned in Joyce's Ulysses described as a  moral pub and in fact even today,since 1873 it remains a favourite of the literary Dublin attracting romantic poets,writers and students who wants to know more about that iconic establishment.

In Dawson Street is located Mansion House,an iconic and emblematic building erected in 1710 by Joshua Dawson in the street which bears his name.It has been the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715 and it was the site of 1919 Declaration of Independence and the first meeting place of the Parliament.

The original brick building erected in Queen Anne style has disappeared behind a stucco facade added in the Victorian era.One of the most interesting highlights of Mansion House is undoubtedly the Round Room in which the first Parliament met on 21st January 1919 to proclaim the Irish independence and also notable is the large living room in which the cabinet of the Irish Republic met on occasion under President Eamon de Valera.

Externally there is a distinctive metal portico at the main gate and it was built for the visit of Queen Victoria in 1900.

Along that street lies the Church of St. Ann built in the early 18th century,it became soon one of the most beloved religious temple by locals thanks to its generosity.

The Church interior is simple the pews and the high altar of dark wood stand out from the walls painted in yellow colour and some valuable stained glass windows dated the middle 19th century which cast light to the Church.

In 1723 the Baron Butler began donating 120 loaves a week for the poor and that lovely tradition continues to take place after nearly three centuries.

Walking along on King Street you will find Gaiety Theatre which is a venue specialised in Opera performances and musical productions with occasional dramatic shows and pretty famous about its annual Christmas pantomimes such as Aladdin,Jack and the Beanstalk,Cinderella and Beauty and Mother Goose.

Walking towards South you will meet the Dublin Civic Museum which worth a visit to know more about the history of the city.The exhibition is housed in a historic building which was once the City Assembly House and it will show you the different aspects of life in the Irish Capital through the ages displaying a collection of objects starting from the Viking era.

If you are an U2 fan,visit in Wicklow Street  a famous shop called Rock Collector,although it could be called U2 Collector for the big variety of items it has about the famed Irish Rock Group.

You can buy there some of the first singles of the band, postcards,rare photos of the group during their shows but what more striking is the huge amount of video material which exposes such as concerts of all time, broadcast TV,videos made by fans and so on.

Dame Street is a busy avenue with shops,many banks such as AIB, UlsterBank,Central Bank,offices and headquarters of important companies. At thee civic number 64 is situated Peadar Kearney's Pub,a historic and emblematic site pretty loved by Irish and locals because it named after the man who wrote the Irish national anthem, the Amhráin na bh Fiann and performed in a sort of deep patriotism also during many live music shows.

The street is the door to the famous Temple Bar,the temple of Dublin pubs,live music,vibrant nightlife,ideal to spend lively nights enjoying the magic atmosphere of the Irish Capital.

Temple Bar (I wrote a specific post about that area) is the cultural,social centre of the city.For many it is also the Dublin soul,spirit and essence of a city which is never tired to live.Known worldwide for its myriad of traditional and famous Pubs but also for restaurants,unusual shops and clubs and that air which gives Dublin its enchanting charm.

The Pubs are located in very strategic positions along the narrow cobbled alleys located between the Bank of Ireland and Christ Church Cathedral in captivating corner in charming streets with Georgian buildings and small squares under the lights of lamps.

The crow flies in the middle between Trinity College and Dublin Castle near the River Liffey and Temple Bar is something to explore metre by metre because it is unique in its kind.

.In the 18thcentury the area was pretty unhealthy and for example Fownes Street was well known for its brothels and even the most skilled craftsmen of the city had its own shops there until the postwar period.

In the 70s the CIE the national transport authorities decided to purchase some plots of land to be allocated a large bus station but waiting to build decided to rent some of the old warehouses and buildings present to young artists and independent dealers.

Thus were born in a very short time several record stores,clothes and books shops and other small establishments.The area became an attraction and an alternative trendy place so fashionable that the CIE abandoned its initial plans.

There are particularly pubs but also important Institutions which are still up to you the most photographed everything you find along East Essex Street, the Cassidy's Bar in Westmoreland Street,the Photo Gallery and the National Archives of Photography ,and also open-air markets on Saturdays as Temple Bar Food Market with food, fruits and vegetables and the Designer Mart at Cow's Lane consisting in handicrafts and art by local artists working on Saturday and on Sunday.

Temple Bar Book Market is a great place for shopping finding interesting articles and items so if you decided to spend a weekend or a short break in the Irish Capital those place are very interesting and lively.

Historically the area is also known for the nearby archaeological sites of Viking origin and the city's oldest shop on Read's Cutlers which has over 240 years and in the district there is also the oldest street of Dublin :Fishamble Street.

Temple Bar naturally is a name with a fame which crosses seas and oceans so famous for its historic The Temple Bar Pub in 47/48 Temple Bar which is probably one of the most known and photographed Pubs in the world but nonetheless one of the best for atmosphere and products.

Its typical red facade on the corner of Dublin's most fashionable street lies a series of collections of all respect,not just beer but whiskey,music,an outdoor courtyard and the best varieties of Irish Coffee. 

Oliver St. John Gogarty in 58-59 Fleet Street is another highlight of Temple Bar often photographed for tourist magazines and brochures,it takes its name from one of the greats of Irish literature,poet and doctor and it is located in the heart of Temple Bar with a warm atmospheres of the past with shelves full of books,empty bottles and old barrels for seats.

The Doheny and Nesbitt's in 5 Lower Baggott Street is for many people one of the best Pub in Dublin  particularly appreciated for its elegance and decorations and it is often understood as the finest traditional Irish Pubs in Dublin. At one time women were given a room called the snug,all to themselves, to feel free from the prying eyes of men of the neighbouring room. 

Grogan's Castle Lounge situated in 15 South William Street is not a touristic Pub and you ou can consider it very Irish.Its crowd includes local writers and artists,as well as people who live around the corner,a typical Dublin meeting point.

 O'Donoghue's situated in 15 Mertiow Row is best known for live folk music with a long tradition do not be surprised of spontaneous sessions at any time of day or night and among excellent groups which emerged there founding fame and success as the legendary the Dubliners.

An important building of the quarter is Olympia Theatre,built in 1879.It is the Concert Hall,it changed several times name,originally it was called the Star of Erin Music Hall ,two years later in 1881,it was renamed Dan Lowrey's Music Hall and a new name again in 1889 as Dan Lowrey's Palace of Varieties.It hosted performances of music stars of great name among them David Bowie,Coldplay,Bryan Adams,R.E.M among others.

Temple Bar district also hosts the Wax Museum,built on four floors filled with figures of famous people made in wax and furthermore some interactive attractions.

The museum is thematically organised in different rooms which have a sound system activated by pressing a button next to the door.In the fantasy world of all children is possible meet characters like the Simpsons or Harry Potter among others.

The grand hall brings together some Irish legends of rock such as U2, Phil Lynott and Liam Neeson.Wax studio factor is the study of the exhibition where it is possible to prepare a mixed recording the image of the visitors with their favourite music videos and furthermore you can visit the chamber of horrors.

The characters in that space of horrors are to be able to scare the bravest as it is impossible to guess who is next to jump on visitors and finally the Record in wax in the studio you can improvise on the mixer used in the past that some legends of rock and pop as R.E.M and Snow Patrol.

Dublin Castle is probably one of the most important Dublin landmarks,that impressive historic building is one of its most important symbols,located on the south bank of the River Liffey. From 1171 to 1541 it has been the home of the Norman Lordship of Ireland, from 1541 to 1800  the Kingdom of Ireland from 1801 to 1922 the Irish Parliament for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.



It is a atypical castle no drawbridge,turrets no where to pour boiling oil on the heads of enemy invaders a striking though is the beautiful circular tower known as Tower records,the only part remaining from the ancient Norman fortress of the 13th century.

There are various buildings and rooms housed inside,such as the Royal apartments,the Royal Chapel dated 19th century and the remains of the fortress of the Vikings.The Castle was the centre of English power until 1922 for over seven centuries until it was taken of by the Irish Free State in 1922 after the war.

Very interesting is a large fragment of the original Norman fortress and furthermore the State Apartments once the residence of English viceroys and now place for government ceremonial functions and including the inauguration of Ireland's presidents.

The newest developments for visitors are the Undercroft, and excavates site on the grounds in which there was an early Viking fortress.

Chester Beatty Library is a beautiful library-museum located in one of the buildings with many fine works of priceless art collection of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty a mining tycoon who emigrated to America but passionate about orientalist items and all concerning Asiatic Countries..

As a gesture of love for his native land he bequeathed his entire collection to Ireland in 1969.In a total of about 20,000 rare manuscripts, books,decorations and miniature paintings,copies of ancient religious texts like the Bible,the Koran,Islamic texts and numerous objects of different religions, like Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism among others.

Dublin Town Hall is another relevant attraction.It is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the city and it was erected between 1969 and 1779 by the guild of merchants and originally it was created to host the Chamber of Commerce.

Completed in 1779 by the architect Thomas Cooley as Stock Exchange in the year 1840,it ceased its activity almost completely and the building fell into disrepair until 1851 when it was acquired by the City of Dublin and served as headquarter of the Municipal Administration Centre until 1995 and since then it is used to hold meetings of the City Council.

The Chamber of Commerce belonged to the finest European architecture of the time and marked the entry of Ireland in the neoclassical style in vogue on the Continent.The circular hall or rotunda has a large dome supported by twelve columns.

It is an elegant room decorated with statues and some of the the basement of City Hall and it hosts a multimedia exhibition which traces the history of Dublin from the period before the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170 to the present.

The ambulatory is another historical space in which merchants were walking and discussing their possible business.Notice the dome,with the mosaic depicting the city Coat of Arms and statues by Daniel O'Connell and Thomas Davis.

Next to the City Hall you can admire the silhouette of Christ Church Cathedral founded in 1030 by the Viking King Sitriuc Silkenbeard and Dúnán, first Bishop of Dublin an important part of Dublin and Irish history.

The former wooden Viking structure was destroyed during the Norman invasion by King Richard de Clare and the stoned Church was started in 1171.King Richard’s tomb is inside the Church walls and his effigy can be seen just inside the entrance.

The famed Saint Laurence O’Toole was named Archbishop in the year 1150  and although he died in France in 1180 his heart remains in the Cathedral preserved in a shaped box enclosed by iron bars near the back of the Church.

The stocks you can see inside the sacred building were made in 1670 and they were used to punish criminals in Christ Church Place and moved inside the Cathedral in 1870.

Others of the cathedral’s more intriguing characters are the mummified remains of a cat and a rat.According ancient legends the cat chased the rat in a pipe of an organ and both became stuck.James Joyce used the two animals as a simile in Finnegan’s Wake when he describes someone as being "...As stuck as that cat to that mouse in that tube of that Christchurch organ..."The cat is chasing the rat in perpetuity behind glass in the crypt of the Church.

Close to the Cathedral you can visit Dublinia a kind of museum introducing the Viking Dublin history. It is an interactive exhibition which invites visitors on a journey back in time to learn the history of the city during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages period.

The museum is located in the Synod Hall,a Neo-Gothic building erected in 1875 on the medieval Church of St. Michael.The exhibition consists about life in medieval times,but not just a museum,it is also a place where people can wear costumes of those times and a section of the Viking World was added in the year 2005.

All the exhibitions include recreations of scenes from everyday life able to transport visitors to another era.The tour is subdivided in three distinct sections such as the Viking Dublin,the Medieval Dublin and an area known as History Hunters.

Moving back to the year 800 it is possible to know the lifestyle of the old and former inhabitants and to learn how they lived in the that ancient settlement which became later town and city.

Not very often there is the opportunity to enter in the house of a wealthy merchant of Dublin in the Middle Ages,browse the products offered on the market,or strolling through one of the dirt streets of Dublin for hundreds of years.Using an arduous detective work in time it is possible to increase the historical records for insight into the past. 

At the end of the exhibitions you can climb the 96 steps of the medieval tower which belonged to the Church of St Michael but the views are not worthwhile.St.Michael Tower is a 17th century stoned strong tower which offers superb views of Dublin and the Liffey River from its upper platform.

The interior of that building is very impressive with only a metal staircase winding up and the lack of story gives a view of the majestic height of the structure.

Not far from Dublinia is situated Church of St.Audoen,declared National Monument.It was built between 1181 and 1212 and it is one of the oldest medieval religious constructions of Ireland.

Dedicated to St.Audoen, Bishop of Rouen and Normandy in the 7th century,today the Church continues to meet with his ecclesiastical functions despite the years.After his death in the year 684 the Bishop Audoen was buried in the ground of the temple which was dedicated to him and after its construction in 1212 it began to gain importance in the ecclesiastical and civil life of the city.

The 14th century was a time of prosperity for the Church seeing greatly increased the number of people of his Parish and it started to be enlarged with several works which ended in the 15th century. In the interior were created the Chapel of Saint Ann and the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary.In 1773, due to the decrease of the congregation started a new remodelling of part the roof.Inside you can see an exhibition showing how was the former one erected in the 12th century and its expansion during its history.Throughout the exhibition you can see different samples of medieval objects found in its grounds and a piece of one of the paved roads crossing the city of Dublin during the 12th and 13 century. 

Walking along St Patrick Street it is a must to visit an emblematic site of the Irish capital St.Patrick Cathedral.That splendid Church is the largest in Ireland and one of the most beautiful of Dublin.

The dedication to St. Patrick's Day is not random,it seems in that place the Saint baptised the pagan Irish waters with the existence of a well,the same who gave the first foundations of that Christian Temple.

Its origin is dated the 5th century as a wooden Church although a complete building was erected in the 12th century it was destroyed by a big fire in the 14th century and the current appearance refers to a style purely English.

The building originally was erected between 1191 and 1270 and the fire of the year 1362 destroyed the tower and the western side of the nave.St Patrick Cathedral was benefited by a wealthy benefactor,Sir Benjamin Guineess who financed the restoration of the building completed in 1870 and the Cathedral was redecorated in Victorian style keeping some medieval elements of its ancient aspect.

A curious episode is that during his stay in Dublin,Oliver Cromwell kept his horses in the nave.Throughout its long history that beautiful construction has contributed much to Irish life,the writer and satirist Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, was Dean of the Cathedral from 1713 to 1745 and his grave and epitaph can be seen there,undoubedtly a very inspiring place,

The inside surfaces including headstones and monuments which tells its history and that of people linked to it as the Chemist Richard Boyle, the Politician John Philpot Curran and the first President of the Republic Ireland Douglas Hyde apart the mentioned Jonathan Swift and it also serves as a memorial to the fallen in war.

Note also the part of the choir,which witnessed the first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742,there you can hear choir chants every morning and evening.The Choir School was founded in 1432 and many of its members participated in the first performance of Handel's Messiah.

Until the year 1871 the Cathedral served as Chapel of the illustrious Order of St. Patrick, for members of the Knights loyal to the Saint.Today it is is the site of a national series of public events,the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ireland organised by the Royal British Legion and attended by the President of Ireland takes place there every November.

Connolly Station situated on the north side of the River Liffey,previously named Amiens Street Station is one of the main railway stations in Dublin, and it is a focal point in the Irish route network.It was named after Irish revolutionary and socialist James Connolly and it was opened in 1844,it is considered a symbol of National Irish Railways.The building presents an ornated facade and a tower in Italianate style,derived from late renaissance very common in England,Ireland and Scotland.

In front of the station,lies Amiens Street a very busy avenue and from Memorial Road continuing towards Bereseford Place on the right side in Eden Quay you can see the Liberty Hall a modern building 59 metres high which is the second highest in Dublin after the Millennium Tower.

It contains the Liberty Hall Centre designed to cater of social and cultural events,including conventions, conferences,seminars,straight drama, musical theatre and it is the headquarter of many offices of important Institutions such a Industry and Professional Associations.

Custom House is another emblematic building of Dublin, an impressive neoclassical construction dated 18th century,designed by the architect James Gandon to serve as headquarters of the customs of the city port,

Opened in 1791.after nine years of its opening issues related to Customs and Excise were moved to London,so from there it was disabled.That is a building made with a striking architectonic style which emphasises its facade with a Doric portico surrounded by large pavilions,in addition to the bronze dome crowned by a sculpture,a symbol of commerce.

The four building facades are decorated with Coats of Arms and ornamental sculptures by Edward Smyth and Henry Banks.The complex contains,the Visitor Centre,and some Institutions as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

It was used some years ago also place of local administration and during the Irish War of Independence in 1921some members of the Republican Sinn Féin held their fire to the building electoral victory which would cause irreparable damage to it.

In 1926 it began its reconstruction completed in 1928 although in 1980 it has had further restorations.Since there Custom House serves as headquarters of the Ministry of Environment as well as being the most striking building which sits on the banks of the River Liffey.

In Marlborough Street is located The Pro-Cathedral of St.Mary famous for its masses sung in Latin language.Simply nicknamed by the locals The Pro,it was built between 1815 and 1825 on the former Cistercian Abbey of St.Mary.

After its construction,Christ Church Cathedral won the title of Catholic Cathedral of Dublin which still holds today despite having several centuries turned into a Protestant temple.As in every city can only be a Catholic Cathedral and St.Mary cathedral can only become if the Pope revoked the original design and Christ Church ceases to be an unfair way.

Its neoclassical style offers a relevant contrast to most of the Churches of the city,mainly built in Gothic style.
The exterior is inspired by the Athenian Temple of Theseus, carrying six imposing Doric columns while the interior is also completely different from the two Cathedrals with a mixture of Classic and Romanesque styles.

It has often been centre of controversial opinions in which kind of style could be classified for its very peculiar and different details present in the structure.

On the corner of Lower Abbey Street, you can see Abbey Theatre which is the Ireland’s National Theatre and it is an iconic symbol about Irish artistic history.

Founded by Nobel Prize William Butler Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory in 1904,it played a vital role in literature,social and cultural life of Ireland.

Renowned as a writer’s theatre it has contributed some of the world’s greatest theatrical works by important writers such as Sean O´Casey,Sebastian Barry,Tom Murphy and Brian Friel.As an icon of world theatre,the venue welcomes many overseas visitors every year, to assist to important dramas shows.

O'Connell Street is the widest and busy street centre mentioned in Joyce's Ulysses and it has a length of about 900,0 metres with very representative buildings.

That street starts close to Daniel O'Connell Monument and  approximately in the middle there is the GPO,Ard-Oifig an Phoist which is one of the most beautiful and emblematic buildings of Ireland erected in 1818 and for nearly two centuries it is the official Irish Post Office

.It was designed by Francis Johnston in neoclassical style and it was besieged by the Irish independence movement of PH Pearse.Considered a historical landmark,it is mainly made in granite with a stoned porticothe style is a typical Neoclassic Greek revival,the pediment resemble a lot to some temples of Agora in Athens or Attika.

The three statues by John Smyth such as Mercury on the right with his caduceus and purse,Fidelity on the left, with finger on lip and a key in hand and Hibernia in the centre,supported in spear and a harp complete that complex of Neo´Classic Hellenistic inspiration.

The front which stretches 67 m high has an Ionic portico formed by six fluted Ionic columns,the frieze is richly decorated, and the tympanum of the pediment appeared the royal arms until its retirement after the restoration in 1920.

Its historic value and that's where the revolutionaries of the Easter Rising in the year 1916 proclaimed the independence of Ireland,the revolt ended with key leaders arrested and sentenced to death and the declaration of independence as a testimonial document but it laid the foundation for future independence.

In the main window there is a memorial plaque and a statue of the mythical Irish hero and the building survives today thanks to the restructuring of the 20s of last century.

Not far from there you can see a contemporary curious monument the Spire of Dublin.That  monumental obelisk called the Light  is a steel cone 150 metres high whose tip is illuminated at night created to commemorate the new millennium.It is intended to highlight the profile of a very low Dublin buildings but also become a symbol of the city.More striking than pretty. 

The Spire of Dublin in the former site of Nelson Pillar is a new monument erected in January 2003.The famous Pillar of Nelson, in O'Connell Street downtown.

It was flown by the paramilitary group Saor Éire group Free Ireland supported by the IRA in 1966, as their way of commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Easter Rising.Saor Éire only demolished the top of that column,what remained was known as the Stump until it was blown up by army bomb disposal for safety reasons.

 The construction concept was to create a monument dedicated to the light,at night you can see the top with 12,0 metres illuminated.Officially named the Spire of Dublin,over 200 metres high, it has been humorously nicknamed by the people of Dublin with different nicknames such as the Spike, Binge Syringe, Syringe,Stiletto in the Ghetto,Nail in the Pale, Pin in the Bin,Stiffy at the Liffey,Erection in the Intersection and Rod to God.That monument has on its right side a statue of James Joyce, the famous Irish writer with his hat and cane in hand and Some Dubliners denominated it as the Prick with the Stick and it has a privileged location at the junction of O'Connell Street with the main shopping street of the city,Henry Street.

Other monuments still surviving on O'Connell Street include statues in honour of Charles Stewart Parnell at the north end of the street while in the south end there is a statue dedicated to Daniel O'Connell and the statue of the trade union leader James Larkin.

Henry Street, along with Grafton Street, south of the Liffey is one of the two main shopping streets of the city.It is a pedestrian area, not too big, but it is home to some department stores and large shopping centres of the city,such as Debenhams, Arnotts,Penney's or ILAC.It is less stately than Grafton Street, but has much more variety of stores,prices and kind of products sold by the latter.

The street ending with the name St. Mary and at the end of the latter begins the Legal Quarter among its buildings there is the beautiful Four Court which stands towering above the river.

It is home of the Irish Court since 1796,the architecture is notable for its Corinthian columns,a massive dome and outdoor statues carved by Edward Smyth.The building was the centre of fighting during the Civil War of 1922 and it was seriously damaged, but later restored.A very particular note about it,it is that the public is allowed inside only when the Court is in session.

Gate Theatre,founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir is one of the most emblematic theatres of Dublin,initially using the Abbey Theatre's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by European and American dramatists and  Orson Welles,James Mason and Michael Gambon started their careers there.

Behind the Rotunda Hospital and Parnell Square next to the Garden of Remembrance worth a visit the Dublin Writer's Museum which shows the literary history of Ireland and the city through the lives and works of famous poets,writers and playwrights such as Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw Jonathan Swift, among others.

It was created with the aim of promoting the interests of the people in the Irish literature winner of four Nobel laureates.Inside it you will find several of the original works of all those writers who have made a significant contribution to Irish or international literature.

In addition,the museum contains many personal items that belonged to Dublin's most famous artists, including a large number of portraits,letters and photos.

North to O'Connell Street in the north area of the city there is the Croke Park Gaelic Football, with a very peculiar museum of native Irish sports and following the river to the east in a nice walk which passes in front of some old barracks that house the various offices of the National Museum of Ireland you can reach the James Joyce Centre.

That exhibition is  located in a 18th century Georgian building dedicated to the life and works of the great writer.It is nice to discover more about that genius of literature and you are in Dublin so a great opportunity to know more of a talented artist who wrote great works and was an inspiring character for generations of new artists,loved by ordinary people and with several fans for his masterpieces.

When you mention Dublin you also link the Irish Capital to the iconic Guinness Industry beer very famous worldwide.Guinness Store House is  the former factory of Guinness,and it is like an attraction park for beer lovers. 

The Guinness brewery was founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759 who signed a lease for that brewery at a cost of 45 pounds a year and it is today one of the most famous in the globe.The fermentation process continued to be manufactured in that factory until 1988.

The iconic St James' Gate is the centre where are produced 450 million litres of Guinness a year, caters to a country where every day is consumed up to 4 million liters of that popular drink and already in 1930 St James' Gate Factory was the largest employer in the city.

Its more than 5000 workers were paid well above minimum wage and they had many privileges such as housing,health benefits, pension plans,holidays and life insurance.The building was designed inside like a pint, it is a mixture of tradition and combines sophisticated technology with enough exposure dose of advertising marketing.

Guinness Store House is the site most visited by tourists located in a former grain warehouse,that impressive factory has brought fame to the Guinness in the world so it is worth enjoying a tour.

Facilities include multimedia systems and resort to using high-tech audio and videos to tell the story of the company. Situated in the heart of St. James's Brewery according to the Guinness Storehouse website it is the place which has the highest number of visitors in all Ireland.

Since opening in November 2000 Guinness Storehouse has attracted millions of visitors from all over the world,it is amazing to note how a beer factory can reach such impressive goals and results in terms of incoming and as attraction.

The warehouse is distributed over seven floors around a glass atrium,taking the form of a pint of Guinness.Downstairs,the exhibition introduces the four ingredients of that famous drink such as water,barley, hops and yeast, which combine to make a pint of Guinness.

Visitors are also introduced in the 5th floor and the vital ingredient,Arthur Guinness tested himself.Later it tells how the production process,from roasting to fermentation.

The tour continues through a small lab where you can taste the beer and showing you the types of Guinness and from there you can reach in another floor a section to see the different transport systems which has been used to carry beer to all corners of Ireland and in the world. .

One of the spaces is also dedicated to explain the production of old wooden barrels where it was stored the liquid and a video says the complex and costly manufacturing process of those barrels.Through the building,you will also encounter an area devoted to the history of Guinness advertising including video of many well-known TV spots ads over the years and its famous toucan advertising icon,the harp a symbol of Ireland and the famous mark.

The Guinness Storehouse also designed to encourage responsible drinking and you spend an interactive exhibit which encourages the visitor to examine their own habits and recognise the dangers of excessive drinking.

The 7th floor is dedicated to gravity and the dome represent the head of a giant pint of Guinness made by the court.Once inside you can admire a stunning view of Dublin while you taste a pint of that famous Irish black drink.

The city of Dublin is also famous and popular about Whisky industry.The Old Jameson Distillery is an emblematic factory well known worldwide was founded by John Jameson in 1780.

It was for almost 200 years the place in which they carried out the growing production of whiskey.Today the small distillery in Bow Street houses a museum which reveals the artisan process of making Irish Whisky.

The visit begins with an introductory video which takes place after a journey through the process of production and it will take you through the different areas in which were carried out milling, mashing, fermentation,distillation and maturation.

After the long process of making that drink comes the time to the tasting.Several volunteers will have the opportunity to try different types to compare with Jameson Whisky while the rest of the visitors taste a glass of Whisky with Coke or mixed with cranberry juice.

Very close to Jameson Distillery worth a visit St. Michan Church founded in 1095,it was for centuries the only Church located north of the River Liffey but that religious building is not known for that peculiar detail but for the elderly tenants living in their crypts.

It is one of the oldest in the city,it had to be rebuilt in 1685 and restored in 1998,the interior si pretty simple in which you can see an organ dated 1724 still used.

The main attraction  lies in its womb in which several crypts filled with coffins displaying the mummified remains of some former citizens of Dublin.In one of the underground rooms are preserved mummified remains of the brothers Henry and John Seares who were executed to act as leaders during the Rebellion of 1798.

In adjacent rooms you can see the open casket where the mummies lie covered in dust,some of them have their feet cut because they were too high to enter in the coffin or a severed hand in the case of a thief.

Kilmainham Gaol,the former prison of Kilmainham was opened in 1796 has been the home of many of the characters involved in the struggle for Irish independence over 100 years.Today you can see there the cells and common areas which remained unmoved by the many executions.Kilmainham Jail continues to have a special place in memory of the Irish and thanks to the struggle of the brave patriots who were imprisoned and killed, Ireland became independent.

In the prison were imprisoned for all types of people in the same place,women,men or children with minor offences of theft.The dark,cold cell in which they were held only lit by the dim light of a candle,insufficient heat source for a place so wet and cold. 

With the the famine of 1848 thousands of people were forced to steal to eat and this worsened life in prison.Yet there were many who were glad to be in prison to eat something and the last prisoner was released in 1924 shortly before the closure of the prison,that person was Eamon de Valerawho later became President of Ireland.

Although today Kilmainham Jail holds no prisoners still remains a place steeped in history and the prison Chapel is the place in which Joseph Plunkett married Grace Gifford just before he was executed for participating in the Easter Rising.

The corridors leading to the old and dingy cells and ending in the courtyard in which were carried out executions.After the tour you can visit the Prison Museum,which features the objects which belonged to the prisoners.Kilmainham Gaol was instrumental in the history of Dublin and Ireland and it continues to maintain the respect of Irish citizens and tourists.

Not far from the prison,you can visit the Irish Museum of Modern Art,That gallery also known as IMMA was opened in 1991 and it contains a collection of over 4,500 works focusing on modern and contemporary art from 1940 to the present. 

The permanent collection displays over 1,500 works which include photographic works,videos,paintings and sculptures.The exhibitions,both temporary and permanent are located along the rooms of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham which is the oldest classic building in Ireland.

That site is located on the ruins of the Hospital and Monastery of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem,which was built between 1680 and 1684 to become a home for retired soldiers.

The buildings are constructed around a central courtyard in which were situated the rooms of of the former military,the institution welcomed the military between 1684 and 1928 and in 1991 the old residential halls became the home of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Another relevant museum is Hugh Lane Gallery which houses a large collection of modern and modern  art both Irish and internationally.The exhibition opened its doors in 1908 becoming the first municipal gallery of contemporary art in Ireland.

In 1905 the art collector Hugh Lane donated his collection of Impressionist paintings to Dublin Corporation but, realising that exposed in an unsuitable site it was decided to transfer their legacy to the National Gallery in London.

The agreement to transfer the collection to the building of Charlemont House came too late and in 1915 Lane was killed in an accident before changing his will and began a long dispute between the National Gallery and Dublin Corporation.

The Hugh Lane Gallery in Harcourt Street remained until 1933 when it was moved to Charlemont House housed in a  neoclassic building in which remains today. Finally it was agreed to share the collection,so that changes every 5 years between Dublin and London.

Among the exhibits of the museum highlights especially the studio of Francis Bacon,a reproduction of the disastrous room in which the artist worked in his London home.

Opposite the entrance of the museum there is the Hall of Glass a small room where several windows are exposed to many colours projected on the visitors.The gallery also has an important collection donated by the artist Sean Scully in which you can see outstanding paintings from the 80's until today.

The Memorial Garden or also called Garden of Remembrance is a short walk from Hugh Lane Gallery.That park was inaugurated by President Eamon de Valera in 1966 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising.

It is a small park of remembrance and reflection dedicated to the memory of all those killed in the attempt to achieve independence for Ireland and at the bottom of the pond you can see some mosaics shaped Viking weapons.

Those mosaics represent the ancient custom of throwing weapons into the river after a match to celebrate the end of hostile behaviour.At the end of the park stands a bronze sculpture called Children of Lir Children in which some children become swans as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection.

One of the most emotional of the park is the poem We saw a vision on one of the walls,which expresses the meaning of the struggle for freedom by some very representative texts as: " we had a vision, we planted the value tree and flourished".

Dublin is a very green city with the largest Park in Europe and the largest urban park in the world Phoenix Park also called  Páirc an Fhionn-Uisceonly and it measures around 800 hectares with a circumference of 16 kilometres.

Only the park of Yellowstone in USA is bigger than Phoenix Park.Created in 1662 as a deer reserve, it was remodelled in 1745 to open its doors to the public.Located a few kilometres from Dublin city centre it is an important lung for the city and a pleasant place to walk.

The highlights inside that enormous space are the Phoenix Column,a small column topped by a sculpture of the mythical phoenix which gives the park its name and Dublin Zoo which is one of the oldest in the world and it was inaugurated in 1830.

In the park there is also Papal Cross which is the place where the Pope celebrated Mass before a million faithful in 1979.The Wellington Testimonial is another emblematic symbol an obelisk 63 meters high erected in honor of the Duke of Wellington.

It took over 40 years to build.Áras an Uachtaráin which is the official residence of the President of Ireland and finally People's Garden the only part of the cultivated garden in park is located near the entrance to Park Gate.

Today Dublin is also a city of technology American companies have their European headquarters in Dublin.Economic planning efforts have attempted to locate manufacturing plants outside Dublin and the city has had a dwindling share of manufacturing employment since the early 60s.

The manufacturing and exports of computer hardware and software have recently become a major business and Dublin is now the worlds leading exporter of those.

Also located in Dublin is the Internet Neutral Exchange (INEX).RyanAir one of the low cost pioneer air company is from Dublin.Maritime trade besides,has always been one of Dublin's most important activities.

The exquisite and lively atmosphere of the city have determined the presence of other different kind of art as music as well.Dublin is a temple of music,hosting every year several concerts and shows.Live music is popularly played on the streets,Pubs and in famed venues,the city is a great mine of talents and produced several stars.

Cradle of famed musicians and groups of international success,including Paul Edwin Dewson alias Bono and U2,Bob Geldof, Westlife,Sinead O´Connor,Ronan Keating,The Script,The Dubliners, The Thrills,John Drew, Boyzone,Ronan Keating and many others.

 American singer Chris De Burgh lived and studied in Dublin (his mother is from there)and in many occasions he was proud to declare his Dublin soul and  about folk music also in that kind of music Dublin is one of the most important cities in the world with distinguished stars such as Mary Black,Declan O'Rourke,Damien Dempsey and The Chieftains.This last one group won six Grammy Awards more Oscar-winning score for Stanley Kubrick's 1975 movie.

In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC,they played in a concert for Pope John Paul II in an audience of more than one million people in 1979 In Phoenix Park in Dublin to mark the Papa visit to Ireland.In 1983.

They were also invited by the Chinese Government to perform with the Chinese Broadcasting Art Group in a concert on the Great Wall of China, becoming the first western musical group to do that.They were also the first group to perform in the Capitol Building in Washington,in USA invited  by Senator Edward Kennedy and the former Speaker of the House.

 We can not forget the Cinema, also in that area of art.,Dublin is a mine of talents actors as Barry Fitzgerald with a Oscar awarded in 1944,Maureen O´Hara was born in Ranelegh a suburb of Dublin,Dubliners are also the actors Colin Farrell,Gabriel Byrne,Brendan Gleeson,Angeline Ball,Brenda Fricker among others.

Some Hollywood stars as Julia Roberts,Sharon Stone,Johnny Depp said they would transfer their residence to Dublin for all that the Irish city offers.
 
Dublin is a vibrant and inspiring city and it is not a case many Irish and foreign Cinema directors and filmmakers and  many movies were adapted in the Irish city.

 The General and The Conmitent by English director John Bormann and Alan Parker,Bloom by Australian Sean Walsh,The Dead and Veronica Giertin by Americans directors John Huston and Joel Schumacher, Michael Collins by Neil Jordan (starring Julia Roberts) and the Actors starring Micharl Caine,My left foot by Jim Sheridan director,Once by John Carney those are among the most famous but the list as set the Irish Capital is endless.

Literature with many books and bestsellers have as protagonist Dublin the most famous is probably Dubliners a collection of 15 short stories by James Joyce.

The witer also adapted in Dublin Ulysses and Nora,Vengeance in Death and Portrait in Death  by American J.D. Robb alias Nora Roberts,The Deception of the Emerald Ring by New York writer Lauren Willig .

Other works as A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle,The Hard Life: An Exegesis of Squalor by Flann O'Brien, The Mummy by Brendan O´Carroll The Coat: Secrets of a Hatcheck Boy by American- German Red Haircrow and many others.

The rich and vibrant cultural life in Dublin is also theatre and Opera.Several excellent locations tempt lovers of the visual art with world-class actors and performances.

 Dublin also has many acclaimed dramatic musical and operatic companies, including Festival Productions, Productions,Lyric Opera Productions,The Pioneers Musical & Dramatic Society, The Glasnevin Musical Society, Second Age Theatre Company, Opera Theatre Company, and Opera Ireland.

Ireland is well known for its love of baroque music,the largest venue is Mahony Hall in the suburb of Glasnevin and the central area of the capital also abounds of well known theatres such as the Gaiety the Abbey,the Olympia and the Gate.

Their repertoire features plays by world classics, operas, music performances and other genres almost every day,about Opera,Michael Balfe was a renowned musician and composer of Ireland.He is well known for his opera,The Bohemian Girls and as mentioned before Dublin was also the location for the premiere of Handel's 'Messiah in 1742.

Linked to that a must for fans of classic music is the Handel Festival, carried out annually in honour of the great German composer, narrowly connected with the Irish Capital,but also other Dublin musicians left important foot sprints such as Thomas Moore, John Field, Victor Herbert, Luke Kelly and Phil Lynott.

Dublin also offers an excellent cuisine, delicious salmon,lamb fillets,the tastefully Irish stew, bacon and cabbage Dublin Bay prawns and oysters.

Irish cuisine is really great and the city also offers a wide variety of Ethnic Restaurants,furthermore among other things about the famous Fish and chips are popular from take-away outlets,the first fish and chips were sold in Dublin in the 1880 by an Italian immigrant called Giuseppe Cervi and resident in the Capital of Ireland.

Apart the several stunning Pubs Dublin offers,the city is rich of clubs and discos very trendy ideal to enjoy a vibrant nightlife.Pravda,Zanzibar,The Globe,Hogan´s are famous clubs to have fun and enjoying music.

Cassidy's Bar in Westmoreland Street, it is a local with a bohemian atmosphere,with piano bar, and a floor with jazz music and ideal place to enjoy a glass of Champagne or fine wine.

Dublin Airport Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath is located approximately 12,0 kilometres from the city centre.It is easy to visit Dublin by DART which it is the acronym for Dublin Area Rapid Transit a light rail linking the city with the populations around Dublin Bay.

Transportation is a very comfortable,very reliable and not very expensive.A good way to reach from the downtown stations as Tara, Pearse or Connolly Station.From there you can reach several destinations and charming places such as Howth and Malahide and also Bray and Killiney and  you stand there 20-30 minutes from downtown avoiding traffic and also has the price of good views.

Networks of buses are  managed by the companies Dublin Bus,Air Coach and Urbus which provide services to and from the airport and all around the metropolitan area.

Dublin is all to discover and it is so rich of surprises,art, museums and monuments,parks and a great and vibrant nightlife.

Thanks to its past with relevant monuments,Dublin is also a modern capital  able to captivate thee visitors with that mixture of the most ancient Gaelic traditions adapted to the modern world making it a wonderful destination.

Francesco Mari



Recommended Hotels in Dublin

Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
The Merrion Hotel
Hotel Number 31
The Westbury Hotel
Radisson Blue Royal Hotel
Hotel Westin Dublin
The Shelbourne Dublin A Renaissance Hotel
The Gibson Hotel 
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin
The Beacon Hotel


No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks a lot to read and note.

Relais & Châteaux | Two New Entries in Sirmione and Stockholm

  Relais & Châteaux ,  prestigeous association of individually owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants established in France ...