County Dublin
The centre of County Dublin includes the city of the same name, along with surrounding area, formerly known as the Pale. Here, grand country mansions can be found alongside gardens filled with both native and exotic plants and sites of paramount importance to both ancient and Celtic and modern Irish history. Despite being one of the smallest Irish counties in area, it is one of the country’s biggest population centers.
The Dublin City of today is in the process of continual transformation, absorbing a bit of the trendy allure of other popular European cities. Shops, clubs and outdoor cafes thrive, with recent Temple Bar redevelopment projects responsible for a great deal of the economic and cultural resurgence.
The City of Dublin is also a genealogical information center, containing several fine facilities where natives and visitors can access collections of centrally located information about families and family history. Public records can be searched in Dublin at the National Library, Office of the Registrar General, The Public Record Office and Registry of Deeds, and at the National Archives, located on Bishop Street in the city.
The past exists alongside the present in Dublin, in historic buildings and monuments that stand amid the modern bustle of a changing economic and social landscape. A visit to the campus of Trinity College or a stroll along O’Connell Street provide proof enough that this city has long been the site of events that have changed Ireland forever.
Visitor Attractions in Dublin
The Book of KellsGlasnevin Cemetery
Custom House
The General Post Office (GPO)
O’Connell Street
Christ Church Cathedral
Temple Bar
Chester Beatty Library
Kilmainham Gaol
Dublin Zoo
Phoenix Park
St Stephen’s Green
The National Gallery
The National Museum of Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks
The National Museum of Ireland
The Guinness Storehouse
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Four Courts
Dublin Writer’s Museum
Dublin Castle
Trinity College
City of Dublin
National Botanic Gardens
Dalkey
Newbridge House
Malahide Castle
Highlights
Dublin City contains sights, sounds and experiences for every taste. There is much to explore, beginning with the historic buildings at Trinity College, where the Book of Kells sits on display at the Old Library.
Passing from the medieval world into the more modern, is a recognized Irish institution in nearby Grafton Street, a shopper’s paradise. St. Stephen’s Green offers a relaxing outdoor atmosphere for strolling or lounging in the centre of the city.
Not far away, many of Ireland’s national treasures are concentrated in the National Museum of Natural History, National Gallery of Ireland, and National Museum of Archaeology and History. They are housed in convenient groups according to visitor interest.
The Guinness Storehouse provides an entertaining and enlightening experience for visitors who wish to learn about the most famous brewing company in the world; it offers tasty samples to those so inclined.
Pubs, restaurants and a variety of music, performances and nightlife can be enjoyed all around the city, but are particularly concentrated in the Temple Bar section, known also for its frequent and growing contributions to culture, creative art and design.
O'Connell Street and the famous O’Connell Bridge lead to even more buildings of great historical significance, including the GPO and Customs House. Nearby is the Dublin Writer’s Museum, which houses first edition works of James Joyce, Jonathan Swift and other famous Irish scribes, as well as a variety of manuscripts and personal items.
The fine Georgian architecture of Dublin City is exemplified by James Gandon’s Four Courts building. Medieval and ancient influences can be seen at Dublinia, an experiential attraction that transports visitors back in time, as well as at the ancient crypt located in the lower level of Christ Church Cathedral.
The eerie emptiness of Kilmainham Gaol marks the execution spot of principal organizers of the Easter Rising, while the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle contains an award winning museum featuring exhibited materials from the four corners of the earth.
On the outskirts of Dublin City, Glasnevin Cemetery and the National Botanic Gardens provide quieter and more contemplative atmospheres. The port city of Dalkey offers picturesque scenery, the Martello Tower, and a beautiful beach to stroll at Sandymount Strand.
Finally, Dublin Zoo, one of the world’s oldest, provides education and enjoyment for people of all ages, origins and interests. Nearby Phoenix Park provides room for a variety of outdoor sporting activities, as well as acres of land filled with monuments and important historical residences.
History
Recorded history in the region of Dublin might possibly extend back to the first century A.D. if, in fact, disputed references to the city in the writings of Ptolemy have been interpreted correctly.
It is undisputed that the ancient port city was occupied by the Vikings for nearly 300 years, as well as the Celts, who called it “Dyflinn” or Dublin. They settled near the black pool, as the name is translated from the Gaelic, where the River Liffey intersects with the River Poddle near Dublin Castle, while the original Celtic town was located a bit further upriver.
Perched on the eastern coastline nearest to mainland Europe, the Dublin area was historically prone to invasion from a variety of sources. When the Normans conquered the province of Leinster in the 12th century, ruling authority was transferred from Tara – Home of the Irish High Kings, to Dublin, where the English ruled the city and the area within the surrounding Pale. These events represent the actual beginning of the conquest of Ireland by the British, and the time when the seeds of the Troubles of the last century were sown.
Dublin celebrated its millennial anniversary in 1988. Visitors from other countries, especially the Americas, marvel at this fact – they are accustomed to cities and towns that where a centennial or bicentennial is considered a huge celebration.
Surnames that are common to County Dublin include: Dunne, Behan, Moore, O’Toole, Plunkett, O’Casey, Hennessey, and Byrne.