Dublin
Dublin is one of the most popular short break destinations in Europe, consistently featuring in all top ten most visited cities rankings and renowned for being one of the friendliest capitals in Europe, maintaining a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Dublin is an old city, steeped in history. The Vikings were the first settlers in Dublin and the city began its life as two separate settlements, “Atha Cliath” and “Dubh Linn”. The modern name of the city is derived from these two names. “Dublin” is the internationally recognised name of the city and “Baile Atha Cliath” is the Irish translation.
Dublin is safe, dynamic and welcoming, a wonderful place to visit with a compact city centre – about 3km squared – and all attractions within walking distance. For first-time visitors, there is plenty to see – for culture enthusiasts the capital has all the country’s major galleries and museums, while nature lovers can enjoy the city parks including St. Stephen’s Green and the Phoenix Park – Europe’s largest enclosed public park. Dublin has produced, or been home to, some of the greatest literary names in history. Dublin’s most famous literary son is James Joyce but Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, W.B. Yeats, Jonathan Swift and Bram Stoker are just some of the other famous writers who were born or lived in Dublin.
For those returning to Dublin there will be plenty of change to observe. There has seen an extraordinary amount of regeneration in the last twenty years and the City fathers take it’s architecture and history seriously, with conservation of the grand Georgian squares and elegant streets now the watchword. Other pockets of Dublin have risen like the phoenix from the ashes with places such as the Docklands and Smithfield – an old pony market – transformed into sophisticated residential districts. The banks of the Liffey have been gentrified on both sides, with sculptures, a new walking bridge and a boardwalk.
And for all, there is plenty of craic – Ireland’s hospitality is legendary and Dublin is no exception. The city is renowned for it’s theatre and music, contemporary and traditional. And the variety of pubs is phenomenal with trendy late night bars vying with traditional Victorian hostelries for custom. A new-found love of al fresco living (partly down to the smoking ban) has changed the atmosphere on the streets, with plenty of cafes and bars spilling out onto the streets adding to Dublin’s ambience. For more information visit www.visitdublin.ie
