Ireland’s capital city is the largest metropolitan settlement in the country with 1.800.000 people according to a census from 2011. Dublin is situated on the eastern coast of Ireland at the mouth of the Liffey River. Besides its practical use (the river providing much of the city’s water supply) the banks of the river provide an excellent place for recreation. The city followed a development course along the centuries that culminated with Dublin becoming the second-largest city in the British Empire and the fifth-largest city in Europe. Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State in 1922 after the separation of Ireland. 

After Ireland was divided the new Parliament of Ireland was housed in the former ducal residence in Dublin. The Parliament is bicameral and consists of the Lower house and the Upper house. The former ducal residence was called the Leinster House after the Duke of Leinster. When the house was built it surpassed all other houses in Dublin in size and status. An extension wing called the Leinster House 2000 is connected to the ducal palace by an underground corridor.

The capital has been unofficially divided into areas inhabited by certain classes. The northern part of the city has always been considered as an area inhabited by the working class while the southern part is seen as inhabited by the people belonging to the upper-middle-class. Dublin is the Irish city with the largest figure of Asian immigrants with over 60% of the total Asian population in Ireland living here. There are three universities in Dublin and it is a preferred destination for students who want to study abroad.

Dublin has been in a continuous oscillation with periods of decline caused by wars, plagues, and poverty alternating with periods of growth and economic and cultural development. Because it has such a rich past, Dublin is full of interesting things that are waiting to be discovered. In less than 100 years Dublin’s population increased from 50000 people in 1700 to over 130.000 at the end of the 18^th century. The 18^th century is the period when modern Dublin began to take shape. Most of the buildings with unique architecture, in Ireland’s capital, are from that period. Dublin has many monuments and iconic landmarks spread all around the city. The oldest monument in Dublin is Dublin Castle which was founded in 1204. The Mansion House on Dawson Street is another historic building that is a must for tourists to see. It is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715. One of the oldest cathedrals in Europe, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is located near the city center. Other representative buildings and landmarks for Dublin are: the Customs House, Saint Francis Xavier Church, the Trinity College, the National Museum of Ireland and people who want to go for shopping in Ireland’s capital definitely must go to Grafton Street. 

Dublin has a maritime climate so winters are never very cold and summers are never very hot. The most sunshine is in the months of May and June. Due to its location on the Eastern coast, Dublin is not as affected by wind as other parts of the country. Dublin has a very good transport network with most of the road network focused on it. The two main railway stations in Dublin are Heuston and Connolly. The Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) line is an electrified line that runs primarily along the coast of Dublin, from Malahide and Howth. Dublin has an airport capable of offering extensive short and medium-haul infrastructure.

Did you know? ..... 10 Interesting Facts about Dublin

1. Dublin has more green spaces per square kilometer than any other European capital city.
2. Dublin is one of the few capital cities in the world that has two cathedrals.
3. Hail is more common in Dublin than snow.
4. Dublin’s O’Connell Bridge that covers the famed River Liffey is reckoned to be the only bridge in Europe that has the same width as its length.
5. The mayor of Dublin is the First Citizen of Dublin he is surpassed in authority only by the president of Ireland.
6. Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula was born in Dublin.
7. The Oscar statuette was designed by a Dubliner, Cedric Gibbons.
8. The atrium at the Guinness Storehouse is considered the largest beer pint glass in the world.
9. The first maternity hospital in Europe was built in Dublin.
10. Dublin is the IT Call Centre capital of Europe with over 100.000 people employed in the industry.