Dublin: An Introduction

Situated on the East coast of Ireland, Dublin is both the largest city in Ireland and the capital of Ireland. The greater Dublin area has a combined population of 1.6million people. This area takes in the Counties of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow along with the traditional County Dublin area. The city grew from a Viking settlement in the area which was first established in 888 AD. Since then, Dublin has grown, particularly during modern times. During the 19th Century, Dublin was considered to be the second most important city in the British Empire.

Today Dublin is a city in the middle of an economic boom. In the last 20 years the city has nearly completely transformed from a run down city struggling with its identity to its current status as one of the best places in Europe to live. The population of Dublin is predominantly formed by people in the between the ages of 15 and 65. Compared with the rest of Europe, Dublin has a heavy bias towards the majority of their population being in the work force. This young population, many of whom are affluent, have given Dublin a reputation as a party town.

There are a number of areas in Dublin where tourists and the Irish alike gather to enjoy a few beers. Temple Bar is famous across the world for its strange mix of modern establishments set in a medieval setting. The streets and lanes are mainly pedestrian only and there are countless quality restaurants and bars in the locality. Other areas with notable nightlife are Grafton Street and Dawson Street.

Dublin also has a reputation for being an excellent shopping destination. There are several top quality shopping centers dotted around the suburbs of Dublin including Liffey Valley, the Blanchardstown Center and Dundrum Shopping Plaza. In the city center, Grafton Street is the main shopping district, but there is also excellent shopping on the South side of the Liffey in Henry Street.