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Map of Dublin | Dublin Tour Index | Hotels in Dublin | Search | Dublin Weather | Dublin Directory Dublin, Ireland. Tour of the City Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath),is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin region. It has served continually as Ireland's capital city since mediæval times. Hotels and Accommodation in Dublin
City of Dublin
The name Dublin is an Anglicism of Dubh Linn (Irish, meaning "Black Pool"); though some doubt this derivation. Historically, in the old script used for the Irish language, 'bh' was written with a dot placed over the 'b' - thus appearing to be Dub Linn or Dublinn. The Norman French speaking English who arrived in Old Irish speaking Ireland starting in 1169 had no idea the dot over the 'b' signified it was really 'bh,' so they omitted it and spelled the town's name as 'Dublin.' City Centre MAP of Dublin, Ireland - choose a location to start YOUR tour:
Meanwhile, the city's name in Modern Irish - Baile Átha Cliath ("The Town of the Ford of the Reed Hurdles") actually refers to the settlement, founded in 988 by High King Mael Sechnaill II, which adjoined the town of Dubh Linn proper, at the Black Pool. The settlement Dubh Linn dates perhaps as far back as the first century B.C., Baile Átha Cliath or simply Áth Cliath was founded in 988 near by. The two towns eventually became one. The modern city retains the Anglicised Irish name of the former and the original Irish name of the latter. After the Norman invasion of Ireland, Dublin replaced the Hill of Tara as Ireland's capital, with much of the power centring on Dublin Castle until independence. From the 17th century the city expanded rapidly, helped by the Wide Streets Commission. Georgian Dublin was for a time, the second city of the British Empire. Much of Dublin's best architecture dates from this time. The Easter Rising of 1916 left the capital in an unstable situation and the Anglo-Irish War and Irish Civil War left the capital in ruins, with many of its finest buildings destroyed. The Irish Free State rebuilt much of the city's buildings and moved parliament into the Leinster House, but took no bold tasks such as remodelling. After The Emergency Dublin remained a capital out of time, modernization was slow and finally the 1960s saw change begin. In recent years the infrastructure has been changed immensely. (See also Development and Preservation in Dublin) The Dublin Area Rapid Transit allowed the city to have a transport system suited for any modern European city. From 1922, following the partition of Ireland, it served as the capital of the Irish Free State (1922-1937) and now as the capital of the Republic of Ireland. (Many of these states co-existed or competed within the same timeframe as rivals within either British or Irish constitutional theory.) Dublin is a major cultural centre in Ireland. Temple Bar is an important place for night life and often people from Britain and beyond visit for the weekend. The city also has a growing gay community, though homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993 following a case in the European Court. Traditionally a north versus south division has existed within Dublin City (culturally viewed as being the area bound by the M50 motorway), with the dividing line provided by the River Liffey. The Northside (written as one word) is generally seen as being poorer and more working class, while the Southside is seen as middle and upper class and wealthier. This is also reflected by Dublin postal districts, with odd numbers being used for districts on the Northside, e.g: Raheny is in Dublin 5, and even numbers for ones on the Southside, e.g: Sandymount is in Dublin 4. Dublin's middle class liberals are often described as Dublin 4, referring to one of the city's wealthiest postal districts, in which the studios of Radio Telifís Éireann, the national broadcaster are located, as are a number of respected schools, colleges and a university. The modern campus of University College Dublin is located on the boundary of Dublin 4 and Dublin 14. In actuality, the term Dublin 4 or the abbreviated D4 can refer to any middle class Dubliner from the Northside or the Southside or in many cases to simply an attitude that can be found anywhere in Ireland. Many politicians and political commentators live in Dublin 4, while Dublin 4 traditionally takes a strongly liberal stance in referenda on issues like abortion and divorce. The area is also associated with a distinctive accent (not actually particular to the district) which can be pleasing to some and painful to others. The National Print Museum of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, the Chester Beatty Library and three centers of the National Museum of Ireland are located. Photography and content © Red Door VR Limited |
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