There is an Irish proverb which says ‘what butter and whiskey will not cure, there is no cure for’. However, Dublin is not all about whiskey and butter. Nor is it about those little green men, shamrocks or a pint (or two - or three) of Guinness.
Dublin, capital of Ireland and home to world known writers and musicians, has been captivating foreigners with its undeniable lust for culture for years.
It has been described as the friendliest European city. Everyone has something to say so you won’t feel like a stranger for long. It is the largest city in Ireland, though it’s easy to walk around and, being flat it won’t tire you out. It offers a myriad of things to do and see, from museums and parks to the busty ‘tart with the cart’, Molly Malone.
Dublin lies near the bay and sits over the river Liffey which in turn runs through to the shores of the Irish Sea. The dark bog water that drained into the river made the ‘black pool’ which earned it its name – Dubh Linn. It is this opening from the sea that leads to the mountains and the fertile plains of Ireland that attracted the Vikings in the first place. Dublin earned its Gaelic name - Baile Átha Cliath (Town of the Hurdle Ford) from a Celtic community that settled soon after.
The pretty 18th century Georgian houses dotted along the streets whisk you off to another realm at a time when the Anglo-Irish high society started investing their earnings into townhouses. This combination of a bygone era coupled with the modern Dublin makes it all the more appealing.
It’s easy to fall for Dublin’s charm and both tourists as well as the Irish themselves have been captivated by its true unique spirit. It’s laid back culture is ever popular with tourists all year round. There is a high concentration around St Patrick’s Day but the city constantly attracts people from all walks of life. Half the city’s population is under 25 adding to its energy and exuberance.
Dublin adopted the Euro as its currency in the historic changeover of 2002 replacing the Irish Punt. The first official language is Gaelic, also known as Irish, but English remains the most spoken language in the capital.
It’s rather tricky to predict the exact temperature forecast and give a general overview. The weather is quite erratic with all four seasons to be expected in one day – sunny one second, torrential rains the next. Snow is not common but expect the city to completely shut down when it happens. That said, the coldest months are January and February, with the warmer months being July and August, with an average of 17 and 20 degrees.
Dublin is brimming with fun or craic (pronounced crack) as the locals say. It might sound odd to outsiders, but no, it has nothing to do with any illegal substance. It’s all perfectly sound entertainment.
And entertainment is what Dublin is all about.
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Luciano Borg is Project Manager at Untangled Media Ltd, a web development company. Before joining UML, he spent 17 years working for English Language Newspapers in Malta, where he worked as a reporter, journalist, designer and night-editor.
www.101Dublin.com is your No. 1 Dublin Travel Guide. 101Dublin.com takes an independent, detailed and realistic view of the numerous things you can do whilst visiting the Irish Capital, ranging from the relaxing to the adventurous and from the culinary to the cultural.
