All About The Irish

Dublin, the largest city and capital of Ireland, is a fast-growing city at the mouth of the River Liffey. Dublin is a cultural and economic center for all of Ireland and has a long and rich history that dates back to A.D. 140. The geopolitical names for the region have changed over the centuries, but Dublin has acted as the capital of Ireland from the twelfth century on. During the period from 1171 to 1541, the area was known as the Lordship of Ireland. Until 1800, it was the Kingdom of Ireland. From 1801 until 1922, it was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Irish Republic of 1919 to 1922 was then partitioned into the Irish Free State, which it remained until 1949. Dublin is now the capital of the Republic of Ireland. The Easter Rising of 1916 destroyed parts of the city center and the Anglo-Irish War and Irish Civil War destroyed much more. For most of the early 20th century, Dublin remained untouched by time. It was often called the 19th Century City of Europe. The film industry took notice of Dublin’s unique architectural situation and realized it was an excellent venue for historical films. The Oscar(r) winning film My Left Foot was filmed in Dublin. Filmmaking became a prominent industry in Dublin and the city began to see increased prosperity. Many of its historic buildings were restored and new, modern buildings began to spring up. Dublin is perhaps best known for its literary history. George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yates and Samuel Beckett are all native Dubliners. Other famous Dublin writers include Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and Bram Stoker. The most famous, of course, is James Joyce. Ulysses, his most celebrated work, is set in Dublin. Today, Dublin is home to several theaters, which specialize in a variety of productions including plays, opera, dance and film. The world-famous Abbey Theater provided a venue for the works of George Bernard Shaw among others. Many current and well-known actors hail from Dublin including Gabriel Byrne, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. The Irish arts community thrives in Dublin. Many fine museums and collections are located within its borders. Rare books, public art, modern art, drawings, prints and decorative arts are well represented in the galleries and museums of Dublin. Dublin’s young population base (possible 50% under age 25) lends itself to a vibrant nightlife and club scene. Live music is available in many popular bars, and the city is proud of the internationally famous bands to come out of their city. Superstars such as U2, The Boomtown Rats and Sinead O’Connor are all native Dubliners. There are three universities in Dublin, including the University of Dublin, which is the oldest university in Ireland. Croke Park, the fourth largest stadium in Europe is located in Dublin and it hosts football and hurling games as well as concerts and performances. Rugby is played at Lansdowne Road Stadium. As the city struggles to manage growth and historic preservation, Dublin continues to expand. Major retail shopping malls have been completed within its borders and several redevelopment projects are planned.