“For myself, I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. In the particular is contained the universal.”
James Joyce
Introduction
Dublin is a city that is steeped in history and culture. The river Liffey is its central vein that runs underneath the many sprawling bridges that adorn this Irish capital, a place where James Joyce, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde were literary inspired and the music of The Dubliners and U2 echo around its maize of streets. Plumes of smoke, scented with the smell of hops, billow into the Dublin skyline, coming from St James’s Gate Brewery, where Guinness has fermented, flowed and filled a multitude of public house glasses since 1759.
The Philanthropist
Arthur Guinness not only created the world famous ‘Black Stuff’ but provided the capital that helped build a large number of the red brick buildings that still provide social housing for Dubliners. A devout Protestant, Guinness regularly donated money to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Ironically a temperate, this creator of stout and porter, Arthur set up his own Sunday school in Dublin in 1786, as a method of reducing crime by introducing faith and moral to its students early in life, a model that was inspired by the teachings of Robert Raikes. An innovator and benefactor who was buried in a local graveyard in County Kildare and the Dublin Evening News obituary read:
“The worthy and the good will regret him because his life has been useful and benevolent and virtuous.”
Dublin Evening News
The Magnet
Dublin is a city that extends its arms to all those who decide to visit or reside there.All those who visit this sprawling, beautiful and colourful city will witness the vibrant, colourful and multi-cultural society that makes this Irish treasure so great. Whether you are visiting Dublin Castle, the zoo, the government buildings or the hub of entertainment and culinary delights, Temple Bar, you will leave with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.
This is the city of resistance, one that fought for independence through the 1916 General Post Office Conflict and the Easter Sunday Uprising, survived an whiskey barrel fire and produced a legion of local heroes who fought adversity to produce moments of glory, whether it was Ken Doherty winning the 1997 World Championship, Samuel Beckett writing Waiting for Godot or Gay Byrne presenting the Late Late Show on RTE from 1962-1999 over a 37-year period, interviewing famous faces from Ireland and across the globe. Even the famous Hollywood MGM lion hailed from Dublin zoo, Cairbre or Leo as he became known, was used in American black and white films between 1924 and 1928, passing away in 1936.
Francis Bacon painted and Sinéad O’Connor sung their way to Dublin fame, this was city that gave birth to the famous Irish group The Dubliners in O’Donoghue’s pub in 1962, a band that was originally called the Ronnie Drew Group. These bearded band of talented singers and musicians would go on to travel the world, putting their stamp on Irish folk music across Europe and America. Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew would produce a distinctive voice for the group and popularise the Irish songs that their family had taught them as children.
Culinary Delight
Dublin is famous for its culinary delights, Guinness beef stew, Colcannon, Boxty, seafood chowder, Dublin coddle and Irish breakfast. For those who want to go slightly upmarket, oysters washed down with several pints of Guinness are definitely a must. The smell of these dishes circulate Dublin’s streets and fill the bellies of its inhabitants. They fuel the ingenuities of this beloved nation and produce talent and prosperity. A rich breed and one that they should be very proud of.
Afterthoughts
Dublin is a capital city that foreign nations flock to and Americans visit to discover their Irish heritage. The Tricolour flag is one that is instantly recognisable globally and adorns the flagpoles and rooftops of Dublin’s buildings. A city that produces Guinness, famous Irish whiskies and music that causes you to tap your foot in a rhythmic beat. It houses shops for every need and countless pubs that entice people into for many nights of liquid refreshment and entertainment delight.
Steeped in history, Dublin is a must see city, one that never fails to impress and houses the true meaning of being Irish. It adopts all those that choose to visit or come to live here and produces lasting memories. Dublin is the living heartbeat of Ireland, it thrives and evolves through the years, a metamorphosis that is eternal, one that enlightens your very soul, empowering and igniting the very catalyst of every individual that sets foot here.
