County Dublin is nestled between the mountains and the sea. Situated on
the east coast of Ireland in Leinster, Dublin County encompasses the city of
Dublin and the areas of Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown. Dublin
borders with the Irish Sea to the east, County Meath to the north, County
Kildare to the east and County Wicklow to the south. The region is dominated by
Dublin, the county seat and capital of the Republic. The area is low-lying in
the north, the Wicklow Mountains in the south. The main river is the Liffey
flowing through the city of Dublin into Dublin Bay. Two islands, the Lambay and
Ireland's Eye, are off its coast.
Organized as a county by King John of England in the early 13th century,
Dublin, the heart of the English Pale, was strongly guarded by castles along its
boundaries. Many of Dublin's historic edifices are in the old section of the
city, south of the Liffey. Dublin Castle, the nucleus around which the modern
town developed, formerly housed the offices of the British Viceroy of Ireland.
Most of this structure occuping a ridge overlooking the river, was completed in
the 16th century, but some parts date from the early 13th century.
The capital city of Ireland is vibrant with medieval, Georgian and modern
architecture providing a backdrop to this friendly, bustling port boasting of
the literary giants of Joyce, Beckett and Wilde its as native sons. Magnificent
modern and historical buildings with the most interesting being Trinity College,
Leinster House, Bank of Ireland, National Museum, Dublin Castle, Christ Church
Cathedral, the historic General Post Office and Kilmainham Gaol. Dublin museums
offer a wealth of collectables from the proverbial pot of Irish gold to the
artistic riches of the Book of Kells to a host of quirky 'objects
d'religious', a city of archives and artefacts.
The city has one of the best pub and club scenes in Europe with pubs ranging
from trendy modern cafe bars to older distinguished pubs with sumptuous
Victorian or Edwardian interiors. The coastal towns of Howth and Killiney allow
visitors to get away from it all without venturing far from the city.