10 Facts and Stories: Dublin

Sprawling out from the banks of the River Liffey, the capital of the Republic of Ireland is sat on the east coast of the island. From Viking foundations in the 9th century, to being the capital of Ireland for centuries under British rule - Dublin now stands proudly as a focal point for Irish culture and independence, ever since the 1916 Easter Rising. Dublin pulses with activity whilst retaining a small town charm with the absence of soaring skyscrapers and an underground metro. Buses and pubs are a plenty, as the welcoming Irish embrace visitors into the 21st century, with their much acclaimed hospitality. In this '10 Facts and Stories: Dublin' article, I'll discuss 10 interesting facts about this European capital, and then elaborate on topics relating to these pieces of information. Let's go!

1. The River Liffey flows approximately 80 miles, all the way from the Wicklow Mountains, through Dublin and into the Irish Sea.

Dublin is one of those great world cities set upon a mighty river, and it's hard to imagine this place without the River Liffey and its lovable bridges. The likes of Ha'penny Bridge and O'Connell Bridge connect the north and the south sides of Dublin together. The former of those is named as such because it required a half-penny toll to cross the bridge up until 1919; Ha'penny Bridge was the first dedicated pedestrian bridge in Dublin, and was made from iron. Meanwhile, as the Ha'penny Bridge provides crossing on foot, the bustling O'Connell Bridge is one of the main crossings for traffic. The O'Connell Bridge is practically the same width as it is in length (officially five metres wider than it is long - but it's nearly a perfect square!). Constructed at the end of the 18th century - it accommodates several lanes to serve the traffic (four lanes plus pedestrian and cycle paths) travelling between the O'Connell, D'Olier and Westmoreland Street. This bridge is named after Daniel O'Connell, who is known as 'the Liberator' for his work campaigning for Catholic Emancipation in the early 19th century - there's a grand statue of him at the bridge's north end.

2. Saint Patrick's Cathedral is named after the primary patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.

Few nation's saints are as well known around the world than the famous St Patrick, whose name is synonymous with Ireland, the shamrock, and the colour green! Legend says that in the 5th century, St Patrick plucked a three leaf young clover (a.k.a. a shamrock) in order to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to the Pagan Irish of the time. And it's the colour of the shamrock, and because of the lush green nature of so much of 'the Emerald Isle', that the colour green is used to immortalise St Patrick - especially so on St Patrick's Day (17th March). However, it is interesting to note that he didn't wear green like his depictions - it was blue that was said to be his favourite colour. With this said, it's understandable how their patron saint is adorned in green in his depictions - as a focal figure representing Irish heritage and folklore. St Patrick was also known by a different name at birth: 'Maewyn Succat'. The name change to 'Patrick' translates as 'father figure' in Latin, which was apt as his religious work happened. Furthermore, St Patrick was actually believed to have been born over in Britain, although spent time in Ireland at 16 to work as a shepherd, after being captured by British slave traders. He fled to France after six years and studied religion there, before returning to Ireland and beginning his work. It was at the place where St Patrick's Cathedral is found today, that St Patrick used a well to baptise people into Christianity as he relished being back on the island of Ireland - whereby he 'found God' and mission in his life.

3. Gulliver's Travels was written by Anglo-Irish writer, Jonathan Swift, of whom was a Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral - whereby he is buried.

Published in 1726, the 'Gulliver's Travels' novel went on to inspire the 2010 film, which starred Jack Black. This book was the most famous of Swift's works, although he wrote other books such as 'An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity' (1708) and 'A Modest Proposal' (1729). Swift's role as an Anglican cleric meant that he held church roles in both Ireland and England, whilst also pursuing his writing in the form of satire, poems and novels. It was in his later life when he became the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, in 1713, whereby he held the position until death in 1745. His legacy at St Patrick's is one which has seen stories passed down generations - whereby I learnt about during a wonderful tour of the cathedral with a friendly guide called Ellen. She explained how Swift became renowned for services that lasted hours, and that on occasions it'd be known for congregation members to fall asleep during them! Swift also suffered from health issues such as hearing problems and a mental decline. Buried at the cathedral buried alongside his dear friend Esther Johnson - they had to be exhumed during the rising waters of the underground river there. Since then, they've been returned securely, in order to rest forever beneath the floor of St Patrick's.

4. Dublin's been the capital since the English Lordship of Ireland, dating back to the 12th century, before being the capital of the newly formed Irish Free State in 1922. Then, subsequently, it became the capital city of the Republic of Ireland - from 1937 to the present day.

Dublin has long been one of the most important places on the island of Ireland - and today it stands proudly as the touristic, financial and official capital city of the Republic of Ireland. It's said that the first known settlement there dates back to the fourth century, whereby the Cornmarket area of the city centre saw people reside (Gaelic community of farmers and fishermen). Known as 'Áth Cliath' ('Town of the Hurdled Fort'), it developed in the sixth century when the Duiblinn Monastery was founded. 'Duiblinn' is Irish for 'Blackpool' - precursor for the strong English influence in Ireland that would follow, After the arrival of the Vikings in 841, settlers from England and Wales began to migrate in the late 12th century. This was a result of the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1170 - whereby Dublin became the capital. Following some tumultuous havoc with the church, Dublin grew to a city with 60,000 inhabitants in 1700 - the second largest city in the British Empire. Dublin's importance waned when the 1800 Act of Union established the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, however the revolutionary struggle in the 19th century paid off for the Irish when the home rule desire, saw the British control thwarted. Dublin was a key place during the 1916 Easter Rising and 1919 War of Independence. Moving into the modern age, over the last century, Dublin has blossomed as the beating heart of Ireland's culture - and one of the great European capital cities.

5. The Republic of Ireland has had three female presidents - that's 30% of the 10 elected presidents since 1938.

Ireland is very proud of its history of empowering women, and this is particularly prominent through a strong female representation as their president over the years. It was very recently that Catherine Connolly became the third female President of Ireland in November 2025, taking over the reigns to the very popular, Michael D. Higgins. Prior to 14 years of Higgins' rule, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, were the other two ladies at the helm, from the years 1990-1997 and 1997-2011, respectively. In the Dublin Castle, there's a wonderfully decorated hallway with portraits and information about all the Irish presidents. Nearby in this important national building, is the Dublin Castle ballroom - a place known as St Patrick;s Hall. During the guided tour of the castle, I remember the excellent guide, Bart, explaining how many prominent global heads of state have visited there. Examples include United States presidents like John F. Kennedy in 1963, and Ronald Reagan in 1984, South African President Nelson Mandela in 1990, and the Vatican's head of state, Pope Francis, in 2018. One of the most historically symbolic visits was that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 - the first state visit of the British monarch since the foundation of the Republic of Ireland. This was a testament to the progression of Anglo-Irish relations in modern times, whereby the Queen acknowledged past suffering and expressed regret, whilst striving for continued efforts for reconciliation and partnership between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

6. Bram Stoker (author of 'Dracula') worked as a civil servant at Dublin Castle in the 1870s.

Another fascinating fact is about the famous author, Bram Stoker, which I also learnt about at Dublin Castle. Following in his father's footsteps, he racked up a decade of service at the castle. Dealing with minor court records, his role was an Inspector of Petty Sessions. The place that was his office, still overlooks the Chapel Royal of the Dublin Castle - which has a majestic, castellated exterior. And whilst he did indeed work in a castle, alike where Dracula resided in Romania - it's said that his inspiration for this novel came from his love of Gothic literature and local legends. His somewhat mundane role at the castle enabled the Dublin born author to put his passions to write to use. Most famous for the creation of the Count Dracula fictional character, he also authored other books than just 'Dracula' (published 1897). The likes of 'Under the Sunset' (1881) and 'The Jewel of the Seven Stars' (1903) were also works which led Stoker to go down as one of Dublin's literary greats. He went on to pass away in London, aged 64, which is where he's also laid to rest. Without a shadow of doubt though, Stoker's remembered as an Irish author who inspired a legend.

7. The St James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, was where Guinness originated. In the 18th century, its founder Arthur Guinness, signed a 9,000 year lease there, on the 31st December 1769.

Synonymous with Irish culture and popular around the world, Guinness's story began over two centuries ago in Dublin. Back in the 18th century, the brewing process of 'the black stuff' or 'Irish champagne' (as Guinness is also known!) was said to have provided a very useful source of nutrition to the people of Dublin - when the water in the Liffey was not safe to drink. In the Irish capital today - the Guinness Storehouse is one of the major tourist attractions. As a 'stout' category of beer, known for a rich dark colour with a famously creamy head - Guinness is the most popular of its kind in the world. As a vegan drink that even offers 0% alcohol versions in this modern world - Guinness has a broad appeal. Using water from the Wicklow Mountains to the south of Dublin, the production in Ireland has thrived. In fact, Guinness is not only made in Dublin, as in order to keep up with the global demand, Guinness is brewed in over 40 countries and available in excess of one hundred nations. Whether a fan of the drink or not, learning about Guinness whilst in Dublin is part of the cultural experience. The locals still keep the tradition of a pint in hand with friends and some local music in the pub, as a pastime that's timeless across different generations of Dubliners.

8. There are over 700 pubs in Dublin!

Talking of pubs... you're never too far away from one of Dublin's public houses. The exact number varies as to whether the likes of hotel bars etc. are included; some figures suggest there are actually 850 licensed premises in the city. Regardless of the number, the cultural role of the pub in Dublin is very special. It's not just Guinness as well that has originated in Dublin - Bailey's Irish Cream also began in the Irish capital, whilst Jameson Whiskey has a distillery that can be visited there. The Temple Bar area is a vibrant cultural quarter of Dublin near the River Liffey, whereby 'The Temple Bar' pub itself is one of the major draws for visitors. Having been there since 1840, this historic melting pot place is one of many buildings that lavishly decorates its exterior for Christmas. And whether it be by a pub fire in the winter, or in a pub beer garden in the summer - a visit to one of Dublin's public houses at any time of year, is a great opportunity to meet locals and enjoy some 'craic' (pronounced 'crack', an Irish term for good conversation and fun times that're shared!)!

9. The 'harp' is a legendary symbol of Dublin, and it derives from a presence in Ireland that dates back over a thousand years from when it was on Christian stone crosses and manuscripts in the 8th century.

You can see depictions of the harp all over Dublin - it's become an iconic image for the capital city and the Irish people. Upon the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the harp became its official emblem. Because of this, visitors can see the harp on coins, coats of arms, street signs and on Irish people's passports. The design recognisable today is representative of the Trinity College's 'Brian Boru' harp - which has become a legendary musical instrument over time. In fact, so adored by Irish institutions was the harp - that it's become the symbol of the aforementioned Guinness too. The brand actually trademarked the right facing version of the harp it'd adopted, in the year 1876. As a result of this, the Irish government utilised a mirrored harp (left facing) for its depictions. The Irish low-cost airline, Ryanair, is based in County Dublin - and their logo also features an adaptation of the harp in their recognisable deep blue and golden yellow colours, proudly taking to the skies!

10. Ireland voted to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015 - something that would've been seen as unlikely for those in the 19th century, like the famously eccentric author, Oscar Wilde.

One of Ireland's most prominent authors, was the Dublin born, Oscar Wilde. He became famous for his poetry and play writing, after an education at Trinity College in Dublin and Magdalen College in Oxford. After time spent in London too as he pursued a literary career, Wilde went on to produce popular comedies such as 'Lady Windermere's Fan' (1892) and 'An Ideal Husband' (1895). And whilst he thrived in his work, his private life was marred with complications. Despite being married to Constance Lloyd in 1884, whereby they went on to have two sons - Wilde had affairs with men. The affair with Lord Alfred Douglas (nicknamed 'Bosie') that began in 1891 was most damaging , as Bosie's father accused him of being homosexual. Wilde sued him for libel but failed as he was arrested and tried for gross indecency. After being sentenced to two years of hard labour, his marriage to Constance broke down and she took their two children to Switzerland. Released with diminished health and a reputation in tatters, Wilde spent the rest of his life in Europe, before he died in Paris on the 30th November 1900. And whilst his affair and scandal of course was unfaithful and adulterous - the punishment for his bisexual nature was because of it being criminal at the time. The historic opposition to such relationships, often because of religious scripture interpretations, made their vote on the 22nd May 2015 for same-sex marriage remarkable. The 62.07% vote in favour made it the first nation in the world to legalise this via popular vote. By signing the Thirty-Fourth Amendment into law in November 2015, President Michael D. Higgins ensured Ireland took this historic step. Ireland is one of the European nations accelerating how socially liberal they are in the 21st century - they even legalised abortion up to the 12 weeks of pregnancy as well, in 2018. Dublin and the Republic of Ireland's history is fascinating, and as an EU member state since 1973 - its modernisation is admirably profound.

By Aaron Woodruff

Lessons & Joys of Travel

06/01/2026