The original small settlement was named Ath Cliath, which means a "ford of hurdles" or the "Hurdle ford" and was located near the mouth of the River Poddle on piles of stones. at the point where the Poddle met the Liffey a black pool (or "dubh-linn") emerged. It was with the coming of the Vikings in 841 that Dublin had start as a town.

Dublin is a city for walkers, talkers and a city where the people are as worth watching as the architecture. Moore Street is a thriving street market off Henry Street. The women here with their prams and battered baby carriages filled high with a variety of fruit, toys or bric-a-brac, are descendants of the infamous Molly Malone, a streeet trader of the 18th Century. The street traders today, as then, are renowned for the food humour, loud voices and sharp whited banter.

Music is never too far away in Dublin. The streets are full of talented buskers and Grafton Street on a Saturday afternoon is virtually impassable for the crowds surrounding the young musicians. One of the most attractive features of Dublin nightlife is the music and singing pubs.

Visitors will find that Dublin is a place of great cultural and historical interest. As the birthplace of Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and many other renowned writers, Dublin often featured in their books. However no city has been more criticised by her writers. Jonathan Swift felt himself " dropped in wretched Dublin" and George Bernard Shaw complained of " a certain flippant, futile derision and belittlement peculiar to Dublin". It was called "the blind and ignorant town" by W.B. Yeats, and James Joyce seems to have agreed. Yet, despite all the abuse, number of truly great writers became part of Dublin's heritage.
Places of note in Dublin

1. Bank of Ireland: formerly the Irish Parliament House, a striking windowless building constructed between 1729 and 1739.

2.Dame Street: nowadays a street of commerce, of banks and insurance companies. Also noted for its many Chinese restaurants.

3.Temple Bar: its narrow streets have become a hive of activity in recent years. It has art galleries, recording studios, secondhand clothes shops, craft shops, and a variety of restaurants ranging from the traditional Irish to European cuisine. For nightime entertainment in this area there is Bono's club The Kitchen and the Midnight at the Olympia concerts (weekends only).

4. Olympia Theatre: The city's second oldest theatre and former Victorian music hall. It's modest entrance belies a large auditorium where drama, variety, musicals and concerts are staged.

5. City Hall: which was origionally the Royal Exchange, was built between 1769 and 1779. The Rotunda is open to the public. City council meetings are held in the newly refurbished council chamber on the first Monday of each month. Extensive refurbishment of City Hall commenced in September, 1998 and the building will be closed to the public for one year. During this period City council meetings may continue to take place in the Council chamber, City Hall.

6. Dublin Castle: was built on King John's order in 1204 as part of the city's defensive system. Now much rebuilt it is a castle only in name. Dublin Castle's State Apartments were once used by Viceroys for great occasions and for visits of the King's and Queens of England. Nowadays these splendid apartments are used ceremonially by the Government and are closed to the public on such occasions. The undercroft (Crypt) of the Chapel Royal are well worth a visit. Guided tours are run daily.

7. Christ Church Cathedral: standing on the Hill of Dublin it is the Church of Ireland Cathedral for the combined dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. It is fronted by a green churchyard in which there are remains of the old chapter house build in 1230. The exterior of the Cathedral was restored in the lavish and flamboyant meaner in 1875 at the expense of a wealthy Dublin whiskey distiller. The crypt underneath the Cathedral is its oldest part, dating from 1172.
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8. St. Patricks Cathedral: the Cathedral occupies the site of a Celtic church of the Saint. It derived it's international fame from association with the 18th century writer and author of "Gulliver's Travels", Jonathan Swift, who was Dean of St. Patrick from 1713 tp 1745.

9. Tailor's Hall: recently restored, it is the city's last surviving Guild Hall. It now houses An Taisce, the Irish National Trust.

10. St. Audoen's: this ancient part of the city contains the last remaining city gates St. Auduoen's Arch. Steps lead to Dublin's oldest parish church. St. Audoen's which dated from the 12th century and now stands much in ruins. Its tower contains three of Ireland's oldest bells which date from 1423.

11. Brazen Head: Dublin's Oldest pub. It is believed that an inn stood here even in Viking times, but the present building dates from 1668. Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet and Daniel O'Connell were among its patrons.

12. Four Courts: this great classical edifice is the work of James Gandon. It was built to contain the courts of Judicature, Chancery, King's Bench. Exchequer and Common Pleas. It is the home of the Irish Law Courts.
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13. Lord Mayor of Dublin's Residence: The Lord Mator, who is the first citizen of Dublin, is elected every July by the City Council from amongst its members. The term of office is one year. The Mansion house is the official residence of the Lord Mayor. the earliest part of the building dates from the early 1700's. the lord mayor makes awards annually to four individuals in recognition of their contribution to the city. Lord Mayor 1998/'99: Cllr. Senator Joe Doyle.
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14. Civic Museum: South William St Dublin 2. Provides the citizens of Dublin with an understanding and knowledge of the city through permanent and temporary exhibitions, lectures and other organised programmes. Curator: Tom O'Conner.

15. Dublin and Irish Collections (Gilbert Library): A reference library and reading room. The collection of books, newspapers, periodicals, maps, photographs, prints and microfilms relate to social, cultural and literary heritage of Dublin in particular, and Ireland in general. Special collections include the Gilbert, Dix and Yeats collections.
E-mail: dubcoll@iol.ie
Senior Librarian: Maire Kennedy.