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Sunday 9 November 2014

Dublin

The Vikings founded Dublin in the year 988AD.  They ruled Dublin for almost three centuries developing it into one of the most important trading cities in the Nordic world.

Dublin was originally named "Dubh Linn," which means "black pool.”

On September 21, 1170, a force of Normans led by Miles de Cogan and Raymond FitzGerald stormed Dublin and took it. Ascall mac Ragnaill, the last Norse–Gaelic king of Dublin, was forced into exile.

This event marked a turning point in Irish history. The Norman invasion of Ireland had begun the previous year, and the capture of Dublin gave the Normans a foothold in the country. Over the next few decades, the Normans would gradually conquer most of Ireland, establishing a new Anglo-Norman ruling class.

Dublin Castle (see below), which became the center of Norman power in Ireland, was founded in 1204 as a major defensive work on the orders of King John of England.


Dublin had a population of 21,000 in 1640 before a plague in 1649–51 wiped out almost half of the city's inhabitants. However, the city prospered again soon after as a result of the wool and linen trade with England, reaching a population of over 50,000 in 1700.

In 1759  Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum to the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin and began brewing Guinness.

The word “quiz” was supposedly invented in 1780 by a Dublin theatre manager who had a bet that he could introduce a word of no meaning into the language within 24 hours.

The most damaging storm in 300 years swept across Ireland on January 6, 1839. 100-knot winds damaged or destroyed more than 20% of the houses in Dublin. The Night of the Big Wind became part of Irish folk tradition.

Dublin's Abbey Theatre, converted from a former morgue, was the gift of an English admirer of W. B. Yeats, Annie Horniman in 1904.

In 1918 Constance Markievicz became the first woman elected to parliament winning a Dublin seat but was unable to accept as she was in prison.

The Luftwaffe bombed north Dublin on the night of May 30/31, 1941. The bombing killed 28 people, injured over 90, and caused the destruction of over 300 houses. The bombing was a major violation of Irish neutrality during World War II, and it caused a great deal of anger and resentment in Ireland.

The reasons for the bombing are still not fully known. Some believe that the Germans were trying to hit a British military target that was located in Dublin. Others believe that the Germans were trying to send a message to Ireland that they would not be safe if they continued to remain neutral.


Dublin is home to Ireland's largest stadium, Croke Park. It can hold up to 85,000 people.

Dublin is also home to The National Leprechaun Museum, a museum dedicated to leprechauns which has operated on 1 Jervis Street since March 10, 2010.  The museum is dedicated to the myths, legends, and folklore surrounding leprechauns, which are mythical creatures from Irish folklore that are often depicted as small, mischievous beings who hoard pots of gold at the end of rainbows. The museum features exhibits on the history and cultural significance of leprechauns, as well as interactive displays and storytelling sessions.

The National Leprechaun Museum, Dublin. By YvonneM - Wikipedia Commons

Phoenix Park in Dublin is the largest urban park in Europe covering an area of 1752 acres.

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