Dublin

The site of modern day Dublin was occupied as early as the 9th century by a Viking settlement known as Dyflin and a Gaelic settlement, further up river. Viking rule finally ended in 1171 when the city fell to King Dermot MacMurrough of Leinster, with the aid of Anglo-Norman mercenaries.  Dublin thus became the centre of English power in Ireland, with Dublin Castle as the seat of its power, and a large number of settlers arrived from England and Wales. As a defense against the native Irish, the area around the city, known as the Pale, was fortified in the 14th century. A 15th century law made it unlawful for the Irish to reside in the city and within the Pale, although this was not strictly enforced.

By the beginning of the 17th century, Dublin’s inhabitants, most of whom felt quite alienated by the Protestant Reformation that has taken place in England, were nearly all Catholics. This changed dramatically with the arrival of Oliver Cromwell who took over the city in 1647:  the Old English community was soon banished and replaced by an influx of Protestant settlers and by 1700, Dublin was one of the few areas where Protestants were a majority. A period of prosperity followed, making Dublin the second city in the British Empire after London and the 18th century saw a major transformation of the urban landscape with elegant Georgian streets replacing the narrow medieval streets. Tensions remained between Catholic and Protestant communities, particularly after the 1798 rebellion, when the United Irishmen tried to take the city and create an independent republic. In response, the British government merged the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain and abolished the Irish Parliament.

Dublin lost its political status as a capital, which prompted the beginning of its decline. The nationalist movement continued to grow during the 19th century which saw the first catholic mayor elected in 1829 with Daniel O’Connell, as well as a number of failed rebellions.  The population of the city also grew considerably during that period, although unlike Belfast, Dublin did not reap the economic benefits of the industrial revolution and a large underclass soon developed.

The nationalist movement gained momentum at the beginning of the 20th century, with some of the fiercest fighting and the 1916 Easter Rising taking place in Dublin. In December 1918 Sinn Fein gained a majority of Irish parliamentary seats, which led to the proclamation of the Irish Republic. The War of Independence that followed, and the bloody fighting that characterized the Troubles, left deep scars in Irish politics and society.

Following the partition in 1922, Dublin became the capital of Ireland and the economic and cultural centre of the country. The city experienced an unparalleled period of urban renewal and the economic boom of the 1990s in particular transformed the cityscape with spectacular developments. Despite the recent recession, Dublin remains a vibrant and youthful city, with a strong sense of identity and pride in its cultural heritage.  

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