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Dublin (from the Irish language Án Dubh Linn (literally, the black pool). The modern city uses a different Irish language name: Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland.

Dublin has a population of 495,000 (2002 Census) within the official city boundary which has become largely meaningless with the development and spread of suburbs and satellite towns over a wide surounding area. The population of Dublin County (including the City) is in excess of 1,100,000 (2002 Census). Though there is no exact agreed definition of the "Greater Dublin" area it would be generally accepted as including all of the city and county and parts of Counties Wicklow, Kildare and Meath with the limits of the commuter belt stretching to a much greater distance.

Founded by the Vikings in the 10th century, Dublin became the centre of English power in Ireland after the 12th century Norman conquest of half of Ireland (Munster and Leinster). Over time, however, many of the Anglo-Norman conquerors were absorbed into the Irish culture, adopting the Irish language and customs, leaving a small area around Dublin called the Pale under direct English control. People outside this area were still considered savage, giving rise to the expression "Beyond the Pale".

By the beginning of the 18th century the English had re-established control and imposed the harsh Penal Laws on the Catholic majority of Ireland's population. In Dublin however the Protestant ascendency was thriving, and the city expanded rapidly from the 17th century onward.

In 1782-1800 the city housed an independent (though still exclusively Protestant) Irish Parliament, and it was during this period that much of the great Georgian buildings of Dublin were built. In 1801 under the Act of Union, Ireland lost this parliament and with it much of its political influence, though the city's growth continued.

In 1916 the British crushed the Republican Easter Rising in the city. Between 1919 and 1921 Ireland experienced the Irish War of Independence. The result was the Anglo-Irish Treaty between Britain and Ireland which created the Irish Free State. The state of Northern Ireland had already been created under the British Government of Ireland Act, 1920 and chose not to enter the Free State.

National Government

Leinster House
18th century ducal palace now the seat of parliament.

Dublin City Hall
formerly the Royal Exchange

Both houses of the Irish Parliament, Oireachtas Éireann, meet in Leinster House, a former ducal palace on the south side of the city. The building has been the home of Irish parliaments since the creation of the Irish Free State on December 6, . The previous old Irish Houses of Parliament of the Kingdom of Ireland is located in College Green. The President of Ireland lives in Áras an Uachtaráin, the former residence of the Governor-General of the Irish Free State in the city largest park, Phoenix Park.

City Government

Dublin City is governed by Dublin City Council (formerly called Dublin Corporation) which is presided over by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, who is elected for a yearly term and residences in the Mansion House.

County Dublin

Dublin (often referred to as County Dublin) was also the name of one of Ireland's thirty-two counties and a local government administrative unit. In the late twentieth century, was divided in four, producing four counties or administrative units, namely

• Dublin City
• Dublin County
• Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
• Fingal

Areas of Dublin City:

• North side
• South side

Events

• 1853 - Great Industrial Exhibition (1853)
• 1865 - International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures (1865)
• 1874 - International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures (1874)
• 1907 -

See also

• Áras an Uachtaráin
• Bunreacht na hÉireann (Irish constitution)
• Dublin Castle
• Old Irish Houses of Parliament
• Leinster House
• National Print Museum of Ireland
• President of Ireland
• Republic of Ireland
• Taoiseach (prime minister)
• Trinity College, Dublin
• University College, Dublin

Other Images

Footnote

There were in fact two settlements where the modern city stands. The viking settlement was known as Án Dublin Linn (or Black Pool, referring to a black pool of water), which was located in what is known as Wood Quay, and a gaelic settlement, Atha Cliath further up river. Both existed approximately one millenium ago. The gaelic settlement's name is used as the Irish language name of the city, while the modern english name came from the viking settlement.

External links

• contains explanation of English and Irish language names of the city.

County Dublin covers an area of 922 km and contains over a million inhabitants.

Dublin is also a name of some places in the United States of America:

• Dublin, California
• Dublin, Georgia
• Dublin, New Hampshire
• Dublin, Ohio
• Dublin, Virginia
• Dublin Township, Pennsylvania

There is also Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania.