It is a joke that may be nearly as old as the city itself, “Why is Ireland so rich?” Answer, “Because its capital is Dublin.” The pun says a lot about the city; not only is it the seat of government, it also is the country’s financial center. Were the joke in the form of a limerick, it also would symbolize the city as the cultural hub of the Emerald Isle.

Dublin, the largest city in Ireland, is home to more than 1 million of the 3.6 million residents of the republic. While Ireland still is predominately a rural, agricultural country, approximately 40 percent of its population lives within commuting distance of Dublin, which sits on the east coast of the county in the province of Lenster. It is on the mouth of the River Liffey that empties into Dublin Bay.

The predominantly Catholic country is a member of the European Union, with the Euro as its official currency. English is the spoken language although about 5 percent of the population speaks the ancient Celtic language, Gaelic. Both are listed as official languages.

No Smoking

Dublin bears the distinction of being the first European capital city to ban smoking. Smoking is not allowed in public places, including (believe it or not) pubs, of which the city has a proud roster. Smoking is allowed outdoors, in private homes, and in hotel rooms.

Visitors to the island probably should make sure they bring along at least one sweater as the temperature generally tops out at about 70 degrees, even in summer. The good part is that winter temperatures do not drop much below 40 degrees. Rain can be expected at all times of year, but usually does not last long.

St. Patrick’s Day

As might be expected, a prime time of year for tourism is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. Dublin has a rather large celebration in his honor. Overall, the city sees approximately 3.5 million visitors a year.

While the city’s pubs might come to mind first, Dublin also has a rich cultural tradition. George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, and James Joyce all were born there and have museums and exhibitions in their honor. There also are any number of museums, libraries, and architectural wonders.