Ireland O'rama(Irelandorama)
Images of Dublin

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Dublin was first founded by the Vikings in 841. Starting in the 12th century, Anglo-Normans will occupy this strategic site at the mouth of river Liffey where they set up their government and their parliament. Until the 15th century, as they were unsuccessful invading the rest of Ireland, they gradually fortified a region in a radius of about 20 miles around Dublin, known as the Pale, against incursion of Gaelic Ireland .

 
   
   

Almost one third of Ireland inhabitants live in the great Dublin

Dublin is a very elegant and living city that spreads out on each side of the River Liffey which is spanned by many road or pedestrian bridges, such as the famous Halfpenny bridge

Dublin activity has always been oriented towards its port, its bay and the ocean

   
   
Bridge on river Liffey
         



   
Dublin has a rich architectural heritage
     

with beautiful old houses and buildings, especially those of Georgian style in red bricks, and many monuments

   
   
 

 

 
   
Building of the Sunlight Chambers
River Liffey Quay
                 


 

   
Saint Patrick's Cathedral was built in the 13th century in a Gothic style called "Early English" .
     
Saint-Patrick Cathedral belongs to the Church of Ireland, as the neighbouring Christ Church, official church of the archbishop. It has been meticulously restored in 1864, thanks to funds given by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness.
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
St Patrick's Cathedral and its park
Saint Patrick's Cathedral
                 


   
The archways of St-Patrick Park in the bottom form a litterary boulevard about famous Irish writers born in Dublin (Swift, Yeats, Wilde, Shaw...).
     
The author Jonathan Swift, best known for his "Gulliver's Travels" was dean here from 1713 to 1745
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
East side of Saint-Patrick Park
Bust of Jonathan SWIFT (1667-1745) inside the Cathedral
                 


   
Christ Church Cathedral, symbol of English empire in Ireland, was originally built here by Richard de Clare, alias Strongbow, in 1170
     
It has been extensively restored in the 19th century. Its style is a combination of Roman and "Early English" Gothic
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Anglican Christ Church Cathedral
Detail of Christ Church Cathedral
                 


   

Trinity College was created in 1592 by Elizabeth 1st . It was modelled on Oxford and Cambridge Universities and was long reserved to protestants

Catholic Authorities used to condemn that Catholics study here, and until 1966 they had to ask their archbishop for a special permission

     

Trinity College' library has the longest reading room in Europe called the "Long Room" (64 m long, 12 m wide) and keeps the famous "Book of Kells, a Celtic manuscrit of the 4 gospels dated from the 8th century

   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Trinity College - Baroque Victorian Campanile
Trinity Colleg e- The main court ( "Front Square")
                 


   
Architect James Gandon built in Dublin three of the most fine monuments of Georgian architecture of Great-Britain, the Four Courts, the Custom House et King's Inns
     
The Mansion House is a very old house which has been rearranged with Victorian details
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
TheFour Courts by architect James Gandon
masterpiece of Georgian architecture
Mansion House, built in 1710
Residence of Dublin' Mayors
                 


   
Details of elegant Dublin Georgian doors. The most beautiful ones are from houses on Merrion Square and Harcourt Street
     
These doors are topped by delicate imposts, and although they look all the same, they differ by their details...and colors
   
   
 

 

 

 
   
Doors of Georgian buildings
Fitzwilliam Street
longest Georgian street in Europe
                 



             
   

The most busy shopping street in Dublin, Grafton Street has many pubs and nice victorian style buildings

This pedestrianized street is liven up by strolling musicians and flower vendors

 
   
Grafton Street
             

 

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Dublin
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Copyright © WEB-SY - August 2004
Editing and photographs : Marc GERONDEAU
Email : mgerondeau@web-sy.org