Literally meaning “black pool” in Irish, Dublin is the largest city and the capital of Ireland, with a total metropolitan land area of 6,980km2 (2,695sq miles) and has a population of more than 1.6 million. It is the historic, contemporary, education, cultural and economic hub of the country. It also enjoys a pleasant maritime climate, with mild winters and cool summers. The average temperature during winter is 8°C and the average maximum summer temperature is 19°C.
Dublin has been involved in the arts, especially literary and musical and was home to William Butler Yeats, Dracula creator, Bram Stoker and contemporary musicians U2 and Boyzone. It also has a very vibrant nightlife, since almost half the total population of the city is aged 25 and below. There are two cinemas in the city, the Savoy Cinema and Cineworld, both offering state-of-the-art facilities, including IMAX.
Dublin is also known for its shopping streets, such as Grafton Street, Henry Street, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Jervis Shopping Centre and the newly refurbished Ilac Shopping Centre.
Dublin, as previously mentioned, is also the educational centre of Ireland, especially catering to anyone pursuing a career in the arts, languages and medicine. The best known of these institutions are the University of Dublin, the oldest university in Ireland, Trinity College, the National University of Ireland, University College Dublin, the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (DLIADT).
Flying into Dublin from other countries is not a problem, since the city airport is served by most of the major European airlines. Tourists can fly to Dublin by US Airways, British Airways, BMI, Continental Airlines, Delta Airways, Lufthansa and many more.