Dublin

Dublin is the capital of Ireland; it was voted the friendliest city in Europe by a poll of international travelers. Dublin was home to many prominent literary figures such as Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and Bram Stoker. This list also includes Nobel prize winners such as William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett. You can visit all these writers and many more in the National Print Museum of Ireland or the National Library of Ireland.

The largest city in Ireland, Dublin is the economic and cultural center of the country. Beyond literature, the city has produced well-known actors such as Colin Farrell and Stephen Rea and music groups like U2 and Thin Lizzy. Sports are a major attraction for tourists and residents alike, with soccer, rugby, hurling and gaelic football being the most popular. Dublin also has plenty of authentic Irish pubs, the perfect place to grab a fresh pint of Guinness.

On Saturday, February 21, 2009, 100,000 Irish citizens staged a protest in the streets of Dublin. Organized by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the march was intended as a warning to government, whose questionable dealings and reckless bank lending has led to an immediate 7 % pay dock for 350,000 workers. MSNBC: 100,000 protest in Dublin over economic crisis (February 21, 2009)