With the rise of ChatGPT and other large language models, the need for informational blog posts, which was already approaching zero, is now officially zero. For humans to stay one step ahead of machines, creativity is paramount. As such, I’ll answer the what is Dublin question with an acronym. Granted, ChatGPT could have done this too—I just didn’t know how to enter the prompt correctly.
Damp
Located on Dublin Bay (contiguous with the Irish Sea) and bisected by the River Liffey, Dublin—like all old cities—came up from the water. Throw in two canals that connect the eastern Irish city to the River Shannon in the west, and it’s easy to appreciate the watery whereabouts.
Of course, the capital city’s aquatic reputation is also rooted in gifts from the heavens, better known as rain showers. While Dublin is one of the least rainy spots in Ireland, it is still…rainy. But with the moisture comes striking greenery, not to mention the perfectly depressing formula for provocative art (see below).
Unbreakable
The city of Dublin—and the entire country over which it presides—has endured its fair share of hardship. First the Vikings, and then the Anglo-Normans, also known as the Brits. Next came unification with the Brits, followed by a famine and a fight for independence, after which the Irish decided to kill each other for a while.
Once they agreed to stop doing that, things looked up, giving way to an economic expansion that got its own nickname—the Celtic Tiger. Even the Irish language, once repressed and taken for dead, has seen a resurgence.
Beefy
Okay, we’re not talking London or Paris, but Greater Dublin boasts a population of over two million, nothing to sneeze at considering that number amounts to 40% of the entire country.
And these folks are sturdy. When they’re not dumping lamb or mutton in the Irish stew, they’re tossing in some good old fashioned beef. Why do you think the most popular spectator sports are the not-so-gentle Gaelic football and hurling?
Not impressed? How about a little mixed martial arts—this is after all the place that birthed Conor McGregor.
Literary
Dubliners have a sensitive side as well, evidenced by an astounding literary tradition. Think James Joyce (Ulysses), W.B. Yeats (“The Second Coming”), Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot), Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels), Oscar Wilde (The Picture of Dorian Gray), George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion), and Bram Stoker (Dracula). And don’t overlook the Book of Kells, that illuminated manuscript created in an Irish monastery around 800 CE, now housed in the Fair City.
Art takes on other forms as well. Just ask actors Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Maureen O’Hara (well, she’s moved on). Or musical acts U2, The Dubliners, The Script, Sinéad O’Connor, Boyzone, Westlife, and, of course, Thin Lizzy.
Inebriated
Listen, when you’ve had the brainchild of Arthur Guinness (beer) since 1759 and the magnum opus of John Jameson (Irish whiskey) since 1780, combined with dank weather since forever, this is totally understandable. Sure, Jameson moved its operation to Cork in the 1970s, but that’s no reason for moderation. Let’s just say that one of the tourist attractions is a bar (pictured at the top).
Neoteric
Proud of its history, yes, but obsessed, no. Dublin has its eyes on the future, explaining why Ireland finds itself near the top of lists of countries by GDP per capita. (This statistical anomaly largely relates to multinational tax schemes that take advantage of the country’s low corporate tax rate, but now’s not the time to rain on this parade.)
Companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Accenture, Pfizer, and Citibank have found a home in Dublin, making it a novel magnet for immigrants from across the world.
And don’t be fooled by the meat and potatoes façade—the city is home to something like six Michelin star restaurants.
So what is Dublin? Why are you asking me? Ask AI.
