10 things you didn’t know about Dublin

I’m back in Paris after a whirlwind three weeks in London! While I recover from the Olympics, Colm Hanratty, editor of Hostelworld.com, has kindly offered to write a guest post on one of my favorite places in Europe. Based in Dublin, for this post Colm has put together a list of things that might surprise you about Ireland’s biggest city.

I’ve been living, working, playing or living in Dublin for the last 17 years. I love this city. As I look out at the blue skies on this August evening, it’s making me love it even more.

You may have heard many things about it – that it’s got great nightlife, that the locals are friendly and that it’s easy to get around. But what have you not heard about it. Here are ten things about the Irish capital that you might not have known until now…

1. O’Connell St is the widest street in Dublin

Home to Dublin’s newest landmark ‘The Spire’ as well as many other landmarks such as the GPO Arcade and the statue of Daniel O’Connell, measuring 49m in width, Dublin’s O’Connell Street is said to be the widest street in Europe.

2. O’Connell Bridge is wider than it is long
Connecting the north and the south sides and crossing the River Liffey, Dublin’s O’Connell Bridge is the only traffic bridge in Europe that is longer in width than it is in length.

3. There’s a Leprechaun Museum here

While they’re only beings of legend, leprechauns still have their place in the Irish capital thanks to the ‘Leprechaun Museum’. Located on Jervis Street on the north side of the city, the museum takes you to the heart of Irish cultural identity and imagination.

4. Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, is from Dublin
Born on 8th November 1847 and author of arguably the best-known horror novel of all time, Bram Stoker was from Dublin (the neighbourhood Clontarf to be precise).

5. One of the best-known neighbourhoods is ‘The Liberties’
Just outside the city centre is a neighbourhood known as ‘The Liberties’. Its most famous attraction is the Guinness Storehouse. But what many people don’t know is how it got its name – it is known as ‘The Liberties’ as it was the first neighbourhood outside the city walls when the British ruled, thus being at liberty to the laws within the walls.

6. Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease for the Guinness Storehouse

The lease that Arthur Guinness signed for the most famous brewery in the world was for the measly sum of £45 for no shorter than 9,000 years. There was no stipulation accounting for inflation — meaning that to this day, Guinness pay £45 per year for the land that the brewery is located on.

7. Phoenix Park largest urban park in Europe
Another ‘biggest’ fact, this one is for the city’s enormous Phoenix Park. Located west of the city centre, it is the largest urban park in Europe. It’s home to Dublin Zoo, is great for cycling and you can see wild deer there.

8. Bullet holes from 1916 can still be seen in the columns in front of the General Post Office on O’Connell Street
Located right in the middle of the main thoroughfare on the north side of the city is the General Post Office, more commonly known as the GPO. This was one of the focal points of the Easter Uprising of 1916, when the Irish rebels were fighting against the British army. The scars from that war can still be seen at this landmark. Look on the columns in front of the building and you can still see the bullet holes.

9. Less pubs per head of population

While this city is famed for its pubs, there are less pubs per head in Dublin than in any other European capital.

10. The Oscar statuette was designed by a Dubliner
You know that award that so many actors and actresses hold while crying to the world every February? Did you know that it was designed by a Dublin native? It’s true – the Oscar statuette was designed by Cedric Gibbons, an Irish-American art director who was born in Dublin in 1893.

11. And a bonus fact for good luck…
You know that lion that roars at the beginning of MGM movies? His name is Leo. Can you guess where he was born? That’s right – Dublin Zoo.

So there you have it – some things I’m sure you definitely didn’t know about Dublin.

I actually did know most of these…but I did study Irish history and literature at university. How many of these facts surprised you?

About the author: You can find Colm on twitter at @colmhanratty.