Cultural Immersion: Dublin (Ireland)

▪ The country (Ireland)

Ireland flag - Read more

Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel.

Ireland map

Dublin

Read more

Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland, is on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. This city has an impressive history, wide choice of architectural places of interest and multiple entertainments. 





▪ Tourist spots

▪ Saint Patrick's Cathedral
The cathedral is also known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin, or in the Irish language as Ard-Eaglais Naomh Pádraig, founded in 1191, is the largest church in Ireland and one of Dublin's two Church of Ireland cathedrals. It has a 43-metre (140 feet) spire. Christ Church, the other cathedral, is the diocesan cathedral of the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. (Read more)

Dublin Castle - 

▪ Dublin Castle

The castle was until 1922 the seat of the United Kingdom government's administration in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland. The Castle served as the seat of English, then later British government of Ireland under the Lordship of Ireland (1171–1541), the Kingdom of Ireland (1541–1800), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1922). (Read more)

▪  Irish Museum of Modern Art 
The museumis also known as IMMA, is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. (Read more)

▪  Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo, in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Dublin Zoo is the largest zoo in Ireland and one of Dublin's most popular attractions. Opened in 1831, the zoo describes its role as conservation, study, and buzzin education. (Read more)

▪  National Botanic Gardens

It is Ireland's seventh most visited attraction, and the second most visited free attraction.

The gardens were founded in 1795 by the Dublin Society and they have grown to hold 20,000 living plants and many millions of dried plant specimens. There are several architecturally notable greenhouses. Today the Glasnevin site is the headquarters of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland which has a satellite garden at Kilmcurragh in county Wicklow. The botanic garden participates in national and international initiatives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. 

It is Ireland's seventh most visited attraction, and the second most visited free attraction. (Read more)

▪  National Concert Hall

The concert hall is located on Earlsfort Terrace close to St. Stephen's Green, and is the principal national venue for classical music concerts in Ireland.

Today the NCH is one of Ireland's National Cultural Institutions, under the aegis of the Irish Government's Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and, as such, is grant-aided by the Irish Government. (Read more)

▪ Cuisine

▪  Irish stew

Irish stew is any variety of meat-and-root vegetables stew native to Ireland. As in all traditional folk dishes, the exact recipe is not consistent from time or place to place. Common ingredients include lamb, or mutton as well as potatoes, onions, and parsley. It may sometimes also include carrots. Irish stew is also made with kid goat. (Read more)

▪  Soda bread

Soda bread is a variety of quick bread traditionally made in a variety of cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as baking soda) is used as a leavening agent instead of the more common yeast. The ingredients of traditional soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk. Other ingredients can be added such as butter, egg, raisins, or nuts. (Read more)

▪  Boiled Bacon and Cabbage

The dish consists of unsliced back bacon boiled with cabbage and potatoes. Sometimes other vegetables such as turnips, onions and carrots are also added. Smoked bacon is sometimes used.

The dish is served with the bacon sliced, and with some of the boiling juices added. Another common accompaniment to the dish is white sauce which generally consists of flour, butter, milk and a herb of some sort (often parsley). (Read more)

▪  Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta is a simple dessert made with bit of cream or milk and vanilla, however it is the precision with wich they deliver the final product that makes it stand out. (Check out the recipe) 

▪  Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie is a pie of pecan mixed with  a filling of eggs, butter and sugar. It’s popularly served in Holiday meals and is also considered a specialty of Southern origin. (Read more)

▪  Bertha’s Revenge Gin

Bertha’s Revenge Gin is a liquor made in Wets Cork by Ballyvolane House using alcohol whey and filled with local botanicals this gin’s delicate flavour is both soothing and surprising. (Readmore) 

▪  Virgin Mary

Virgin Mary is a non-alcohol version of Bloody Mary, almost the same ingredients but without the vodca. Especially good for those times when a lunchtime drink seems like a very good Idea. (Check out the recipe)

▪  Guinness

Like silk being poured into a glass. The Guinness brand is synonymous with Ireland. In 1759, Arthur Guinness acquired a four acre site and signed a 9,000-year lease for the St. James' Gate Brewery in Dublin. The brewery became well known for brewing “porter,” which was a dark ale. Over the past 250 years, the dark ale has evolved in to an unique dark stout, which is enjoyed across the globe. According to the company, over 10 million glasses of Guinness are enjoyed daily around the world. (Read more)

▪ Habits

The locals are very proud of their culture and have great respect for travelers who are interested in local traditions and customs. The cultural traditions of Dublin are the result of mix of different cultures. The indigenous people keep following the traditions of their ancestors even these days and do this with pride. The images of Celtic harp and St. Patrick's shamrock are considered the national symbols. They can be seen on many souvenirs and traditional costumes of the locals.



There is even a national color in Dublin - green. During various holidays and festivals the streets of the city are full of cheerful companies of locals dressed in green T-shirts and wearing hats of unusual shapes. Celebratory items of bright green color are sold in numerous stalls, so guests of the city always have an opportunity to purchase a nice costume and go to a holiday celebrations together with townspeople.

National peculiarities have made their impact on such important areas of life as culinary traditions. In addition to unique treats the local restaurants and pubs serve the most favorite national drink - beer, the production of which has taken place there more than for a hundreds of years. 
There are many restaurants and cafes in Dublin, but locals prefer to visit pubs as they simply adore the atmosphere of home-like comfort and hospitality. However, the city has a strict ban on smoking in public places. It will be quite difficult to find a restaurant that has special rooms for smokers in Dublin. Visitors should not forget to comply with applicable regulations and local traditions. This way your rest in the city will be comfortable and interesting. 

▪  Cost of living

Dublin is a beautiful and calm place to live, the capital of Ireland is famous around the world and the friendly Dubliners can be also a good rison to live in the city, however the good quality of life don’t come cheaply. (Read more)

 

▪  Climate

The climate in Dublin is oceanic, cool and humid throughout the year. Snowfalls are rare, generally, cold spells are not intense and not long. The best time to visit the city runs from mid-May to mid-September, May and June are cooler, but both are relatively sunnier. (Read more)

▪  Music

In 1960s and 70s Ireland experienced a folk music boom particularly in urban centres such as Dublin, Cork and Galway. Some folks groups developed  the instrumentation of Irish traditional music and song popularising the use of guitar, bouzouki and mandolin as accompaniment in live performance. (Read more)

▪ St. Patrick's day