City Introduction

The word "Dublin" originated in the Irish Dubh Linn (meaning "black pool"). Dublin's modern Irish name Baile Átha Cliath (meaning "shoal city made of reed barrier") refers to settlements beside the black pool.

Although an exact consensus has not been reached regarding the definition of "Dublin metropolitan area", but this area generally includes Dublin City and Dublin County, and Wicklow, Kildare and Meath County because the commuter belt can be extended to distant places.

Dublin, across the Liffey River, is a cultural capital that possesses a lot of universities, academies of sciences and art galleries. Time-honored houses can be seen everywhere, all sorts of beautiful doors and windows are full of flowers and plants. The city is permeated with a thick rural breath. Many famous writers such as William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw were born here. Dublin enjoys Europe's oldest library, and painters and travelling players' performance are often seen in open squares and streets. The Guinness Brewery in the southwest is well known for its stout, and you can overlook the whole Dublin city on the top of the exhibition hall in this factory. If you want to seek history and culture in the travel, Dublin will give you many surprises.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Since the 17th century, the city has begun to expand rapidly under the guidance of Wide Streets Commission. Dublin Georgia was once British Empire's second largest city next to London. Many excellent buildings of Dublin are established during this period. The Easter Rebellion of 1916 threw the city into an unstable situation, and the Anglo-Irish war and Irish Civil War caused a lot of damage to the city, many fine buildings were destroyed. The Irish Free State rebuilt many buildings of the city, and moved the parliament to Leinster House, but did not reform a government. After World War II, Dublin was still an obsolete capital whose modern development was very slow, and did not show signs of a rise until the 1960s. But in the 1970s, scary bomb attacks occurred many times in Dublin. In recent years, Dublin's infrastructure has made great improvement, state-owned and private real estate industry, transportation industry and business are all booming. Some famous Dublin streets and buildings were named after bars and businesses once operated there.

The British has ruled here since the 12th century, from when Dublin has been Ireland's capital.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Ireland is a small country in Western Europe, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and Irish Sea to the east, opposite to Britain across the sea. Ireland keeps natural environment quite well, which enjoys green trees and rivers throughout the country, and is known as the "Emerald Island". May and June are suitable for travel for the most sufficient sunlight. Ireland is also given the name of "Green Island", "Emerald" and "Emerald Island" for its widespread grassland.

 

 

 

 

Climate

Dublin, enjoying warm ocean climate, features mild winter and cool summer, with no extreme temperatures. Contrary to popular ideas, Dublin does not have high rainfall, while rainfall in the west of Ireland doubles that of the capital instead. The average maximum temperature in January is 7.6℃ (45.68 degrees Fahrenheit), and that in July is 18.9℃ (66.02 degrees Fahrenheit). On average, May and June enjoy the most sunlight.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Network

Most part of Dublin urban area has 3G coverage, but the signal strength differs among operators. Vodafone has the best 3G network. Stores like McDonald's and Starbucks all provide free Wifi hotspots, but the speed is unsatisfactory, and most restaurants provide free Wifi for customers. There are several cybercafés on the south bank of the Liffey River, and the rate is 2 euros per hour. Some long distance buses and Dublin bus No. 16 also offer free Wifi.

Post Office

Green mailboxes can be seen in downtown Dublin at road corners. Remember to put your postcards into the "All Others" slot, instead of "Dublin Only" slot. You can buy postcards in major scenic spots and tourism commodity shops in the downtown, and the postage stamps are available in post offices and convenience stores. Postage to Ireland is 55 euro cents, and 82 euro cents to other countries.

Information of Embassy and Consulate

Consular Section: (Monday to Thursday 9:00-12:00 for visa, passport and travel permit, notarial certification application)

Address: 118 Merrion Road, Dublin 4, Ireland

Consulting telephone: 00353-1-2196651 (Monday to Friday 14:00 to 17:00)

Consulting email: chinaemb_ie@mfa.gov.cn

Consular protection telephone: 087-2239198

Fax: 00353-1-2196647

E-mail: chinaemb_ie@mfa.gov.cn

Embassy headquarters address: 40 Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland

Office: 00353-1-00353

Email: pa.chineseembassy.ie@gmail.com (do not accept visa, passport and other consular consultation)

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

1) Applicant's original of passport, with a validity of at least six months upon leaving Ireland.

2) One photocopy of the first page (personal information page), all visa pages and signature page of passport. If applicable, all previous passports must be submitted.

3) Fill out the visa application form online, with the applicant's signature.

4) Two color passport photos taken within the past 6 months.

5) Original, photocopy and translated counterpart of household register.

6) If married or have children under the age of 18, and the spouses or children are not accompanying, submit the marriage certificate or children's birth certificate.

7) Details of family members living in Ireland or other EU countries.

8) Proof of funds: (1) Bank certificate of deposit, bankbook, deposit receipt or original of bank statements. (2) Proof of funds of at least six months before the date of submitting application.

9) Accommodation reservation form.

10) Travel/medical insurance covering the whole trip.

11) Materials proving that you will return to your motherland or residence.

12) Other materials

(1) Itinerary, including time of leaving and arriving in Ireland, scheduling in Ireland and other destination countries.

(2) The other parent's consent if children under the age of 18 travel with a parent; and the photocopy of passport and Identification Card. If a parent has full custody, a court judgment proving the full custody shall be submitted.

 

 

 

 

Currency Exchange

Places marked with Bureau De Change in Dublin provide currency exchange, please check the exchange price on the bulletin board and inquire the staff about handling fee. Exchange for euro, dollar, pound and the yen are all available in the airport hall. Currency exchange is also available in downtown Dublin.

UnionPay

Most stores in Dublin do not accept UnionPay cards now, but stores like Brown Thomas that favored by Chinese people have begun to accept UnionPay cards.

Credit Card

Use of credit card is relatively common in Dublin, but some small stores (such as 2-dollar store) request a minimum consumption of 10 euros to use a credit card. Most Chinese restaurants only accept euro in cash.

Tips

Tips are normally paid for any service you receive in most restaurants in Ireland. You don't have to leave another tip if a service charge is included in the restaurant bill (usually 15%). If there is no service charge, you can pay a tip by 10% of the bill. You may directly include the tip into the bill when catching a cab. Tips should be given to hotel bellboys by piece of luggage, or 1 euro is appropriate.

Drawback

There is no minimum consumption limit for tax refund in Ireland, 17.36% of the total price can be tax-refunded for items bought within 3 months before the departure.

 

 

 

 

Religion

Most Irish people believe in Catholicism, accounting for about 92% of the population. Ireland is one of the few pious religious countries in Europe, the regular mass attendance in 1973 exceeded 90%. Catholic doctrine is the basis of Irish society and way of life.

Tourism Service Number

First aid telephone number: 999 Police: 999 Fire Alarm: 999

 

 

 

 

Notes

1. Downtown Dublin is divided into south and north part by the Liffey River. The south part is more flourishing than the north, boasting more attractions.

2. Traffic keeps to the left in Ireland. Most drivers would yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, but vehicles in downtown drive very fast, and most pedestrians in Dublin do not cross the road according to the traffic lights, you should be careful. Bike lanes are rarely seen on downtown roads, please take extra care if you ride a bike.

3. Dublin has many rainy days and a changeable weather, and you'd better take a folding umbrella.

4. Dublin is at a high latitude. The day gets dark at 4 PM in winter, and still lights at 9 PM in summer.

5. Convenience stores can be seen everywhere in downtown, but most of them are not 24-hour open. Telephone card, bus card, convenience food and ordinary life items can be purchased here.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

St. Patrick's Day Date: March 17

This festival was originated in the late 5th century in memory of the Christian saint St. Patrick who first brought Christianity to Ireland, which has evolved into a global Irish culture festival.

Bloomsday Date: June 16

The day has become a world famous great festival which belongs only to Dublin. On that day, many tourists and Joe fans will wear mowing round edge hats, enjoy a bloom breakfast, and retrace bloom's roaming route as described in the novel. And all this unexpectedly comes from a pair of Irish youth who came across under the FIN Red Brick Wall.

Dublin Culture Night Date: September 19

The second last Friday night of September each year has been named the Dublin Culture Night since 2006, on that Night, nearly 150 scenic spots in Dublin city will be open to the public free of charge, including the famous Guinness Brewery, Irish National Museum and Contemporary Art Exhibition. It is the most brilliant cultural event in a year.