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I Bog Bodies del National Museum of Ireland ci hanno ricordato che la conoscenza non si riceve: si costruisce. Il nostro laboratorio è iniziato con un puzzle, un’attività di elicitazione che ha risvegliato curiosità, attivato le conoscenze pregresse e mostrato come ogni apprendimento nasca dal desiderio di dare senso a ciò che inizialmente appare frammentato. Solo dopo siamo entrati nel museo, dove l’osservazione diretta dei Bog Bodies ha trasformato domande e ipotesi in ricerca. Tornati in aula, abbiamo condiviso quanto appreso e progettato attività per i nostri futuri alunni: abbinamenti immagine-testo e la costruzione del core concept della loro storia attraverso le domande What, When, Where, How, Why. Ancora una volta, il viaggio ci ha insegnato che imparare significa esplorare, ricomporre i frammenti e trasformare l’esperienza in conoscenza condivisa.

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ÉIRE sulle montagne: storie scritte nella pietra

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ÉIRE sulle montagne: storie scritte nella pietra

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Nel pomeriggio abbiamo preso il DART, il treno costiero, per raggiungere Howth. Da lì, lungo il percorso verde della passeggiata sulle scogliere, siamo arrivati fin dove il paesaggio si apre sul mare e finalmente l'abbiamo vista con i nostri occhi: la scritta ÉIRE 6. Ne avevamo sentito parlare il primo giorno nei racconti di Helen. Durante la seconda guerra mondiale l'Irlanda era neutrale: per farlo sapere agli aerei che sorvolavano l'isola, lungo la costa vennero composte oltre ottanta scritte ÉIRE con pietre bianche, affiancate dal numero della vicina postazione di vedetta, così che dall'alto i piloti riconoscessero il territorio neutrale. Quella di Howth risale all'estate del 1943, con lettere alte circa dodici metri. Poi il tempo l'ha coperta di vegetazione, fino a farla quasi scomparire. È stata restaurata da un gruppo di associazioni locali, coinvolgendo scuole, gruppi giovanili e famiglie del posto e inaugurata nel 2022. Una storia che, per dei docenti, ha un valore aggiunto: la memoria si conserva se qualcuno insegna a riconoscerla.

Vedere ÉIRE 6 con i nostri occhi è stato emozionante. E intorno c'era tutto il resto: la scogliera, il vento, il verde, il mare. Il paesaggio irlandese che si mostrava per quello che è.

Dublino, finora, ci ha accolti con un clima mite e neanche una goccia di pioggia: da queste parti, un piccolo regalo.

Cinque giorni in cui abbiamo vissuto, studiato e cominciato a immergerci nella cultura irlandese. Passo dopo passo, le vicende di questa terra si sono composte davanti a noi: la ferita secolare della dominazione inglese; la Grande Carestia che piegò un intero popolo e costrinse oltre un milione di persone a partire, e la ricchezza che quegli emigranti seppero portare nei luoghi in cui approdarono; il lungo, sofferto percorso verso l'indipendenza; e la neutralità durante la seconda guerra mondiale, scritta nella pietra proprio come quella che oggi abbiamo davanti. E poi, in ogni persona che ha incrociato il nostro cammino, la cortesia e la gentilezza che rendono questo popolo indimenticabile.

Mancano ancora due giorni di formazione. Ma qualcosa, di questa terra, ci è già entrato dentro.

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Dove le porte si moltiplicano, nessuno resta fuori

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Dove le porte si moltiplicano, nessuno resta fuori

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Arrivati alla fine di questa settimana, guardando indietro alle attività vissute, una cosa emerge con chiarezza: la forza del CLIL non sta nella somma dei suoi contenuti, ma nel fatto che apre più porte d'accesso al sapere. E dove le porte si moltiplicano, nessuno resta fuori.

Lo abbiamo visto in ogni attività. Il color coding rende visibile ciò che è astratto, e sostiene chi ha bisogno di un appoggio concreto per orientarsi nella struttura della lingua. Il movimento e il mimo ancorano il sapere al corpo, offrendo un canale a chi con le parole fatica. I giochi di allitterazione trasformano l'esercizio in sfida, spostando l'attenzione dall'errore da evitare al risultato da raggiungere insieme. Il lavoro in squadra distribuisce il carico: ognuno porta ciò che sa e il gruppo diventa il primo scaffolding.

C'è poi qualcosa di più profondo. Gli schemi con cui interpretiamo il mondo sono personali e culturalmente situati: davanti alla stessa immagine, persone con storie diverse attivano lenti diverse. In questi giorni, in una classe europea, l'abbiamo visto accadere in continuazione e non è stato un ostacolo, ma una ricchezza. Un metodo che parte da ciò che ognuno già porta con sé non chiede a nessuno di lasciare fuori dall'aula la propria storia: gliela fa usare come punto di partenza.

È qui che le due cose si toccano. Decentrarsi, togliere il docente dal centro della scena, non è solo una scelta di metodo: è una scelta di equità. Quando il sapere passa dalla voce di uno solo, ne beneficia chi già sa ascoltare in quel modo. Quando invece è l'attività a insegnare, si aprono più strade, e ognuno può percorrere la propria. Come ci ha ripetuto Helen, «Let the activities do the teaching»: perché quando è l'attività a insegnare, ognuno può agganciare il nuovo alla propria storia.

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L'ultima mattinata si è aperta con la restituzione dei progetti realizzati dai gruppi di lavoro sui bog bodies. Ogni gruppo ha presentato il proprio percorso didattico: un banco di prova concreto per mettere in pratica tutto ciò che avevamo sperimentato in questi giorni. Vedere come ciascun gruppo avesse interpretato la consegna in modo diverso è stato, a sua volta, un'occasione di apprendimento: la conferma che un buon metodo non produce lezioni identiche, ma libera la creatività di chi insegna.

Poi è arrivato il momento delle presentazioni delle scuole di provenienza: a turno, ognuno ha raccontato il proprio istituto, i progetti attivi, la propria città. Un'attività probabilmente pensata per il primo giorno e che si è svolta invece l'ultimo, per lasciare spazio alla scaletta delle attività progettate. E forse, a sorpresa, è stato meglio così: dopo giorni di lavoro fianco a fianco, ascoltare le presentazioni ha avuto tutto un altro sapore. Sono emerse caratteristiche dei nostri Paesi che non erano affiorate né nelle discussioni collettive né nelle chiacchiere durante le pause caffè.

Tra i progetti presentati, la "Corsa contro la fame" è stata particolarmente apprezzata. Da lì è nato uno scambio prezioso: Helen ci ha parlato di "Walk for Water", un'iniziativa internazionale promossa da anni nelle scuole irlandesi. Scoprire che, in Paesi diversi, le scuole camminano e corrono per le stesse cause è stato un prezioso promemoria di quanto la scuola sappia essere un ponte. Ancora più sorprendente è stato scoprire una somiglianza storica tra Cipro e l'Irlanda: due isole segnate dall'invasione e dalla divisione, due memorie ferite che si sono riconosciute l'una nell'altra.
Infine, Helen ci ha consegnato gli attestati, e c'è stata la foto di gruppo finale. Un momento semplice, ma capace di racchiudere tutto: le sfide a squadre, le risate durante i giochi linguistici, le camminate per Dublino, i sapori condivisi alla Food Fair, le riflessioni sul nostro modo di insegnare. Torniamo a casa con uno sguardo nuovo sulla nostra professione e con volti e storie che non dimenticheremo.

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Giochi linguistici e apprendimento attivo

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Giochi linguistici e apprendimento attivo

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La mattinata è iniziata con una sfida di gruppo: ricostruire una frase in inglese le cui parole erano state distribuite, in disordine, tra tutti i partecipanti. La regola? Non si poteva appoggiare a terra nessuna parola. Questo ci ha costretti a rileggere la frase più e più volte, ad alta voce, mentre poco a poco prendeva forma: un'attività semplice ma efficacissima, che allena insieme l'ascolto, la pronuncia e soprattutto l'ordine delle parole nella frase inglese, spesso uno degli scogli più grandi per i nostri studenti.

Poi ci siamo sfidati a squadre seguendo uno schema ben preciso: I + avverbio + verbo + aggettivo + nome + in + aggettivo + nome, dove tutte le parole dovevano iniziare con la stessa lettera. L'esempio «I always ate awful apples in amazing Australia» — tutte le parole che iniziano con la lettera A. In dieci minuti abbiamo dovuto costruire tre frasi con altre lettere. Divertente e impegnativo allo stesso tempo: attraverso l'allitterazione ci siamo allenati sulla pronuncia e sulla struttura della frase, confermando ancora una volta come un gioco possa insegnare l'ordine corretto delle parole molto meglio di una regola ripetuta a memoria.

A sostenerci in questo lavoro è stato introdotto il color coding: una forma di scaffolding visivo in cui a ogni parte del discorso corrisponde un colore — il rosa per gli aggettivi, il verde per gli avverbi, e così via. Ogni tassello della frase veniva sollecitato da una domanda-guida dello stesso colore della parte del discorso da inserire: «What did you eat in amazing Australia?» → Apples.

Ed è ancora una volta questo il filo che tiene insieme tutto il nostro percorso: decentrarsi. Lo "spettacolo" dell'apprendimento non deve appartenere al docente. Quando progettiamo bene un gioco o una sfida, sono gli studenti a costruire il sapere, mentre l'insegnante fa un passo indietro e li guida. Un cambio di prospettiva potente, che trasforma la lezione da monologo a esperienza condivisa.

Nel secondo momento abbiamo lavorato sullo scaffolding. Helen ci ha mostrato un'immagine inizialmente coperta quasi del tutto, chiedendoci a ogni passo: «What do you see?». Man mano che l'immagine si svelava, le domande cambiavano: «What do you think it might be?», «How do you physically get there?». Quando abbiamo iniziato a rispondere «by plane, train, camel…», è arrivata la domanda decisiva: « … and one word for that is… » TRANSPORT. Ed ecco svelato il topic della lezione.

Dietro questo gioco c'è un principio preciso: l'attivazione dello schema. Gli schemi sono le strutture mentali con cui organizziamo la conoscenza, una lente costruita dalle nostre esperienze personali, attraverso cui interpretiamo ogni informazione nuova. Un contenuto che non trova uno schema a cui agganciarsi resta isolato e si dimentica in fretta. Introdurre un topic in questo modo, dunque, non è un semplice riscaldamento: è la costruzione del gancio. Prima ancora che la lezione cominciasse, nella nostra mente si era già aperto il cassetto giusto, pieno delle nostre esperienze di viaggio, e tutto ciò che sarebbe arrivato dopo aveva dove appoggiarsi. Nel CLIL questo passaggio è ancora più decisivo, perché lo studente affronta contenuti nuovi in una lingua straniera: se lo schema non è attivo, il carico cognitivo raddoppia.

Poi abbiamo provato a costruirne uno noi, a squadre: per farlo abbiamo dovuto ragionare a ritroso, reverse planning, partendo dal topic per disegnare il percorso da proporre all'altra squadra. Coinvolgente dall'inizio alla fine.

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How Jack B. Yeats won a medal without running. Above: The Liffey Swim, 1923. Oil on canvas, 61 x 91.4 cm. National Gallery of Ireland.

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Oro, argento e colore. 1924: un'Olimpiade da... incorniciare!  

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Oro, argento e colore. 1924: un'Olimpiade da... incorniciare!  

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Sapevate che la prima medaglia olimpica dell'Irlanda indipendente non è stata vinta sui blocchi di partenza, ma su una tela? Orgogliosamente esposto alla National Gallery of Ireland, questo quadro non è solo un capolavoro espressionista, ma un concentrato di storia nazionale e sportiva. Racconta la storia dimenticata degli artisti che dal 1912 al 1948 hanno gareggiato alle Olimpiadi in competizioni d’arte, sfidandosi a colpi di pennello, pennino e calamaio. Anche l’edizione dei Giochi Olimpici del 1924 includeva nel suo programma ufficiale il Pentathlon delle Muse, i concorsi d’arte fortemente voluti dal barone Pierre de Coubertin per fondere lo sviluppo fisico con quello intellettuale. L’obiettivo era far incontrare sport e cultura grazie a delle vere e proprie competizioni artistiche nelle cinque discipline della pittura, scultura, architettura, musica e letteratura. A fare la storia per l’Irlanda fu il pittore Jack Butler Yeats, fratello del celebre poeta W.B. Yeats, che conquistò la medaglia d'argento con il suo dipinto espressionista The Liffey Swim. L'opera, che cattura una storica gara di nuoto a Dublino, divenne il simbolo del riscatto dell'identità di una nazione da poco indipendente (il primo passo verso l’indipendenza fu nel 1922 con la creazione dello Stato Libero d’Irlanda).

Un piccolo dettaglio da cercare: nel quadro Yeats ha dipinto se stesso tra la folla, con un cappello, mentre osserva la gara. Riuscite a trovarlo?

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CLIL and visual thinking: when Art and Literacy come together.

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CLIL and visual thinking: when Art and Literacy come together.

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Molto più di un semplice tour, la visita alla National Gallery si è rivelata un vero e proprio laboratorio sulla storia umana e sociale dell'Irlanda. Attraversando la sezione dedicata agli artisti irlandesi, abbiamo visto come pittori del calibro di Yeats, John Lavery, Paul Henry e Séan Keating, abbiano dato voce al riscatto, all'orgoglio e alle più profonde aspirazioni di un intero popolo.

Da docenti, l'aspetto che ci ha più colpiti è la straordinaria accessibilità pedagogica della galleria, un modello perfetto per la metodologia CLIL di cui abbiamo esplorato alcune strategie durante la formazione.

Ciò che si respira nelle sale è una filosofia di accoglienza totale. L'Education Office della galleria lavora con un obiettivo chiaro: ispirare, incoraggiare e sostenere l'apprendimento attraverso l'arte a qualsiasi età.

È stato splendido osservare orde di studenti muoversi liberamente tra le sale a caccia di dettagli o intenti a scattarsi selfie davanti alle opere. Questa vivace "confusione" viene accolta con il sorriso da guide e custodi: il museo non è un tempio del silenzio, ma uno spazio vivo di scoperta di qualità.

Sperimentando il percorso in totale autonomia attraverso una self-guided visit, abbiamo testato in prima persona alcune potenti strategie di Visual Literacy presentate in forma di domanda aperta e applicabili direttamente nelle nostre classi di lingue straniere:

*"Say what you see" (osservazione lenta): il suggerimento cardine del museo è immediato: “If you’re standing in front of a painting, start saying in your mind what you’re seeing. You’re bound to notice more than you would if you were just looking.”

*"What do you see? / What do you think?": un approccio inclusivo e destrutturato che permette una lettura libera delle opere, slegata dalla dinamica valutativa del "giusto o sbagliato".

*"Progressive deepening": tramite un approfondimento progressivo partendo dal micro (colori, forme, oggetti materiali), si attivano i propri schemi culturali per salire ai livelli più alti di interpretazione del messaggio (Why? How?) e della curiosità (What would I like to know?).

Dalla conversazione che ne è seguita abbiamo potuto constatare quanto questa modalità osservativa per scoperta sia inclusiva e democratica. Permette a studenti con livelli linguistici diversi di partecipare attivamente: l'alunno con competenze di base può contribuire descrivendo elementi concreti (colori e forme) e, insieme ai compagni con competenze più avanzate, può spingersi verso l'interpretazione creativa e critica del contesto storico.

Questa esperienza ci ha ricordato che le sale di un museo, proprio come le nostre aule, diventano magiche quando si trasformano in spazi vivi di confronto, errore e scoperta. Non vediamo l'ora di sperimentare le routine di Visual Literacy nelle nostre classi e dare voce ai nostri studenti!

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Explore the museum and its online resources, which can also be accessed remotely!

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Joyce, l'Ulysses e la didattica esperienziale

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Joyce, l'Ulysses e la didattica esperienziale

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Camminare per Dublino sulle orme di Leopold Bloom significa imparare a guardare il mondo con occhi nuovi. Nell'Ulysses, Joyce trasforma una giornata qualunque in un viaggio straordinario, dove ogni strada, ogni voce, ogni odore raccontano qualcosa dell'esistenza. La forza del romanzo risiede proprio nel suo essere fortemente materico: la realtà si conosce attraversandola, non osservandola da lontano. È la stessa intuizione che ispira una didattica esperienziale nella quale l'apprendimento nasce dall'incontro diretto con i luoghi, con le persone e con le domande che l'esperienza suscita. Dublino diventa così un'aula senza pareti, in cui ogni passo è una scoperta e ogni incontro un'occasione di crescita. E forse il lascito più profondo di Joyce è racchiuso nell'ultima parola del romanzo: «Yes». Un sì alla vita, al viaggio, alla curiosità e alla meraviglia che rendono autentica ogni esperienza di conoscenza.

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Seconda mattinata di studio. Dopo un'introduzione teorica su che cosa sia il CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), siamo passati subito alla pratica, sperimentando le 5 C del metodo: Content, Communication, Cognition, Culture / Community and Competences. Divisi in due squadre, attraverso un percorso strutturato, abbiamo negoziato il significato dei concetti e costruito insieme una nostra definizione di CLIL. Poi ci siamo sfidati tra gruppi con domande HOW e WHY, passando dalle abilità di pensiero più semplici (LOTS) a quelle di ordine superiore (HOTS), per raggiungere una comprensione più profonda. Infine abbiamo mimato le risposte e usato l'intelligenza artificiale per trasformare la definizione di CLIL in un motivetto orecchiabile.
Un'esperienza che riassume il cuore del metodo: non è l'insegnante a dover essere al centro della scena, ma l'attività stessa a guidare la scoperta. Come ci ha ripetuto più volte Helen: «Let the activities do the teaching».

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La prima giornata di formazione è iniziata incontrando Helen Callanan, la nostra trainer, e il gruppo di colleghi con cui condivideremo questo percorso. Helen ci ha raccontato di sé ma anche di Dublino e di cosa significhi essere irlandesi: uno sguardo intriso di storia, ironia e profondo attaccamento alla propria terra. Ci ha dato anche consigli pratici sui trasporti, alternando le informazioni ad aneddoti divertenti, come quello dei ghost bus, gli autobus che compaiono sul display alla fermata e poi svaniscono prima di arrivare. Poi ci ha invitati a fare "a little chat", una chiacchierata a coppie: al termine ognuno ha presentato agli altri il proprio compagno. Un modo semplice per rompere il ghiaccio e iniziare a costruire il gruppo. Dopo la lezione è arrivato uno dei momenti più conviviali: la European Food Fair, in cui ogni partecipante ha condiviso un assaggio di casa. Il cibo, ancora una volta, si è rivelato il linguaggio più immediato per conoscersi.

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Cosa hanno in comune la caraibica Rihanna, il samoano Jason Momoa e il presidente statunitense J.F. Kennedy? Ha sorpreso anche noi scoprire che tutti e tre hanno origini irlandesi. Il museo EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum racconta la storia dei milioni di irlandesi che, nei secoli, hanno lasciato la propria terra. Non celebra solo i successi della diaspora, ma custodisce la memoria di chi è partito senza scelta, spinto dalla carestia, dalla povertà o dall'emarginazione. Ricordare queste storie significa riconoscere il coraggio e la dignità di chi migra.

All'ingresso, una frase ci ha particolarmente colpite: “In any emigrant's journey, there is a turning point when they have left their home but not yet arrived. At this moment, hope and fear are neutral — a new life is beginning utterly different from the old.”

Nelle nostre scuole ogni giorno incontriamo studenti con background migratorio. Le loro esperienze, spesso segnate da sfide e cambiamenti, rappresentano una risorsa preziosa per tutta la comunità scolastica. Accoglierle e valorizzarle significa costruire una scuola più inclusiva, in cui ciascuno possa sentirsi parte di una storia condivisa. Non a caso, EPIC significa Every Person Is Connected: ogni persona è connessa.

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Anche per il secondo gruppo in mobilità la meta è la capitale della verde Irlanda: Dublino.

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Dublin (; Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, pronounced [ˈbˠalʲə aːhə ˈclʲiə] or [ˌbʲlʲaː ˈclʲiə]) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 census it had a population of 1,173,179, while the preliminary results of the 2022 census recorded that County Dublin as a whole had a population of 1,450,701, and that the population of the Greater Dublin Area was over 2 million, or roughly 40% of the Republic of Ireland's total population.

A settlement was established in the area by the Gaels during or before the 7th century, followed by the Vikings. As the Kingdom of Dublin grew, it became Ireland's principal settlement by the 12th century Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest in the British Empire and sixth largest in Western Europe after the Acts of Union in 1800. Following independence in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, renamed Ireland in 1937.

Dublin is a centre for education, arts and culture, administration and industry. As of 2018, the city was listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) as a global city, with a ranking of "Alpha minus", which places it as one of the top thirty cities in the world.

The name Dublin derives from the Irish word Duibhlinn, early Classical Irish Dubhlind/ Duibhlind, from dubh (, , ) meaning "black, dark", and linn () "pool", referring to a dark tidal pool. This tidal pool was located where the River Poddle entered the Liffey, on the site of the castle gardens at the rear of Dublin Castle. In Modern Irish the name is Duibhlinn, and Irish rhymes from County Dublin show that in Dublin Leinster Irish it was pronounced Duílinn [ˈd̪ˠiːlʲiɲ]. The original pronunciation is preserved in the names for the city in other languages such as Old English Difelin, Old Norse Dyflin, modern Icelandic Dyflinn and modern Manx Divlyn as well as Welsh Dulyn and Breton Dulenn. Other localities in Ireland also bear the name Duibhlinn, variously anglicised as Devlin, Divlin and Difflin. Historically, scribes using the Gaelic script wrote bh with a dot over the b, rendering Duḃlinn or Duiḃlinn. Those without knowledge of Irish omitted the dot, spelling the name as Dublin. Variations on the name are also found in traditionally Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland ( Gàidhealtachd, cognate with Irish Gaeltacht), such as An Linne Dhubh ("the black pool"), which is part of Loch Linnhe.

It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn, from which Dyflin took its name. Beginning in the 9th and 10th centuries, there were two settlements where the modern city stands. The Viking settlement of about 841, Dyflin, and a Gaelic settlement, Áth Cliath ("ford of hurdles") further up river, at the present-day Father Mathew Bridge (also known as Dublin Bridge), at the bottom of Church Street. , meaning "town of the hurdled ford", is the common name for the city in modern Irish. is a place name referring to a fording point of the River Liffey near Father Mathew Bridge. was an early Christian monastery, believed to have been in the area of Aungier Street, currently occupied by Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church. There are other towns of the same name, such as Àth Cliath in East Ayrshire, Scotland, which is anglicised as Hurlford. The city is also referred to as and in Irish, particularly when spoken. These are contracted versions of .

The area of Dublin Bay has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times, fish traps discovered from excavations during the construction of the Convention Centre Dublin indicate human habitation as far back as 6,000 years ago while further traps were also discovered closer to the old settlement of the city of Dublin on the south quays near St. James's Gate which also indicate mesolithic human activity.

The writings of Ptolemy (the Greco-Roman astronomer and cartographer) in about 140 CE provide possibly the earliest reference to a settlement in Dublin. He called it Eblana polis ( Greek: Ἔβλανα πόλις ).

Dublin celebrated its 'official' millennium in 1988, meaning the Irish government recognised 988 as the year in which the city was settled and that this first settlement would later become the city of Dublin.

It is now thought the Viking settlement of about 841 was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn, from which Dyflin took its name. Evidence indicating that Anglo-Saxons occupied Dublin before the Vikings arrived in 841 has been found in an archaeological dig in Temple Bar.

Beginning in the 9th and 10th centuries, there were two settlements which later became the modern Dublin. The subsequent Scandinavian settlement centred on the River Poddle, a tributary of the Liffey in an area now known as Wood Quay. The Dubhlinn was a pool on the lowest stretch of the Poddle, where ships used to moor. This pool was finally fully infilled during the early 18th century, as the city grew. The Dubhlinn lay where the Castle Garden is now located, opposite the Chester Beatty Library within Dublin Castle. Táin Bó Cuailgne ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley") refers to Dublind rissa ratter Áth Cliath, meaning "Dublin, which is called Ath Cliath".

In 841, the Vikings established a fortified base in Dublin. The town grew into a substantial commercial center under Olaf Guthfrithson in the mid-to-late 10th century and, despite a number of attacks by the native Irish, it remained largely under Viking control until the Norman invasion of Ireland was launched from Wales in 1169. It was upon the death of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn in early 1166 that Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, proceeded to Dublin and was inaugurated King of Ireland without opposition.

According to some historians, part of the city's early economic growth is attributed to a trade in slaves. Slavery in Ireland and Dublin reached its pinnacle in the 9th and 10th centuries. Prisoners from slave raids and kidnappings, which captured men, women and children, brought revenue to the Gaelic Irish Sea raiders, as well as to the Vikings who had initiated the practice. The victims came from Wales, England, Normandy and beyond.

The King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada, after his exile by Ruaidhrí, enlisted the help of Strongbow, the Earl of Pembroke, to conquer Dublin. Following Mac Murrough's death, Strongbow declared himself King of Leinster after gaining control of the city. In response to Strongbow's successful invasion, King Henry II of England affirmed his ultimate sovereignty by mounting a larger invasion in 1171 and pronounced himself Lord of Ireland. Around this time, the county of the City of Dublin was established along with certain liberties adjacent to the city proper. This continued down to 1840 when the barony of Dublin City was separated from the barony of Dublin. Since 2001, both baronies have been redesignated as the City of Dublin.

Dublin Castle, which became the centre of Anglo-Norman power in Ireland, was founded in 1204 as a major defensive work on the orders of King John of England. Following the appointment of the first Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1229, the city expanded and had a population of 8,000 by the end of the 13th century. Dublin prospered as a trade centre, despite an attempt by King Robert I of Scotland to capture the city in 1317. It remained a relatively small walled medieval town during the 14th century and was under constant threat from the surrounding native clans. In 1348, the Black Death, a lethal plague which had ravaged Europe, took hold in Dublin and killed thousands over the following decade.

Dublin was the heart of the area known as the Pale, a narrow strip of English settlement along the eastern coast, under the control of the English Crown. The Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century spelt a new era for Dublin, with the city enjoying a renewed prominence as the centre of administrative rule in an Ireland where English control and settlement had become much more extensive. Determined to make Dublin a Protestant city, Queen Elizabeth I of England established Trinity College in 1592 as a solely Protestant university and ordered that the Catholic St. Patrick's and Christ Church cathedrals be converted to the Protestant church. The earliest map of the city of Dublin dates from 1610, and was by John Speed.

The city had a population of 21,000 in 1640 before a plague in 1649-51 wiped out almost half of the inhabitants. However, the city prospered again soon after as a result of the wool and linen trade with England, and reached a population of over 50,000 in 1700. By 1698 the manufacture of wool employed 12,000 people.

As the city continued to prosper during the 18th century, Georgian Dublin became, for a short period, the second largest city of the British Empire and the fifth largest city in Europe, with the population exceeding 130,000. While some medieval streets and layouts (including the areas around Temple Bar, Aungier Street, Capel Street and Thomas Street) were less affected by the wave of Georgian reconstruction, much of Dublin's architecture and layout dates from this period.

Dublin grew even more dramatically during the 18th century, with the construction of many new districts and buildings, such as Merrion Square, Parliament House and the Royal Exchange. The Wide Streets Commission was established in 1757 at the request of Dublin Corporation to govern architectural standards on the layout of streets, bridges and buildings. In 1759, the Guinness brewery was founded; and would eventually grow to become the largest brewery in the world and the largest employer in Dublin. During the 1700s, linen was not subject to the same trade restrictions with England as wool, and became the most important Irish export. Over 1.5 million yards of linen was exported from Ireland in 1710, rising to almost 19 million yards by 1779.

Dublin suffered a period of political and economic decline during the 19th century following the Acts of Union 1800, under which the seat of government was transferred to the Westminster Parliament in London. The city played no major role in the Industrial Revolution, but remained the centre of administration and a transport hub for most of the island. Ireland had no significant sources of coal, the fuel of the time, and Dublin was not a centre of ship manufacturing, the other main driver of industrial development in Britain and Ireland. Belfast developed faster than Dublin during this period on a mixture of international trade, factory-based linen cloth production and shipbuilding. By 1814, the population of Dublin was 175,319 as counted under the Population Act, making the population of Dublin higher than all other towns in England bar London.

Dublin was also a victim of the Northern Irish Troubles, although during this 30-year conflict, violence mainly occurred within Northern Ireland. A Loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, bombed the city during this time - notably in an atrocity known as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in which 34 people died, mainly in central Dublin.

Large parts of Georgian Dublin were demolished or substantially redeveloped in the mid-20th century during a boom in office building. After this boom, the recessions of the 1970s and 1980s slowed down the pace of building. Cumulatively, this led to a large decline in the number of people living in the centre of the city, and by 1985 the city had approximately 150 acres of derelict land which had been earmarked for development and 10 million square feet (900 thousand square metres) of office space.

Since 1997, the landscape of Dublin has changed. The city was at the forefront of Ireland's economic expansion during the Celtic Tiger period, with private sector and state development of housing, transport and business. Following an economic decline during the Great Recession, Dublin has rebounded and as of 2017 has close to full employment, but has a significant problem with housing supply in both the city and surrounds.

Dublin City Council is a unicameral assembly of 63 members elected every five years from local electoral areas. It is presided over by the Lord Mayor, who is elected for a yearly term and resides in Dublin's Mansion House. Council meetings occur at Dublin City Hall, while most of its administrative activities are based in the Civic Offices on Wood Quay. The party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats assigns committee members, introduces policies, and proposes the Lord Mayor. The Council passes an annual budget for spending on areas such as housing, traffic management, refuse, drainage, and planning. The Dublin City Manager is responsible for implementing City Council decisions but also has considerable executive power.

As the capital city, Dublin is the seat of the national parliament of Ireland, the Oireachtas. It is composed of the President of Ireland, Dáil Éireann as the house of representatives, and Seanad Éireann as the upper house. The President resides in Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, while both houses of the Oireachtas meet in Leinster House, a former ducal residence on Kildare Street. It has been the home of the Irish parliament since the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922. The old Irish Houses of Parliament of the Kingdom of Ireland, which dissolved in 1801, are located in College Green.

Government Buildings house the Department of the Taoiseach, the Council Chamber, the Department of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General. It consists of a main building (completed 1911) with two wings (completed 1921). It was designed by Thomas Manley Dean and Sir Aston Webb as the Royal College of Science. The First Dáil originally met in the Mansion House in 1919. The Irish Free State government took over the two wings of the building to serve as a temporary home for some ministries, while the central building became the College of Technology until 1989. Although both it and Leinster House were intended to be temporary locations, they became the permanent homes of parliament from then on.

For elections to Dáil Éireann, there are five constituencies that are wholly or predominantly in the Dublin City area: Dublin Central (4 seats), Dublin Bay North (5 seats), Dublin North-West (3 seats), Dublin South-Central (4 seats) and Dublin Bay South (4 seats). Twenty TDs are elected in total. The constituency of Dublin West (4 seats) is partially in Dublin City, but predominantly in Fingal.

At the 2020 general election, the Dublin city area elected 5 Sinn Féin, 3 Fine Gael, 3 Fianna Fáil, 3 Green Party, 3 Social Democrats, 1 Right to Change, 1 Solidarity-People Before Profit and 1 Labour TDs.

From 1842, the boundaries of the city were comprehended by the baronies of Dublin City and the barony of Dublin. Over time, the city has absorbed area previously administered as part of County Dublin (now the three counties of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin), with a change in 1985 also returning area to the county.

Dublin is situated at the mouth of the River Liffey and encompasses a land area of approximately 117.8 square kilometres (45.5 sq mi) in east-central Ireland. It is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range and sub range of the Wicklow Mountains, to the south and surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west.

The River Liffey divides the city in two, between the Northside and the Southside. The Liffey bends at Leixlip from a northeasterly route to a predominantly eastward direction, and this point also marks the transition to urban development from more agricultural land usage. The city itself was founded where the River Poddle met the Liffey, and the early Viking settlement was also facilitated by the small Stein or Steyne River, the larger Camac and the Bradogue, in particular.

Two secondary rivers further divide the city: the River Tolka, running southeast into Dublin Bay, and the River Dodder running northeast to near the mouth of the Liffey, and these and the Liffey have multiple tributaries. A number of lesser rivers and streams also flow to the sea within the suburban parts of the city.

Two canals - the Grand Canal on the southside and the Royal Canal on the northside - ring the inner city on their way from the west and the River Shannon.

A north-south division once, to some extent, traditionally existed, with the River Liffey as the divider. The southside was, in recent times, generally seen as being more affluent and genteel than the northside. There have also been some social divisions evident between the coastal suburbs in the east of the city, and the newer developments further to the west.[citation needed ]

In some tourism and real-estate marketing contexts, inner Dublin is sometimes divided into a number of quarters or districts. These include the Medieval Quarter (in the area of Dublin Castle, Christ Church and St Patrick's Cathedral and the old city walls), the Georgian Quarter (including the area around St Stephen's Green, Trinity College, and Merrion Square), the Docklands Quarter (around the Dublin Docklands and Silicon Docks), the Cultural Quarter (around Temple Bar), and Creative Quarter (between South William Street and George's Street).

Similar to much of the rest of northwestern Europe, Dublin experiences a maritime climate (Cfb) with mild-warm summers, cool winters, and a lack of temperature extremes. At Merrion Square, the coldest month is February, with an average minimum temperature of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F), and the warmest month is July, with an average maximum temperature of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F). Due to the urban heat island effect, Dublin city has the warmest summertime nights in Ireland. The average minimum temperature at Merrion Square in July is 13.5 °C (56.3 °F), and the lowest July temperature ever recorded at the station was 7.8 °C (46.0 °F) on 3 July 1974.

Dublin's sheltered location on the east coast makes it the driest place in Ireland, receiving only about half the rainfall of the west coast. Ringsend in the south of the city records the lowest rainfall in the country, with an average annual precipitation of 683 mm (27 in), with the average annual precipitation in the city centre being 726 mm (29 in). The main precipitation in winter is rain; however snow showers do occur between November and March. Hail is more common than snow. The city experiences long summer days and short winter days. Strong Atlantic winds are most common in autumn. These winds can affect Dublin, but due to its easterly location, it is least affected compared to other parts of the country. However, in winter, easterly winds render the city colder and more prone to snow showers.

In the 20th century, smog and air-pollution were an issue in the city, precipitating a ban on bituminous fuels across Dublin. The ban was implemented in 1990 to address black smoke concentrations, that had been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory deaths in residents. Since the ban, non-trauma death rates, respiratory death rates and cardiovascular death rates have declined - by an estimated 350 deaths annually.

Dublin has many landmarks and monuments dating back hundreds of years. One of the oldest is Dublin Castle, which was first founded as a major defensive work on the orders of England's King John in 1204, shortly after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, when it was commanded that a castle be built with strong walls and good ditches for the defence of the city, the administration of justice, and the protection of the King's treasure. Largely complete by 1230, the castle was of typical Norman courtyard design, with a central square without a keep, bounded on all sides by tall defensive walls and protected at each corner by a circular tower. Sited to the south-east of Norman Dublin, the castle formed one corner of the outer perimeter of the city, using the River Poddle as a natural means of defence.

One of Dublin's newest monuments is the Spire of Dublin, officially entitled the "Monument of Light." It is a 121.2-metre (398 ft) conical spire made of stainless steel, located on O'Connell Street where it meets Henry Street and North Earl Street. It replaces Nelson's Pillar and is intended to mark Dublin's place in the 21st century. The spire was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects, who sought an "Elegant and dynamic simplicity bridging art and technology". The base of the monument is lit and the top is illuminated to provide a beacon in the night sky across the city.

The Old Library of Trinity College Dublin, holding the Book of Kells, is one of the city's most visited sites. The Book of Kells is an illustrated manuscript created by Irish monks circa 800 AD. The Ha'penny Bridge, an iron footbridge over the River Liffey, is one of the most photographed sights in Dublin and is considered to be one of Dublin's most iconic landmarks.

Other landmarks and monuments include Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's Cathedral, the Mansion House, the Molly Malone statue, the complex of buildings around Leinster House, including part of the National Museum of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland, The Custom House and Áras an Uachtaráin. Other sights include the Anna Livia monument. The Poolbeg Towers are also landmark features of Dublin, and visible from various spots around the city.

There are many green-spaces around the city, and Dublin City Council manages over 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of parks. Public parks include the Phoenix Park, Herbert Park, St Stephen's Green, Saint Anne's Park and Bull Island. The Phoenix Park is about 3 km (2 miles) west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16-kilometre (10 mi) perimeter wall encloses 707 hectares (1,750 acres), making it one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the 17th century has been home to a herd of wild fallow deer. The residence of the President of Ireland (Áras an Uachtaráin), which was built in 1751, is located in the park. The park is also home to Dublin Zoo, Ashtown Castle, and the official residence of the United States Ambassador. Music concerts are also sometimes held in the park.

St Stephen's Green is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street, and to a shopping centre named after it, while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies.

Saint Anne's Park is a public park and recreational facility, shared between Raheny and Clontarf, both suburbs on the Northside. The park, the second largest municipal park in Dublin, is part of a former 2-square-kilometre (0.8 sq mi; 500-acre) estate assembled by members of the Guinness family, beginning with Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1835 (the largest municipal park is nearby (North) Bull Island, also shared between Clontarf and Raheny), featuring a 5 km beach.

The Dublin region is the economic centre of Ireland, and was at the forefront of the country's economic expansion during the Celtic Tiger period. In 2009, Dublin was listed as the fourth richest city in the world by purchasing power and 10th richest by personal income. According to Mercer's 2011 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, Dublin is the 13th most expensive city in the European Union (down from 10th in 2010) and the 58th most expensive place to live in the world (down from 42nd in 2010). As of 2017, approximately 874,400 people were employed in the Greater Dublin Area. Around 60% of people who are employed in Ireland's financial, ICT, and professional sectors are located in this area.

Financial services have also become important to the city since the establishment of Dublin's International Financial Services Centre in 1987. More than 500 operations are approved to trade under the IFSC programme. The centre is host to half of the world's top 50 banks and to half of the top 20 insurance companies. Many international firms have established major headquarters in the city, such as Citibank. The Irish Stock Exchange (ISEQ), Internet Neutral Exchange (INEX) and Irish Enterprise Exchange (IEX) are also located in Dublin. Dublin has been positioned as one of the main cities vying to host Financial Services companies hoping to retain access to the Eurozone after Brexit. The Celtic Tiger also led to a temporary boom in construction, with large redevelopment projects in the Dublin Docklands and Spencer Dock. Completed projects include the Convention Centre, the 3Arena, and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

In the second quarter of 2018, Dublin touched its lowest unemployment rate in a decade, when it fell down to 5.7% as reported by the Dublin Economic Monitor.

The road network in Ireland is primarily focused on Dublin. The M50 motorway, a semi- ring road which runs around the south, west and north of the city, connects important national primary routes to the rest of the country. In 2008, the West-Link toll bridge was replaced by the eFlow barrier-free tolling system, with a three-tiered charge system based on electronic tags and car pre-registration.

The 2016 TomTom Traffic Index ranked Dublin the 15th most congested city in the world and the 7th most congested in Europe.

Dublin is served by a network of nearly 200 bus routes which cover the city and suburbs. The majority of these are provided by Dublin Bus, with a modest number having been transferred to Go Ahead Ireland in 2018. A number of smaller companies also operate. Fares are generally calculated on a stage system based on distance travelled. There are several different levels of fares, which apply on most services. A "Real Time Passenger Information" system was introduced at Dublin Bus bus stops in 2012 in which signs relay display the projected time of the next buses' arrival based on its GPS position. The National Transport Authority is responsible for integration of bus and rail services in Dublin and has been involved in introducing a pre-paid smart card, called a Leap card, which can be used on all of Dublin's public transport services.

The 2011 Census showed that 5.9 percent of commuters in Dublin cycled. A 2013 report by Dublin City Council on traffic flows crossing the canals in and out of the city found that just under 10% of all traffic was made up of cyclists, representing an increase of 14.1% over 2012 and an 87.2% increase over 2006 levels and is attributed to measures, such as, the Dublinbikes bike rental scheme, the provision of cycle lanes, public awareness campaigns to promote cycling and the introduction of the 30 km/h city centre speed limit.

Dublin City Council began installing cycle lanes and tracks throughout the city in the 1990s, and as of 2012 the city had over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of specific on- and off-road tracks for cyclists. In 2011, the city was ranked 9th of major world cities on the Copenhagenize Index of Bicycle-Friendly Cities. The same index showed a fall to 15th in 2015, and Dublin was outside the top 20 in 2017.

Dublinbikes is a self-service bicycle rental scheme which has been in operation in Dublin since 2009. Sponsored by JCDecaux and Just Eat, the scheme consists of hundreds of unisex bicycles stationed at 44 terminals throughout the city centre. Users must make a subscription for either an annual Long Term Hire Card or purchase a three-day ticket. As of 2018, Dublinbikes had over 66,000 long-term subscribers making over 2 million journeys per year.

Heuston and Connolly stations are the two main railway termini in Dublin. Operated by Iarnród Éireann, the Dublin Suburban Rail network consists of five railway lines serving the Greater Dublin Area and commuter towns such as Drogheda and Dundalk in County Louth, Gorey in County Wexford, and extending as far as Portlaoise and once a day, Newry. One of the five lines is the electrified Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) line, which runs primarily along the coast of Dublin, comprising 31 stations, from Malahide and Howth southwards as far as Greystones in County Wicklow. Commuter rail operates on the other four lines using Irish Rail diesel multiple units. In 2013, passengers for DART and Dublin Suburban lines were 16 million and 11.7 million, respectively (around 75% of all Irish Rail passengers).

Dublin once had an extensive system of trams but this was largely phased out by 1949. A new light rail system, often described as a tram system, the Luas, was launched in 2004, and is run by Transdev Ireland (under contract from Transport Infrastructure Ireland), carrying over 34 million passengers annually. The network consists of two interconnecting lines; the Red Line links the Docklands and city centre with the south-western suburbs of Tallaght and Saggart, while the Green Line connects northern inner city suburbs and the main city centre with suburbs to the south of the city including Sandyford and Brides Glen. Together these lines comprise a total 67 stations and 44.5 kilometres (27.7 mi) of track. Construction of a 6 km extension to the Green Line, bringing it into the north of the city, commenced in June 2013 and was opened for passenger travel on 9 December 2017.

A metro service is proposed under the name of Metrolink, and planned to run from Dublin's northside to Sandyford via Dublin Airport and St. Stephen's Green.

Dublin Airport (owned and operated by DAA) is located north of Dublin city, near Swords in the administrative county of Fingal. The headquarters of Ireland's flag carrier Aer Lingus and regional airline CityJet are located there, and those of low-cost carrier Ryanair nearby. The airport offers a short and medium-haul network, domestic services to regional airports in Ireland, and long-haul services to the United States, Canada, the Middle East and Hong Kong. Dublin Airport is the 11th busiest in the European Union, and by far the busiest airport on the island of Ireland.

In 2014, Dublin Airport was the 18th busiest airport in Europe, serving over 21 million passengers. By 2016 this increased to 27.9 million passengers passing through the airport, establishing an all-time record supported by growth in both short- and long-haul networks. In 2015 and 2016, transatlantic traffic grew, with 158 summer flights a week to North America, making it the sixth largest European hub for that route over the year. Transatlantic traffic was also the fastest-growing segment of the market for the airport in 2016, in which a 16% increase from 2015 brought the yearly number of passengers travelling between Dublin and North America to 2.9 million.

From 2010 to 2016, Dublin Airport saw an increase of nearly 9.5 million passengers in its annual traffic, as the number of commercial aircraft movements has similarly followed a growth trend from 163,703 in 2013 to 191,233 in 2015.

Dublin is also served by Weston Airport and other small facilities, by a range of helicopter operators, and the military and some State services use Casement Aerodrome nearby.

Dublin is the largest centre of education in Ireland, and is home to four universities and a number of other higher education institutions. It was the European Capital of Science in 2012.

The University of Dublin is the oldest university in Ireland, dating from the 16th century, and is located in the city centre. Its sole constituent college, Trinity College (TCD), was established by Royal Charter in 1592 under Elizabeth I. It was closed to Roman Catholics until 1793, and the Catholic hierarchy then banned Roman Catholics from attending until 1970. It is situated in the city centre, on College Green, and has over 18,000 students.

The National University of Ireland (NUI) has its seat in Dublin, which is also the location of the associated constituent university of University College Dublin (UCD), which has over 30,000 students. Founded in 1854, it is now the largest university in Ireland. UCD's main campus is at Belfield, about 5 km (3 mi) from the city centre, in the southeastern suburbs.

Dublin City University (DCU), formerly the National Institute for Higher Education (NIHE) Dublin, offers courses in business, engineering, science, communication courses, languages and primary education. It has around 16,000 students, and its main campus is located about 7 km (4 mi) from the city centre, in the northern suburbs. Aside from the main Glasnevin Campus, the Drumcondra campuses includes the former St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra now also hosting students from the nearby Mater Dei Institute of Education and students from the Church of Ireland College of Education at the DCU Campus at All Hallows College.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) conducts a medical school which is both a university (since 2019) and a recognised college of the NUI, and is situated at St. Stephen's Green in the city centre; there are also large medical schools within UCD and Trinity College. The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) provides education and research in art, design and media. The National College of Ireland (NCI) is also based in Dublin, as well as the Economic and Social Research Institute, a social science research institute, on Sir John Rogerson's Quay, and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

The Institute of International and European Affairs is also in Dublin. Dublin Business School (DBS) is Ireland's largest private third level institution with over 9,000 students located on Aungier Street, and Griffith College Dublin has its main facility in Portobello. There are also smaller specialised colleges, including The Gaiety School of Acting. The Irish public administration and management training centre has its base in Dublin, the Institute of Public Administration provides a range of undergraduate and post graduate awards via the National University of Ireland and in some instances, Queen's University Belfast.

Dublin is also home to the Royal Irish Academy, membership of which is considered Ireland's highest academic honour.[citation needed ]

The suburban town of Dún Laoghaire is home to the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), which supports training and research in art, design, business, psychology and media technology. Dublin joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2019.

The City of Dublin is the area administered by Dublin City Council. The term "Dublin" is also used to the traditional County Dublin (the Dublin Region), which includes the city and the counties of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin. The population of the city of Dublin was 554,554 in the 2016 census, while the population of the urban area was 1,173,179. The County Dublin population was 1,273,069 and that of the Greater Dublin Area 1,904,806. The area's population is expanding rapidly, and it was estimated by the Central Statistics Office that it would reach 2.1 million by 2020.[needs update ]

After World War Two, Italians were by far the largest immigrant group in both Dublin and Ireland and became synonymous with the catering and restaurant landscape. Since the late 1990s, Dublin has experienced a significant level of net immigration, with the greatest numbers coming from the European Union, especially the United Kingdom, Poland and Lithuania. There is also immigration from outside Europe, including from Brazil, India, the Philippines, China and Nigeria. Dublin is home to a greater proportion of newer arrivals than any other part of the country. Sixty percent of Ireland's Asian population lives in Dublin. Over 15% of Dublin's population was foreign-born in 2006.

The capital attracts the largest proportion of non-Catholic migrants from other countries. Increased secularisation in Ireland has prompted a drop in regular Catholic church attendance in Dublin from over 90 percent in the mid-1970s down to 14 percent according to a 2011 survey and less than 2% in some areas

According to the 2016 census, the population of Dublin was 86.2% white (including 862,381 white Irish [72.5%], 132,846 other white [13.2%] and 5,092 [0.5%] white Irish traveller), 2% black (23,892), and 4.6% Asian (46,626). Additionally, 2.7% (27,412) are from other ethnic or cultural background, while 4.9% (49,092) did not state their ethnicity. In terms of religion, 68.2% identified as Catholic, 12.7% as other stated religions, with 19.1% having no religion or no religion stated.

As of July 2018, there were 1,367 families within the Dublin region living in homeless accommodation or other emergency housing.

Dublin has a significant literary history, and produced many literary figures, including Nobel laureates William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett. Other influential writers and playwrights include Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and the creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker. It is also the location of key and notable works of James Joyce, including , which is set in Dublin and includes much topical detail. is a collection of short stories by Joyce about incidents and typical characters of the city during the early 20th century. Other renowned writers include J. M. Synge, Seán O'Casey, Brendan Behan, Maeve Binchy, John Banville and Roddy Doyle. Ireland's biggest libraries and literary museums are found in Dublin, including the National Print Museum of Ireland and National Library of Ireland. In July 2010, Dublin was named as a UNESCO City of Literature, joining Edinburgh, Melbourne and Iowa City with the permanent title.

Apart from being the focus of the country's literature and theatre, Dublin is also the focal point for much of Irish art and the Irish artistic scene. The Book of Kells, a world-famous manuscript produced by Celtic monks in AD 800 and an example of Insular art, is on display in Trinity College. The Chester Beatty Library houses a collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and decorative arts assembled by American mining millionaire (and honorary Irish citizen) Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968). The collections date from 2700 BCE onwards and are drawn from Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

In addition public art galleries are found across the city and are free to visit, including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery, the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, the Douglas Hyde Gallery, the Project Arts Centre and the exhibition space of the Royal Hibernian Academy. Private galleries in Dublin include Green on Red Gallery, Kerlin Gallery, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery and Mother's Tankstation.

Three branches of the National Museum of Ireland are located in Dublin: Archaeology in Kildare Street, Decorative Arts and History in Collins Barracks and Natural History in Merrion Street. Dublin is home to the National College of Art and Design, which dates from 1746, and Dublin Institute of Design, founded in 1991. Dublinia is a living history attraction showcasing the Viking and Medieval history of the city.

Dublin has long had an 'underground' arts scene, with Temple Bar hosting artists in the 1980s, and spaces such as the Project Arts Centre acting as a hub for collectives and new exhibitions. The Guardian noted that Dublin's independent and underground arts flourished during the economic recession of c.2010. Dublin also has many dramatic, musical and operatic companies, including Festival Productions, Lyric Opera Productions, the Pioneers' Musical & Dramatic Society, Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society, the Glasnevin Musical Society, Third Day Chorale, Second Age Theatre Company, Irish National Opera.

Dublin was shortlisted to be World Design Capital 2014. Taoiseach Enda Kenny was quoted to say that Dublin "would be an ideal candidate to host the World Design Capital in 2014".

In October 2021, Dublin was shortlisted for the European Commission's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award along with Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Florence, Ljubljana, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.

Dublin has a vibrant nightlife and is reputedly one of Europe's most youthful cities, with an estimate of 50% of citizens being younger than 25. There are many pubs across the city centre, with the area around St. Stephen's Green and Grafton Street, especially Harcourt Street, Camden Street, Wexford Street and Leeson Street, the location of many nightclubs and pubs.

The best known area for nightlife is Temple Bar, south of the River Liffey. The area has become popular among tourists, including stag and hen parties from the UK. It was developed as Dublin's cultural quarter and does retain this spirit as a centre for small arts productions, photographic and artists' studios, and in the form of street performers and small music venues; however, it has been criticised as overpriced, false and dirty by Lonely Planet. The areas around Leeson Street, Harcourt Street, South William Street and Camden/George's Street are popular nightlife spots for locals.

Live music is played on streets and at venues throughout Dublin, and the city has produced several musicians and groups of international success, including The Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, U2, The Script, Sinéad O'Connor, Boyzone, Kodaline, Fontaines D.C. and Westlife. Dublin has several mid-range venues that host live music throughout the week, including Whelans and Vicar Street. The 3Arena venue in the Dublin Docklands plays host to visiting global performers.

While the city has seen the loss of some traditional market sites, Moore Street remains one of the city's oldest trading districts. There has also been some growth in local farmers' markets and other markets. In 2007, Dublin Food Co-op relocated to a warehouse in The Liberties area, where it is home to market and community events. Suburban Dublin has several modern retail centres, including Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown Centre, the Square in Tallaght, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in Clondalkin, Omni Shopping Centre in Santry, Nutgrove Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham, Northside Shopping Centre in Coolock and Swords Pavilions in Swords.

Dublin is the centre of both media and communications in Ireland, with many newspapers, radio stations, television stations and telephone companies based there. RTÉ is Ireland's national state broadcaster, and is based in Donnybrook. Fair City is RTÉ's soap opera, located in the fictional Dublin suburb of Carraigstown.

Virgin Media Television, eir Sport, MTV Ireland and Sky News are also based in the city. The headquarters of An Post and telecommunications companies such as Eir, as well as mobile operators Vodafone and 3 are all located there. Dublin is also the headquarters of national newspapers such as The Irish Times and Irish Independent, as well as local newspapers such as The Evening Herald.

Croke Park is the largest sport stadium in Ireland. The headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, it has a capacity of 82,300. It is the third-largest stadium in Europe after Nou Camp in Barcelona and Wembley Stadium in London. It hosts the premier Gaelic football and hurling games, international rules football and irregularly other sporting and non-sporting events including concerts. Muhammad Ali fought there in 1972 and it played host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics. It also has conference and banqueting facilities. There is a GAA Museum there and tours of the stadium are offered, including a rooftop walk of the stadium. During the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Croke Park played host to the Irish Rugby Union Team and Republic of Ireland national football team as well as hosting the Heineken Cup rugby 2008-09 semi-final between Munster and Leinster which set a world record attendance for a club rugby match. The Dublin GAA team plays most of their home league hurling games at Parnell Park.

IRFU Stadium Lansdowne Road was laid out in 1874. This was the venue for home games of both the Irish Rugby Union Team and the Republic of Ireland national football team. A joint venture between the Irish Rugby Football Union, the FAI and the Government, saw it redeveloped into a new state-of-the-art 50,000 seat Aviva Stadium, which opened in May 2010. Aviva Stadium hosted the 2011 UEFA Europa League Final. Rugby union team Leinster Rugby play their competitive home games in the RDS Arena & the Aviva Stadium while Donnybrook Stadium hosts their friendlies and A games, Ireland A and Women, Leinster Schools and Youths and the home club games of All Ireland League clubs Old Wesley and Bective Rangers. County Dublin is home for 13 of the senior rugby union clubs in Ireland including 5 of the 10 sides in the top division 1A.

Dublin has two ODI cricket grounds in Castle Avenue (Clontarf Cricket Club) and Malahide Cricket Club Ground. College Park has Test status and played host to Ireland's first Test cricket match, a women's match against Pakistan in 2000. The men's Irish cricket team also played their first Test match against Pakistan at Malahide Cricket Club Ground during 2018. Leinster Lightning play their home inter-provincial matches in Dublin at College Park.

The Dublin Marathon has been run since 1980 at the end of October. The Women's Mini Marathon has been run since 1983 on the first Monday in June, which is also a bank holiday in Ireland. It is said to be the largest all female event of its kind in the world. The Great Ireland Run takes place in Dublin's Phoenix Park in mid-April.

As of the 2018 Michelin Guide, five Dublin restaurants shared six Michelin stars - including Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud with two. Irish-born Kevin Thornton was awarded two Michelin stars in 2001 - though his restaurant, Thornton's, closed in 2016. The Dublin Institute of Technology commenced a bachelor's degree in culinary skills in 1999.

Historically, Irish coffee houses and cafes were associated with those working in media. Since the beginning of the 21st century, with the growth of apartment living in the city, Dublin's cafés attracted younger patrons looking for an informal gathering place and an ad hoc office. Cafés became more popular in the city, and Irish-owned coffee chains like Java Republic, Insomnia, and O'Brien's Sandwich Bars now compete internationally. In 2008, Irish barista Stephen Morrissey won the title of World Barista Champion.

Dublin was traditionally a city of two languages, English and Irish, a situation found also in the area around it, The Pale. The Irish of County Dublin represented the easternmost extension of a broad central dialect area which stretched between Leinster and Connacht, but had its own local characteristics. It may also have been influenced by the east Ulster dialect of County Meath and County Louth to the north.

In the words of a 16th-century English administrator, William Gerard (1518-1581): "All Englishe, and the most part with delight, even in Dublin, speak Irishe". The Old English historian Richard Stanihurst (1547-1618) wrote as follows: "When their posteritie became not altogither so warie in keeping, as their ancestors were valiant in conquering, the Irish language was free dennized in the English Pale: this canker tooke such deep root, as the bodie that before was whole and sound, was by little and little festered, and in manner wholly putrified".

English authorities of the Cromwellian period accepted the fact that Irish was widely spoken in the city and its surrounds. In 1655 several local dignitaries were ordered to oversee a lecture in Irish to be given in Dublin. In March 1656 a converted Catholic priest, Séamas Corcy, was appointed to preach in Irish at Bride's parish every Sunday, and was also ordered to preach at Drogheda and Athy. In 1657 the English colonists in Dublin presented a petition to the Municipal Council complaining that in Dublin itself "there is Irish commonly and usually spoken".

In early 18th century Dublin, Irish was the language of a group of poets and scribes led by Seán and Tadhg Ó Neachtain. Scribal activity in Irish persisted in Dublin right through the 18th century. There were still native Irish speakers in County Dublin at the time of the 1851 census.

Though the number of Irish speakers declined throughout Ireland in the 19th century, the end of the century saw a Gaelic revival, centred in Dublin and accompanied by renewed literary activity. This was the harbinger of a steady renewal of urban Irish, though with new characteristics of its own.

Dublin now has many thousands of habitual Irish speakers, with the 2016 census showing that daily speakers (outside the education system) numbered 14,903. They form part of an urban Irish-speaking cohort which is generally better-educated than monoglot English speakers.

The Dublin Irish-speaking cohort is supported by a number of Irish-medium schools. There are 12,950 students in the Dublin region attending 34 gaelscoileanna (Irish-language primary schools) and 10 gaelcholáistí (Irish-language secondary schools).

Two Irish language radio stations, Raidió Na Life and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, have studios in the city, and the online station Raidió Rí-Rá broadcasts from studios in the city. A number of Irish language agencies are also located in the capital. Conradh na Gaeilge offers language classes, has a book shop and is a meeting place for different groups. The closest Gaeltacht to Dublin is the County Meath Gaeltacht of Ráth Cairn and Baile Ghib which is 55 km (34 mi) away.

Dublin city council has an International Relations Unit, established in 2007. It works on hosting of international delegations, staff exchanges, international promotion of the city, twinning and partnerships, work with multi-city organisations such as Eurocities, economic partnerships and advice to other Council units.

The city also has "friendship" or "co-operation agreements" with a number of other cities: Moscow (2009−) and St Petersburg (2010−) in Russia and Guadalajara in Mexico (2013−), and has previously proposed an agreement with Rio de Janeiro also. Previous agreements have included those with Mexico City (2014−2018), Tbilisi in Georgia (2014−2017) and Wuhan in China (2016−2019).

Sources

John Flynn and Jerry Kelleher, Dublin Journeys in America (High Table Publishing, 2003) ISBN 0-9544694-1-0

Pat Liddy, Dublin A Celebration: From the 1st to the 21st century (Dublin City Council, 2000) ISBN 0-946841-50-0

Maurice Craig, The Architecture of Ireland from the Earliest Times to 1880 (Batsford, Paperback edition 1989) ISBN 0-7134-2587-3

Frank McDonald, Saving the City: How to Halt the Destruction of Dublin (Tomar Publishing, 1989) ISBN 1-871793-03-3

Edward McParland, Public Architecture in Ireland 1680-1760 (Yale University Press, 2001) ISBN 0-300-09064-1

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Dublin (; Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, pronounced [ˈbˠalʲə aːhə ˈclʲiə] or [ˌbʲlʲaː ˈclʲiə]) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range.

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L'ente di formazione che ci accoglie si trova proprio nel centro di Dublino. Ha un'offerta formativa ricca e interessante. Non vediamo l'ora di inziare il nostro corso sulla metodologia CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning).

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Dublin: 90+ Teacher Training Courses in Ireland by Europass

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Discover a wide offer of teacher training courses in Dublin, a vibrant, thriving, and youthful European city, which bridges between tradition and modernity

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L'ultima giornata con Patrick è stata ancora una volta dedicata alla comunicazione, alla collaborazione e... alle qualità di ciascuno di noi!

Abbiamo iniziato con un gioco di carte in gruppo, descrivendo personaggi, oggetti, luoghi o azioni senza mai pronunciarne il nome. Poi ci siamo sfidati a descrivere immagini per far indovinare ai compagni un aggettivo legato alla personalità.

Successivamente, ognuno ha raccontato un episodio della propria vita scolastica in cui ha fatto la differenza: al termine del racconto, le compagne di gruppo hanno scelto gli aggettivi che meglio descrivevano il nostro modo di agire.

Non è mancato un divertente role play: a turno siamo stati cartomanti e clienti, improvvisando una lettura del futuro e mettendo in pratica il future tense.

Per concludere, un'attività tanto semplice quanto significativa: un foglio sulla schiena e un giro tra i partecipanti, che hanno scritto un aggettivo positivo per descriverci.

Un modo speciale per chiudere questa esperienza, ricordandoci che le parole giuste possono valorizzare le persone, rafforzare un gruppo e lasciare un ricordo che va ben oltre la fine del corso. 💚

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Powerscourt Gardens sono situati nella campagna a sud di Dublino e sono tra i giardini più affascinanti d'Irlanda. Sono stati creati nel XVIII secolo ma vennero trasformati nell'Ottocento dalla famiglia Wingfield, dopo viaggi di studio nei più celebri giardini d'Europa, in particolare in Italia, da cui presero ispirazione per terrazze, fontane e statue. Estesi su circa 19 ettari, uniscono eleganti terrazze all'italiana, laghetti ornamentali, statue, giardini giapponesi e ampi viali alberati, con una splendida vista sulle montagne circostanti (Wicklow). Rappresentano una delle attrazioni più visitate del Paese, in effetti uniscono eleganza, natura e storia.

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Oggi abbiamo esplorato i momenti più significativi della storia irlandese attraverso attività collaborative. Abbiamo iniziato analizzando alcune fotografie storiche in piccoli gruppi, confrontando poi le nostre interpretazioni con il resto della classe. Successivamente, sempre divisi in gruppi, abbiamo lavorato su cinque diversi episodi della storia d'Irlanda, ogni gruppo ha sviluppato una delle attività sotto elencate:

- individuare le parole chiave;

- realizzare un riassunto di 20 parole;

- formulare due domande sul brano;

- rispondere alle domande;

- creare una rappresentazione grafica del tema.

A rotazione, tutti i gruppi hanno lavorato in successione su tutti e cinque i temi, costruendo insieme una conoscenza condivisa dei principali eventi della storia irlandese.

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Abbiamo visitato la National Gallery di Dublino, uno dei principali musei d'arte d'Irlanda, che, come tutti i musei nazionali del Paese, offre l'ingresso gratuito. È stata un'ottima occasione per ammirare opere di artisti irlandesi e internazionali in un ambiente elegante e ricco di storia.

Successivamente siamo state alla Old Library del Trinity College, uno dei luoghi più affascinanti di Dublino. Famosa per la spettacolare Long Room, con le sue alte scaffalature in legno e migliaia di antichi volumi, custodisce preziosi manoscritti e rappresenta uno dei simboli culturali della città.

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Due danzatrici irlandesi che interpretano una delle tradizioni più affascinanti dell'isola. Le danze irlandesi affondano le loro radici nella cultura popolare e si distinguono per il ritmo incalzante, i rapidissimi movimenti dei piedi e la caratteristica compostezza della parte superiore del corpo, quasi immobile. Dietro l'apparente leggerezza si nascondono anni di studio, disciplina e una straordinaria precisione.

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Se passeggi per il centro di Dublino, è impossibile non incontrare Molly Malone, la celebre pescivendola immortalata nella sua iconica statua.

Ma chi era davvero Molly? La risposta è... nessuno lo sa con certezza. Secondo la tradizione era una giovane venditrice di cozze e vongole che spingeva il suo carretto per le strade di Dublino, richiamando i clienti con il suo celebre grido. La leggenda racconta che morì giovane, probabilmente a causa della febbre, ma continuò a vivere nella famosa ballata Cockles and Mussels, diventata nel tempo l'inno non ufficiale della città. Altri storici, invece, ritengono che Molly sia un personaggio simbolico, nato dalla fantasia popolare per rappresentare la gente semplice della vecchia Dublino.

La sua statua, inaugurata nel 1988, è oggi una delle più fotografate d'Irlanda.

Si dice che toccarle il seno porti fortuna. Ma c'è un piccolo dettaglio: i dublinesi preferirebbero che questa tradizione finisse qui. Sempre più persone invitano i turisti ad ammirare Molly senza toccarla, per rispetto del monumento e della donna – reale o leggendaria – che rappresenta.

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Molly Malone (Cockles & Mussels) with lyrics

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La seconda giornata è stata all'insegna della comunicazione!

Dopo un breve warm-up activity, ci siamo messi alla prova con esercizi di conversazione e di arricchimento del lessico su diversi argomenti, conclusi con una simpatica sfida a squadre.

A seguire, attività di peer teaching: in piccoli gruppi, ciascuno ha spiegato agli altri una regola grammaticale, imparando insieme attraverso il confronto.

Per concludere, un ripasso dei modal verbs... usando le regole dell'hurling, lo sport di cui gli irlandesi sono veri appassionati!

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L'hurling è uno degli sport nazionali dell'Irlanda ed è considerato uno degli sport di squadra più antichi e veloci al mondo. Fa parte dei giochi gaelici ed è organizzato dalla Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

Primo allenamento di hurling: tanto entusiasmo, qualche colpo a vuoto e tantissime risate! L'Irlanda ci sta già mettendo alla prova. 🇮🇪🏑😄

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9:00 am ready for lesson!!

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Passeggiando per le strade di Dublino è impossibile non notare le iconiche porte colorate delle eleganti case georgiane. Una diversa dall'altra, trasformano ogni via in una tavolozza a cielo aperto.

Ma perché sono così colorate? Come spesso accade in Irlanda, la risposta si perde tra storia e leggenda.

La leggenda più divertente racconta che i dublinesi iniziarono a dipingere le porte con colori vivaci per riuscire a riconoscere la propria casa dopo una serata trascorsa nei pub... quando il tasso alcolemico rendeva tutte le facciate esattamente uguali! 🍻🚪

Un'altra versione sostiene invece che le porte variopinte siano nate come forma di ribellione, quando fu proposto di dipingerle tutte di nero dopo la morte della regina Vittoria. E c'è anche chi dice che fosse semplicemente un modo pratico per distinguere abitazioni quasi identiche.

Quale sia la verità non lo sappiamo. Ma, come dicono i veri Dubliners:

"Facts aren't important. Stories are." 🇮🇪

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Pronte per partire alla volta di Dublino!

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Spoiler: qui nasceranno nuove amicizie, grandi esperienze e tantissimi ricordi. Griffith College, siamo pronte!

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Patrick o'Hare, il nostro insegnante, per prima cosa ci ha detto: "make mistakes!!!"

He is a good guy!

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Ogni grande esperienza inizia dalle persone.

La nostra giornata è partita con alcune attività di icebreaking: giochi, sorrisi e qualche sfida per imparare a conoscerci meglio, superare le prime timidezze e creare un clima di fiducia e collaborazione.

Perché un Erasmus non è solo formazione e scambio di buone pratiche, ma anche relazioni, condivisione e nuove amicizie che superano confini e lingue. 💙🌍

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Dopo ogni lavoro si mangia... e noi non ci siamo fatte pregare! 😂🍽️ Dopo esserci presentate, un tour dei sapori d'Europa: tante specialità da diversi Paesi, un'unica certezza... era tutto buonissimo! 🌍😋🇪🇺

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Con molto meno allenamento, decisamente meno coordinazione, ma con lo stesso entusiasmo, abbiamo provato a ripetere quei passi. Il risultato? Forse non entreremo nella storia della danza irlandese... ma sicuramente in quella delle risate e del divertimento condiviso. E, in fondo, anche questo è un bellissimo ricordo del nostro viaggio a Dublino!

PS: ovviamente nel video abbiamo ripreso le nostre compagne di corso... I passi erano gli stessi, almeno nelle intenzioni. La musica pure. Il nostro risultato, tuttavia, è stato una versione decisamente più... creativa!

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Anche la giornata di oggi è stata all'insegna della comunicazione e della conoscenza reciproca.

Dopo un breve warm-up guidato dalla collega finlandese Johanna, la lezione di Emma ci ha coinvolti in una serie di giochi e attività collaborative, mettendoci alla prova con biologia, musica, matematica, storia, arte e informatica.

Un modo coinvolgente per sperimentare attività da portare nelle nostre classi e arricchire la nostra pratica didattica.

E domani cosa succederà? Chissà... Come dicono qui:

"Tomorrow is a mystery, yesterday is history, and today is a gift. That's why we call it present." ☘️

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Siamo state a visitare la Cattedrale di San Patrizio, uno dei monumenti più importanti di Dublino, nonché una delle principali attrazioni della città.

Fondata nel XII secolo, è la cattedrale più grande d'Irlanda ed è dedicata al santo patrono del Paese. L'edificio, in stile gotico, colpisce per le sue imponenti navate, le splendide vetrate e l'atmosfera ricca di storia. Al suo interno si trova anche la tomba dello scrittore Jonathan Swift, che fu decano della cattedrale dal 1713 al 1745.

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Howth è un piccolo villaggio di pescatori poco fuori Dublino e ci conquista subito.

È famoso per il suo porto, le suggestive scogliere e i panoramici sentieri costieri che regalano viste spettacolari.

Il paese offre ottimi ristoranti di pesce, un vivace mercato e un'atmosfera tranquilla, ideale per una gita fuori città.

Grazie alla sua bellezza naturale e alla vicinanza a Dublino, Howth è una delle mete più amate da residenti e turisti.

Tra il porto, le barche e il profumo del mare abbiamo respirato un'atmosfera davvero rilassante. È uno di quei posti che ti fanno rallentare e goderti ogni momento. Se si è fortunati, si possono vedere anche le foche!

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A Dublino i fiori sono davvero molto colorati e si vedono ovunque.

Con i loro colori vivaci rendono la città più allegra, anche nelle giornate di pioggia.

Creano un bel contrasto con il cielo spesso grigio.

È un dettaglio che non passa inosservato.

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The Whistlin’ Donkeys Official Video - OB

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Isle of Hope, Isle of tears - The Whistlin' Donkeys - The Forge Sessions

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Entrare nella Storehouse della Guinness è un viaggio fatto di materia, persone e idee. Il percorso nasce dagli elementi più semplici — l’orzo, l’acqua, la cura per le risorse naturali — e ricorda quanto sia importante conoscere le radici delle cose prima di comprenderne il valore. Poi lo sguardo si apre al mondo della comunicazione: le campagne pubblicitarie della Guinness raccontano un’evoluzione culturale e mostrano una sensibilità sorprendente verso temi come la diversità e la parità di genere. Uscendo dalla visita, portiamo con noi una riflessione: anche insegnare significa accompagnare alla scoperta dell’essenza, del “core concept” delle cose. Solo partendo dalle radici possiamo costruire conoscenza. Solo partendo dalle radici possiamo imparare ad accogliere ogni differenza come una ricchezza.

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What Guinness is doing to protect and preserve water.

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Learn how pure water from the Wicklow Mountains, making up 95% of Guinness, has been essential to the brewing process at St. James’s Gate since 1759.

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Sostenibilità e rigenerazione urbana come antidoto al degrado. 

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Passeggiando per Dublino, non si vedono solo i bellissimi graffiti di Temple Bar o i murales giganti. Muovendosi a piedi e abbassando lo sguardo, si nota subito qualcosa di strano... e incredibilmente colorato. Sono le traffic light signal boxes (le cassette dei semafori)! Proprio così: grazie a iniziative nate dal basso e supportate dal Comune, come lo splendido progetto Dublin Canvas, quello che un tempo era solo grigio metallo antiestetico e coperto di adesivi, oggi è una galleria d'arte a cielo aperto dipinta da artisti locali e internazionali, illustratori e cittadini comuni.

Cosa viene raffigurato? Di tutto: da ritratti di icone locali come James Joyce o Sinead O'Connor, a volpi urbane, tazze di tè fumanti e geometrie pop. Ogni pezzo è unico ed è il modo perfetto per dare voce alla comunità e strappare un sorriso, anche nelle mattine d'Irlanda più grigie.

Non sempre demolire o costruire servono per migliorare una città. Spesso basta reimmaginare ciò che già esiste. La sostenibilità passa anche dal recupero visivo e culturale degli spazi pubblici, trasformando l'attesa di un semaforo verde in un momento di pura bellezza. Il coinvolgimento della comunità nella decorazione urbana include anche i ragazzi delle scuole che partecipano con progetti ideati e realizzati da loro stessi. Così facendo si rinnova continuamente il volto della città, generando bellezza e un senso di appartenenza di tutta la comunità.

"The world is full of things waiting for our senses to sharpen." Seamus Heaney

Nelle parole del grande poeta irlandese è racchiuso uno dei cardini della conoscenza: lasciare che i sensi ci permettano di meravigliarci dell'esistente e ri-conoscere il potenziale di bellezza in ogni cosa che ci circonda.

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Nel pomeriggio walking tour organizzato dall’ente formatore nel centro di Dublino. Abbiamo costeggiato il Grand Canal, scoprendo curiosità e storie legate a questo corso d'acqua. Completato nel 1804, il canale collegava Dublino al fiume Shannon, in un'epoca in cui carri e carrozze erano lenti e costosi, aprì alla capitale una via d'acqua verso il cuore dell'Irlanda. Sulle sue chiatte viaggiavano soprattutto due merci, in direzioni opposte: i barili di Guinness che partivano da Dublino verso le cittadine rurali e la torba/bog che arrivava in città per essere bruciata nei camini. C'era anche un servizio passeggeri. Con l'arrivo delle ferrovie il canale perse la sua funzione commerciale e oggi è un tranquillo percorso di passeggiata nel cuore della città. Il tour ci ha svelato anche l'origine dei colori e del nome dell'isola. Prima del verde e dell'arancione della bandiera, l'Irlanda era associata all'azzurro del mare che la circonda e all'oro, il colore dell'arpa, simbolo nazionale del Paese. Al nome dell'isola è legata una figura della mitologia irlandese: la dea Ériu, divinità della terra, dal cui deriva Éire, nome in lingua gaelica della Repubblica d'Irlanda. Molto suggestivi anche i riferimenti alla lingua irlandese: una lingua che si scrive e si legge, insegnata a scuola, ma che ormai in pochi parlano davvero nella quotidianità. Un patrimonio identitario custodito con orgoglio.