First published: 19/03/19.

Ilya Burlak

The Historic City Of Dublin

The Historic City of Dublin (Removed from tentative list)

The Historic City of Dublin by Ilya Burlak

I visited Dublin a couple of times, most recently in 2017, and set aside some time for exploring, but the reality is that there is little to explore there that rises to the level of exceptional. The town is undoubtedly nice, the people are among the friendliest in all of Europe, but beyond a few eye-pleasing clusters in the city center, most of the Georgian architecture that forms the basis of this tentative WH submission is actually kind of boring (I am noting the fact that the text of the submission openly warns the reader of the plainness of the exteriors and contrasts that with purportedly excellent interiors, which can hardly be seen on a short visit to town).

You may be impressed by the campus of the Trinity College (stop by to see the Book of Kells in the college library). You will likely be pleasantly surprised to discover the Dublin Castle and Gardens, effectively hidden smack in the middle of the city. You will certainly walk over the Ha'penny Bridge over the river Liffey. And regardless of your attitude towards beer, you will likely linger on the streets - or in the establishments - of the Temple Bar district, the most colorful and at times boisterous part of town. Beyond that, there is little that can be pointed as a must-see in Dublin.

Curiously enough, the justification portion of the tentative submission emphasizes the literary traditions of the city. You will most certainly come across a fair share of monuments to famous Irish writers in Dublin's center, such as the irreverent Oscar Wilde's memorial in a corner of St Stephen's Green.

There are a few museums and other points of interest in the city that are not related to its tentative WH status, but can make a couple of days of a visit pretty engaging (National Gallery of Ireland, Jameson and Teeling distilleries, Guiness Storehouse), but on balance it is hard to see how Dublin may merit the full WH recognition.

 

 

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