What is the most interesting fact about Dublin that you didn't know?

py2006

There is a fascinating history to our capital with lots of interesting facts and stats about people and places.

I always knew O'Connell bridge was narrower and called Carlisle bridge before hand. But I learned today that it was once a wooden bridge that could only hold one man and one donkey at a time. Today there are lots of donkeys on O'Connell Bridge.

I knew that O'Connell St was once called Sackville street and Drogheda st before that. But I learned recently that it once only went from Parnell st to down as far as Henry st. It was later extended to the liffey.

I also learned that the Liffey was a lot wider in parts compared to what we have today along the Quays.

The distance on the road signs to Dublin are actually the distance to the GPO.

Yay me

Temptamperu

The union Jack was first flown over Dublin, cause were all west brits!

hfallada

There is actually a lot of farms in the suburbs that people dont know. There is one on Griffith Avenue in Glasnevin and there was one in Santry just at the port tunnel(recently closed). But I find incredible weird that within 15 mins of the city, there is fully functioning farms.

Collie D

hfallada wrote: »

There is actually a lot of farms in the suburbs that people dont know. There is one on Griffith Avenue in Glasnevin and there was one in Santry just at the port tunnel(recently closed). But I find incredible weird that within 15 mins of the city, there is fully functioning farms.

Is that still there?

My Dublin fact is that someone will be along in a minute demanding thread be moved.

whomitconcerns

that there are 2 O'Connell bridges in Dublin city centre.

One is the obvious one and the second is the bridge in the middle of St Stephens Green!

Cee-Jay-Cee

There is a tunnel running underneath Dublin connecting Dublin to the centre of the earth, hence the reason dubs think they're the centre of the universe. They've also mistakenly took earth to be the centre of the universe, they really have no idea.

Tobyglen

More junkies than not on O'Connell Street at any one time.

castletownman

Bernard Brogan has never played a championship game outside of Croke Park

The Backwards Man

This thread is a paradox.


I don't know the most interesting fact about Dublin I don't know. If I knew I would know it and wouldn't be able to use it.

Collie D

The Backwards Man wrote: »

This thread is a paradox.


I don't know the most interesting fact about Dublin I don't know. If I knew I would know it and wouldn't be able to use it.

Head...exploded

KingOfFairview

Legally, the Guinness brewery is not within Dublin. It's technically part of Meath. One of these weird legal anomalies

Collie D

KingOfFairview wrote: »

Legally, the Guinness brewery is not within Dublin. It's technically part of Meath. One of these weird legal anomalies

Explain? Or are you taking the piss? I'm intrigued

Katgurl

KingOfFairview wrote: »

Legally, the Guinness brewery is not within Dublin. It's technically part of Meath. One of these weird legal anomalies

on James St? how is that possible?

KingOfFairview

Kurt Cobain shared a cigar with Albert Reynolds on a stopover flight in 1993. In Dublin

RDM_83 again

That Gymnastics are banned from the Phoenix Park!

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1926/en/si/0006.html

GLaDOS

hfallada wrote: »

There is actually a lot of farms in the suburbs that people dont know. There is one on Griffith Avenue in Glasnevin and there was one in Santry just at the port tunnel(recently closed). But I find incredible weird that within 15 mins of the city, there is fully functioning farms.

There was one beside DCU, backed onto the Secondary school beside it, St. Aidan's. No idea if it's still going.

tricky D

Tobyglen wrote: »

More junkies than not on O'Connell Street at any one time.

There are more boards posts on Dublin junkies than the number of junkies in the whole wide world. Fact.

SEPT 23 1989

Bang Bang was a futuristic time traveler

minotour

Temptamperu wrote: »

The union Jack was first flown over Dublin, cause were all west brits!

The Union Jack only fly's on ships, it's simply the Union flag on land.

Buzz Killington award of the day to me!

KingOfFairview

Dublin city council originally planned for have a shoe shop halfway under the spire but the idea was vetoed because of health and safety concerns

KingOfFairview

The day u2 split up, glasnevin will be renamed New Bonoville

Bio Mech

CJC999 wrote: »

There is a tunnel running underneath Dublin connecting Dublin to the centre of the earth, hence the reason dubs think they're the centre of the universe. They've also mistakenly took earth to be the centre of the universe, they really have no idea.

Ultra lame

KingOfFairview

Carter the unstoppable sex machine played to 2980000 people in phoenix park

Anyone

Despite their attire, the majority of inner city Dubs are not athletes.

Omackeral

CJC999 wrote: »

There is a tunnel running underneath Dublin connecting Dublin to the centre of the earth, hence the reason dubs think they're the centre of the universe. They've also mistakenly took earth to be the centre of the universe, they really have no idea.

There is a tunnel running under Dublin, specifically the Phoenix Park. It links Heuston Station to Connolly Station. There had been calls to open it up, which would link the whole country up via rail. It's been used to ferry passengers from Cork and Kerry for GAA Finals.

http://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/1ipo9l/did_you_know_theres_a_rail_tunnel_under_dublin/


Oh and we are the centre of the universe.

KingOfFairview

Fair City is actually filmed in Manilla

Jake Rugby Walrus666

KingOfFairview wrote: »

Legally, the Guinness brewery is not within Dublin. It's technically part of Meath. One of these weird legal anomalies

Meath, a notional land that may once have existed in the commuter belt where Dublin expanded lebensraum to the north.

Collie D

The percentage of Dublin's citizens who support an independent People's Republic of Cork is higher than in Cork.

Nerdlingr

The Grand Canal runs all the way to the Shannon.

henryporter

The word 'Quiz' originated in Dublin.

Oh and wasn't Molly Malone a hure?

Omackeral

Another few that may go under the radar for some people is that there is no true Dublin County anymore. It's officially four counties. Dublin City, South Dublin, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Our traditional post codes go by odd numbers representing the Northside and even numbers the Southside. The area around the Phoenix Park is an exception as it was given Dublin 8 as it's code, as well as parts of Chapelizod being registered as Dublin 20. The numbers go up to Dublin 24 (Tallaght and it's environs) but there curiously is no Dublin 19, 21 or 23.

everlast75

The Backwards Man wrote: »

This thread is a paradox.


I don't know the most interesting fact about Dublin I don't know. If I knew I would know it and wouldn't be able to use it.

The thread is not a paradox. The OP asked "What is the most interesting fact about Dublin that you didn't know?". Didn't implies past tense, and that you know one now.



Anyhoo - here's one for you. O'Connell Bridge is the same width as it is in length.

Collie D

everlast75 wrote: »

The thread is not a paradox. The OP asked "What is the most interesting fact about Dublin that you didn't know?". Didn't implies past tense, and that you know one now.



Anyhoo - here's one for you. O'Connell Bridge is the same width as it is in length.

I think it's wider than its length. Be back in a minute with some Google info

EDIT: Marginally wider (50m) than long (45m)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O'Connell_Bridge

retalivity

ScienceNerd wrote: »

There was one beside DCU, backed onto the Secondary school beside it, St. Aidan's. No idea if it's still going.

Looks like its still there - http://goo.gl/maps/aebwY

jaysus how much is/was that land worth...

eug87

The statue on top of Nelsons pillar was sculpted by a cork man.

yabadabado

Omackeral wrote: »

There is a tunnel running under Dublin, specifically the Phoenix Park. It links Heuston Station to Connolly Station. There had been calls to open it up, which would link the whole country up via rail. It's been used to ferry passengers from Cork and Kerry for GAA Finals.

http://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/1ipo9l/did_you_know_theres_a_rail_tunnel_under_dublin/


Oh and we are the centre of the universe.

It has been used recently for the special trains to Galway and Cork after football internationals.

BMJD

The reality show "Fair City" is the most popular TV show in Ecuador.

keano_afc

CJC999 wrote: »

There is a tunnel running underneath Dublin connecting Dublin to the centre of the earth, hence the reason dubs think they're the centre of the universe. They've also mistakenly took earth to be the centre of the universe, they really have no idea.

Any idea when Cork will be asking for it back?

kowloon

minotour wrote: »

The Union Jack only fly's on ships, it's simply the Union flag on land.

Buzz Killington award of the day to me!

It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that “the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag”.

http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/

cherryghost

There's a pedestrian tunnel under James St that links the Guinness Brewery together.

minotour

kowloon wrote: »

http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/

Ive been gazumped by an even bigger buzz killington. Good thing i didn't make my comment in 1908 or you would have had a point ......or perhaps you are a regular visitor to the flagsinstitute site?

mayordenis

cherryghost wrote: »

There's a pedestrian tunnel under James St that links the Guinness Brewery together.

And this "tunnel" goes all the way to "Meath".

kingtiger

cherryghost wrote: »

There's a pedestrian tunnel under James St that links the Guinness Brewery together.

there is also a tunnel that leads from the Custom house to Foley Street, which was used by dignitaries to go unseen to brothels in the Monto red light district

this area was also the biggest red light district in Europe at the time (1860ish - 1920ish)

Irish Guitarist

KingOfFairview wrote: »

Kurt Cobain shared a cigar with Albert Reynolds on a stopover flight in 1993. In Dublin

I think he also bought this jumper off a homeless man in Dublin.

maguic24

RDM_83 again wrote: »

That Gymnastics are banned from the Phoenix Park!

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1926/en/si/0006.html

:eek: ****, I once attempted a cart wheel in the Phoenix park.

wazky

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I think he also bought this jumper off a homeless man in Dublin.

Looks like he mugged Dennis the Meance for it.

Sunnyisland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Park


Phoenix Park (Irish: Páirc an Fhionnuisce[1]) is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 11 km perimeter wall encloses 707 hectares (1,750 acres), one of the largest walled city parks in Europe.[2][3][4] It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth century has been home to a herd of wild Fallow deer. The English name comes from the Irish fionn uisce meaning "clear water".[5] The Irish Government is lobbying UNESCO to have the park designated as a world heritage site.[6]

Turtyturd

Do you know the 5 lamps?...

py2006

Henry Moore, Earl of Drogheda had a really big ego...

1. Henry Street
2. Moore Street
3. Earl Street
4. Drogheda Street

super_furry

It's home to the largest obelisk in Europe.

AlanG

Nelsons head - from the Pillar can be seen in the Library on Pearse street.