Discover Dublin's Charm: Top 11 Engaging and Unexpected Fun Facts About the Irish Capital!

1. The Polar Bear Club of Dublin

Call it the Polar Bear Club of Dublin or simply just the Irish way to chill: The Forty Foot is a historic bathing pool that attracts brave locals ready to take the daily plunge into the cold Irish Sea. Named for its fishing past rather than a chorus line of leprechauns, this spot is famous for open water swimming, diving, and ladder-jumping, boasting physical and mental health benefits for those willing to weather the chills.
Source => swimcamp.ie

2. The Monarch of Stout Brewing

If there was ever a "stout-hearted" legacy to make a person feel "hoppy" inside, this is it: The St. James's Gate Brewery, established by Arthur Guinness in 1759, became the largest brewery in Ireland in 1838 and the world's largest by 1886 with a whopping production of 1.2 million barrels per year, and though it isn't the largest today, it still remains the unrivaled monarch of stout brewing - stretching out over 64 acres with residential streets for its employees and even a Guinness Storehouse exhibition dedicated to its fabulous 250-year-old history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that Big Ben isn't the tower-clock we all thought? Discover the hidden truth about this London icon and its massive 13-ton secret hiding inside the Elizabeth Tower! 🇬🇧🔔✨

=> Fun Facts about London

3. Bambi's Dublin Paradise

Deerly beloved of Dublin: Gather 'round humans and prepare to be out-numbered, for Dublin's Phoenix Park is the land of Bambi and friends - boasting over 50% of Ireland's mammal species and about 40% of bird species! Seriously now: With 350 unique plant species and diverse habitats, this sprawling park is a wildlife haven, hosting a horde of around 600 fallow deer, making it an essential biodiversity hotspot within the city.
Source => phoenixpark.ie

4. Dracula's Irish Origins

If Dracula were Irish, would he drink Guinness by day and feast on necks by night?: Bram Stoker, creator of the bloodthirsty count, was born in Dublin's Marino Crescent in 1847, graduated from Trinity College with a degree in mathematics, and worked in Dublin Castle before writing the legendary 'Dracula', published in 1897. You can find his works, including the famous vampire classic, in the Leslie Shepard Bram Stoker Collection at Dublin City Public Libraries.
Source => dublincity.ie

5. Love Locks and Ha'penny Bridge

Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge might as well be called the "Lock and Lol" Bridge since love-struck couples have been known to seal the deal with hearty padlocks before casting away the keys into the River Liffey: You see, this iron-laden symbol of desire became a hotspot for attaching love locks engraved with initials, originating from the Far East and causing quite the lovers' quarrel between people who admire this as a heartwarming gesture and those who find it the bane of a historic landmark. In fact, Dublin City Council swooped in like a jilted lover in 2012 and removed the locks, but they soon came back like a lovestruck teenager, unable to resist the bridge's ancient charm.
Source => atriptoireland.com

6. Leprechaun Museum Adventures

Ah, Dublin - where beer flows freely and leprechauns hide their pots of gold beneath rainbows and mortgage payments: Home to the National Leprechaun Museum, visitors embark on a whimsically immersive journey through Irish mythology and folklore during the day while adults can venture into the spookier side of things with nighttime DarkLand tours. However, do note that the wee little museum is closed for renovations until summer 2023, so you'll have to rely on your lucky charms for a bit longer.
Source => leprechaunmuseum.ie

7. Sham-Rocking St. Patrick's Day

When the going gets green and the streets flood with Guinness, it can only mean one thing: It's sham-rocking St. Patrick's Day in Dublin! The serious reveal: This phenomenal Paddy party ignites the city with its epic five-day festival featuring parades, street carnivals, and world-class entertainment every 17th of March.
Source => discoveringireland.com

8. Towering Over Dublin: The Liberator

Did you hear about the Irishman who became "The Liberator" without an army? He rose so high that he ended up in a tower, overlooking Dublin: Glasnevin Cemetery houses the tallest round tower in Ireland, the O'Connell Tower, where the influential 19th-century politician Daniel O'Connell is buried. Standing at 168 feet, the tower was once destroyed in a 1971 bombing but has been restored, offering stunning panoramas of Dublin and its surroundings. History buffs can also enjoy the Milestone Gallery, showcasing exhibits on notable Irish figures like O'Connell and Brendan Behan.
Source => atlasobscura.com

9. Handel's "Messiah" Dublin Debut

In a classic case of "no swords, no problems," Dublin's 18th-century concert-goers were urged to leave their blades at home for a special night of musical rapture: George Frideric Handel's masterpiece "Messiah" premiered on Fishamble Street in 1742, with Handel himself conducting and playing the organ, forever cementing a spot in history for both the oratorio and the street, which now hosts annual open-air concerts to commemorate this exquisite moment.
Source => goethe.de

10. The Legendary Pubs of Dublin

When Irish eyes are smiling, they're probably gazing at a pub: Dublin's social life has long been intertwined with its historic watering holes, such as the legendary Brazen Head, which has been serving up pints since 1198. These iconic locales, like the ornately Victorian Stag's Head and the spookily-named John Kavanagh's "The Gravediggers" nestled next to Glasnevin Cemetery, offer far more than a stiff drink – they represent a living, breathing piece of Dublin's rich cultural heritage.
Source => irishcentral.com

11. Twinkle, Twinkle, Dublin Sky

Beneath the Dublin sky, among stars with a twinkle in their eye, stands a proud observatory with tales to share, as old as the land and twice as rare: The Dunsink Observatory has been a hub for astronomical research and public enlightenment since 1785, being home to renowned Irish scientists like Sir William Rowan Hamilton and currently hosting the Astronomy & Astrophysics Section of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), while also providing weather monitoring, meteor tracking, and Earth's ionosphere observations.
Source => dunsink.dias.ie