8. When you watch a sublime 60-yard pass come good on a clear day in Croker
We don't just love hurling because it's one of our national sports... we love it because it's so bloody impressive to watch.
9. When someone asks you to 'meet' their friend
Oh, Dublin lingo.
Fair enough, nobody's probably asked you this in about a decade – but you've gotta love how this phrase has a whole different meaning in Dublin. We're also always up for the 'craic' (although American's sometimes misinterpret this) and we all know getting the ride doesn't involve any horses.
10. When it's a day for swimming at the Forty Foot
Come rain, hail or shine you'll always find some determined swimmers plunging into the water at Sandycove – but when it's one of those days, it's better again.
11. When you make it out of bed for an early-morning run on Sandymount Strand
One of the most iconic Dublin scenes has to be Dublin Bay against the backdrop of the Poolbeg Towers, and it's a great spot to head for a run before the rest of the city wakes up. Oh, that feeling of smug self-satisfaction!
12. When you spot something that reminds you of the Rare Auld Times
Hey there, City Imp! What are you doing out in the open, huh?
13. When you blow away the cobwebs with a walk on Howth Head
Howth is such a gorgeous part of Dublin, and a nice long walk up to the summit and around Howth Head is an ideal way to work off all the Maud's ice-cream you've eaten.
14. When you stumble upon the Secret Zen Garden on the Roof of the Chester Beatty Library
We hope that most of you have paid a visit to the Chester Beatty Library, but did you know there's a secret rooftop garden? Amble up there next time for a gorgeous panoramic view of the city and enjoy a little break from the busy world below.
You can spend a few hours splashing around on the amazing river which runs through the centre of our city, and see the city from a brand new perspective.
Not only do we have loads of art galleries, we also have our very own Science Gallery which hosts seriously cool events and exhibitions –their café does unreal food too.
17. When you experience one of the amazing summer festivals
With a few big green spaces on the outskirts of the city, we don't have to travel far for music festivals - Longitude, Forbidden Fruit and the Marlay Park gigs take place just a short bus ride away.
18. When you get an unreal feed for less than a fiver
Yeah, we've got tonnes of fine dining and gourmet restaurants – but it's also incredibly easy to eat in Dublin on a budget.
19. When you strike gold at a comedy gig in the International
You never know who might show up to comedy gigs at the International, with international heavy hitters popping in and performing impromptu stand-up gigs while they're in town.
20. When you gaze down the Long Room in Trinity College
This building, smack bang in the centre of Trinity College, is just stunning. So stunning in fact, that George Lucas (in)famously took inspiration from the architecture when designing the Jedi Temple in Star Wars. You've seen the pictures, but you need to take a look at this room for real.
21. When you catch an especially talented busker
With so many street performers and musicians on our streets, it's always such a musical and colourful city to walk through – and while you might not love every single one you encounter, the feeling of discovering raw talent on the streets is one that will send your mood skyrocketing for the entire day.
The National Botanic Gardens are among Dublin's most beautiful attractions, with 19.5 hectares of gorgeous plants and stunning trails by the Tolka River. Yes, indeed.
Father Peter McVerry is a living legend who's done utterly incredible things for homelessness in our city through the Peter McVerry Trust, feeding hundreds of people in need at the Capuchin Day Centre on Bow Street every day.
24. When you cheekily describe something as 'like, 10 minutes away'
Is a 'Dublin mile' a thing? Let's make it a thing. Because we guarantee anyone you ask for directions, no matter where you are, will tell you 'it's like 10 minutes away!' It may be from O'Connell Street to the top of Grafton Street, from Mary Street to Connolly Station, or from Rathmines to town – it doesn't matter. It's 10 minutes away.
Clean eating goes out the window when you're hanging – then it's completely acceptable to eat about a pound of pork for breakfast. The Matt the Rashers fry-ups are the stuff cholesterol-filled dreams are made of.
26. When you gaze at the stunning architecture at Grand Canal Dock
The Celtic Tiger may have left a troubling legacy, but it also had its plus points – and the futuristic architecture at Grand Canal Dock is just that. Tall red candles, a sparkly floor and the fairy light encrusted walls of the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, it really gives the city a modern twist to be proud of.
27. When you look at The Phoenix Park on a map... or in real life
We're so lucky that we've got such a huge and beautiful park right on our doorstep – its scale alone is awesome, but it's even better when you look up close at its running tracks and trails, its herd of deer, the Papal Cross, the Wellington Monument, the playing pitches and the stunning buildings like Farmleigh House and Áras an Uachtaráin.
28. When you get up the Dublin Mountains and gaze out at this utterly brilliant city
A mere 30-minute drive from the city centre and you're at one with nature, surrounded by forests and providing the perfect vantage point for a breathtaking view of the city. It's especially stunning at night time when you can watch the sparkling city lights.
29. When Ireland play at home in the Aviva... sometimes
It may not always go our way – but when the good times roll, few things make us yell 'YES!' with more enthusiasm.
So many food stalls to choose from, live music and entertainment – and plenty of space to plonk on the grass with your pals when the food coma hits you. Oh yes.
32. When you catch a sunrise from Dollymount Strand in Clontarf.
We may not have epic sunsets here, as the Dublin mountains rather spoil our view – we'll let Galway have that one – but it's so amazing watching this city come to life in the morning, as the sun rises in the distance over Dollymount Strand.
Not only is it one of the best pubs in the city, but the Bernard Shaw also has a permanent fixture out the back which serves delish artisan pizzas and flatbreads. K Chido and Camden Exchange also serve up grub from converted vehicles, incidentally... it's a thing now, y'know.
34. When you impart – or receive – a bit of Dublin humour
Dubliners you don't even know will engage with you on a daily basis to impart some wisdom or a witty quip or observation as you walk around the city. Roll with it, because one day – when the right line comes into your mind – you'll feel moved to do the same...
35. When you squeeze inside (or outside) Kehoe's for a pint
Despite its size, Kehoe's is the best traditional pub Dublin for a pint. You'll usually find more people standing outside on the street with their pints than actually inside.
The cause of many household rifts when someone forgot to buy them in the weekly shop, but a Dublin institution. So strong is their brand, in fact, that they were the only thing to remain unchanged when SuperValu bought over Superquinn.
37. When you get the last Dublin Bike at the stand
A fantastically integrated service which helps you get from one side of the city to the other in a matter of minutes, and they have plans to develop further into the suburbs between now and 2016; there's really nothing quite like nabbing the last one on a busy morning.
One of the world's greatest rock bands came from Dublin, and their hits are still making waves across the city – for our part, we honour Phil Lynott each January with the Vibe for Philo, and permanently with his statue outside Bruxelles.
39. When you catch a sniff of hops from the Guinness brewery
We couldn't forget the dark stout that our country has become so well known for, and some mornings you can even smell it being brewed as the scent wafts up the Liffey from James' Gate. Smells like home.
40. When you stumble into an impromptu trad session
We're spoilt for choice in terms of trad gigs, singalongs and impromptu sessions where some aul lad picks up two random spoons and joins in. There's nothing quite like hearing one gear up during your Thursday night pints.
Sure, the zoo is cool for seeing exotic animals – but it's also a way for city dwellers to meet farmyard animals for the first time, and to send some positive vibes out to the universe on the Wishing Chair.
Housed in a regal Georgian house on St Stephen's Green, this contemporary museum documents everything that happened in Dublin in the 20th century – focusing both on specific events and abstract Dublin charms.
43. When you see the world in that unique Dublin way
You'll encounter some of the friendliest people ever in Dublin; let's not be modest, after all, as we're a genuine, honest and helpful bunch the vast majority of the time, and the Dublin outlook on life is a happy one to bear. The rest of the world think we're only 'bleedin' massive', so it must be true!
44. When you feel overwhelmed by choice, but know every option is going to be a winner
We're an increasingly multi-cultural city, and this means that we have so many food choices – you could dine on a different cuisine every night of the week if you wanted, and the standards are very high!
45. When you realise Temple Bar is actually pretty great
While it's a haven for tourists, stags and hens, it's also a great spot for music and food and offers a buzz unlike any other. Whether it's wings from Elephant & Castle or healthy salads from Staple Foods that are so good you'll think they must be unhealthy, Temple Bar has you covered.
46. When you come back to Dublin
Whether you've been in London for a weekend, or Australia for a few years, there's no explaining the shivers you get down your spine when you touch down on Irish soil... and maybe even have a bit of banter with the Guard at Passport Control.
47. When you consider the incredible change that's happened in recent times – and how Dublin is a city that will never stop developing for the better
We're all proud to live in Dublin, and will defend her honour if anyone dares say a bad word against her. But Dublin has another sense of pride – it's a city with a remarkable and buzzing LGBT scene, which has spearheaded amazing progress.
Ireland recently took a remarkable step for a country in which homosexuality was illegal until just 22 years ago – and without the openness, the progressiveness and the constant thirst for improvement that defines our capital, we simply wouldn't have made it this far.
Dublin is a city that will never stop changing and never stop evolving, and one that will neither give up on its bright future or its amazing past.
If you thought traffic was very slow this morning, it was because of this. A Luas power outage caused significant disruption for Dublin city commuters on Wednesday morning (10 December). Due to the power fault, there is no tram service operating on the red line between Smithfield and Connolly / The Point and on the […]
It comes just a few months after their final farewell gigs. This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. The Wolfe Tones have announced their return to the stage with two massive Dublin gigs. That’s right, the Dublin-formed group who played their final farewell shows in June […]
If you thought traffic was very slow this morning, it was because of this. A Luas power outage caused significant disruption for Dublin city commuters on Wednesday morning (10 December). Due to the power fault, there is no tram service operating on the red line between Smithfield and Connolly / The Point and on the […]
It comes just a few months after their final farewell gigs. This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. The Wolfe Tones have announced their return to the stage with two massive Dublin gigs. That’s right, the Dublin-formed group who played their final farewell shows in June […]
If you thought traffic was very slow this morning, it was because of this. A Luas power outage caused significant disruption for Dublin city commuters on Wednesday morning (10 December). Due to the power fault, there is no tram service operating on the red line between Smithfield and Connolly / The Point and on the […]
It comes just a few months after their final farewell gigs. This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. The Wolfe Tones have announced their return to the stage with two massive Dublin gigs. That’s right, the Dublin-formed group who played their final farewell shows in June […]
F-Spine operations began last month. Residents in Finglas have raised concerns about F-Spine bus changes. Such concerns were raised at a public meeting on the BusConnects Finglas routes which took place last night. F-Spine operations began last month and were immediately met with complaints and controversy. Locals criticised daily cancellations, frequency cuts on the 23, […]
F-Spine operations began last month. Residents in Finglas have raised concerns about F-Spine bus changes. Such concerns were raised at a public meeting on the BusConnects Finglas routes which took place last night. F-Spine operations began last month and were immediately met with complaints and controversy. Locals criticised daily cancellations, frequency cuts on the 23, […]
Looking for a sp00k this Halloween, you won’t need to stray too far from the capital It’s perhaps unsurprising that was first settled around the 7th century and has gathered a few scary stories and haunted spots in that time. Through the years Dublin has been the setting of all manner of crimes, from graphic […]
Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell became an unexpected hero last night in Dublin, performing the Heimlich manoeuvre with her friend Kiki and her cousin on a 90-year-old woman who was choking during dinner at the Dylan Hotel. O’Donnell, currently in Dublin preparing for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, recounted the dramatic incident in an audio message, […]
Robin Gill: The Irish chef behind acclaimed London restaurants returns to Dublin for a burger pop-up collab with Dash Burger This Saturday at Hen’s Teeth from 17:00 Robin Gill’s voice carries the easy lilt of someone who grew up within earshot of Dublin Bay, though his culinary career has largely unfolded across the Irish Sea. […]