INTRODUCTION A vibrant and compact city, Dublin has a pace and energy quite at odds with the relaxed image of Ireland as a whole. Prosperity generated by the Republic’s economic boom has brought fundamental changes to the life of its capital, reversing the tide of emigration and creating a dynamic cultural centre. The ongoing rapidity of transformation is constantly apparent; new exhibitions, chic bars and restaurants and fashionable shops all signify a major shift in Dublin’s identity, no longer dominated by the insularity of the past, but increasingly adopting a more global outlook. The city’s emergence from provincialism is, however, only part of the picture. Increases in population have left Dublin bulging at the seams which, of course, brings its problems, not least in terms of the high cost of housing and rents: spend just a couple of days here and you’ll come upon inner-city deprivation as bad as any in Europe. Furthermore, the arrival of numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers has challenged perceived notions about Ireland’s homogeneity – and not all Dubliners have embraced the concept of multiculturalism. Dublin’s collective spirit has its contradictions, too, with youthful enterprise set against a deeply embedded traditionalism. However, the collision of the old order and the forward-looking younger generations is an essential part of the appeal of this extrovert capital, and, despite their differences, its inhabitants’ famous wit and garrulous sociability are a constant feature of Dublin life. In the legendary – and plentiful – bars, the buskers of Grafton Street and the patter of the tour guides who ply the streets with visitors in tow, there’s an unmistakable love of banter. The city’s considerable literary heritage owes much to this trait, and on either side of the Liffey you’ll find reminders of literary personalities who are as intrinsic to Dublin’s character as the river itself – from the bronze pavement plaques following the route of Leopold Bloom, hero of James Joyce’s Ulysses, to the Oscar Wilde statue striking an insouciant pose in Merrion Square. Ireland’s economic growth during the 1990s has lent new impetus to just about every facet of the capital’s cultural life. Historic treasures are being innovatively promoted and displayed, from the new Millennium Wing of the National Gallery to the wealth of decorative arts on show at the Collins Barracks, while the city’s social and political history is evoked with flair, both in the abundance of theme-based tours and in the fabric of the city itself. Everywhere in Dublin you’ll find evidence of a rich past well worth exploring: exceptional Viking finds excavated at Wood Quay (and now on show in the National Museum); impressive reminders of Anglo-Norman and British imperial power; elegant Georgian streets and squares; and monuments to Ireland’s violent struggle for independence from the British. The visual arts are enjoying a higher public profile too, with mouthwatering exhibitions in the city’s numerous galleries supplemented by the development of a unique design scene that’s characterized by subtlety, experimentation and exploration of Ireland’s Celtic past. Throughout the city there’s a palpable sense that Dublin’s cultural heritage is coming into its own – with striking confidence. Dublin is, of course, known for its pubs, and for many, sampling the myriad bars and buzzing nightlife is an integral part of visiting the city. There’s also plenty of music on offer and, while the capital has nothing to match rural Ireland, there are plenty of traditional music bars as well as an abundance of rock and jazz venues, and a vital and ever-changing club scene. Theatre, too, has long played a part in the city’s cultural life – you can catch plays by O’Casey, Synge and Shaw all year round at venues such as the Abbey Theatre, as well as experiencing the vitality of Dublin’s continuing dramatic tradition during the annual theatre and fringe festivals.

简介：都柏林是一个充满活力和紧凑的城市，它的节奏和能量与爱尔兰整体的轻松形象完全不一致。共和国的经济繁荣给首都的生活带来了根本性的变化，扭转了移民潮，创造了一个充满活力的文化中心。正在进行的快速转型是显而易见的；新的展览、别致的酒吧和餐馆以及时尚的商店都标志着杜布林身份的重大转变，不再由过去的封闭性主导，而是越来越多地采用更加全球化的视野。然而，这个城市从省级主义中脱颖而出，这只是其中的一部分。人口的增加使都柏林变得拥挤不堪，当然也带来了一些问题，特别是在住房和租金的高成本方面：只要在这里呆上几天，你就会发现城市内部的匮乏程度不亚于欧洲任何地方。此外，大量难民和寻求庇护者的到来，对爱尔兰的同质化观念提出了挑战，而且并非所有都柏林人都接受了多元文化的概念。都柏林的集体精神也有其矛盾之处，年轻的进取心与根深蒂固的传统主义形成对比。然而，旧秩序和前瞻性的年轻一代之间的碰撞是这个外向型首都吸引力的重要组成部分，尽管他们之间存在差异，但其居民著名的机智和滔滔不绝的交际能力是都柏林生活的一个永恒特征。在充满传奇色彩的酒吧里，在格拉夫顿街的小贩中，在拖着游客在街上穿梭的导游中，都有一种明确无误的对玩笑的热爱。这个城市相当多的文学遗产在很大程度上归功于这一特点，在利菲河的两岸，你会发现对文学人物的提醒，他们与杜布林的性格一样是内在的，从沿着詹姆斯-乔伊斯-尤利西斯的英雄利奥波德-布鲁姆的路线的青铜人行道牌，到在梅里安广场摆出不自觉的姿势的奥斯卡-王尔德雕像。爱尔兰在20世纪90年代的经济增长为首都文化生活的几乎每个方面都注入了新的动力。从国家美术馆新的千禧翼到柯林斯兵营展示的丰富的装饰艺术，历史珍品正在被创新地推广和展示，而城市的社会和政治历史也被巧妙地唤起，无论是在大量的主题旅游中还是在城市本身的结构中。在都柏林的每一个地方，你都能找到值得探索的丰富历史的证据：在伍德码头挖掘出的特殊的维京人的发现（现在在国家博物馆展出）；令人印象深刻的盎格鲁-诺曼人和英国帝国的权力的提醒；优雅的乔治亚街道和广场；以及爱尔兰从英国独立的暴力斗争的纪念碑。视觉艺术也在享受着更高的公众形象，在城市的众多画廊中举办了令人垂涎的展览，并辅以独特的设计领域的发展，其特点是微妙、实验和对爱尔兰凯尔特人历史的探索。在整个城市，我们可以感觉到，都柏林的文化遗产正以惊人的自信进入自己的领域。当然，都柏林以其酒吧而闻名，对许多人来说，品尝无数的酒吧和热闹的夜生活是访问这座城市的一个组成部分。虽然首都没有什么可以与爱尔兰农村相媲美的地方，但也有很多传统的音乐酒吧，以及大量的摇滚和爵士场所，还有一个重要的、不断变化的俱乐部场景。戏剧也长期以来在城市文化生活中扮演着重要角色，你可以在修道院剧院等场所全年观看OCasey、Synge和Shaw的戏剧，也可以在每年的戏剧和边缘节期间体验杜布林持续的戏剧传统的活力。