Dublin's official date of establishment was in 988 A.D. although evidence of it's existence dates back to the second century in which it was named Eblana. Dublin was founded by the Vikings.

From the 14th to late 16th centuries Dublin and the surrounding area formed the largest area of Ireland under government control. The Parliament was located in Drogheda for several centuries, but was switched permanently to Dublin after Henry VII conquered the County Kildare in 1504.

From the 17th century the city expanded rapidly.Georgian Dublin was, for a short time, the second city of the British Empire after London. Much of Dublin's most notable architecture dates from this time. The Guinness brewery was also established at this time.

The Easter Rising of 1916 occurred in the city centre, bringing much physical destruction. The Anglo-Irish War and Irish Civil War contributed even more destruction, leaving many of its finest buildings in ruins

Dublin was the scene of some of the most severe fighting of the Irish rebellion of 1916 and of the revolution of 1919 to 1921, which resulted in the establishment of the Irish Free State.
After Independence Dublin became the political, economic, and cultural center of Ireland.

The Irish Free State rebuilt many of the buildings and moved parliament to Leinster House.
Since 1995, the landscape of Dublin has changed immensely, with enormous private and state development of housing, transport, and business.