字幕表 動画を再生する 英語字幕をプリント Dublin is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife and tourist attractions are world renowned and it's the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland. As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country with a population of 1.8 million in the Greater Dublin Region; nearly half of the Republic's population lives in this metropolitan area. The centre is, however, relatively small and can be navigated by foot, with most of the population living in sprawling suburbs. The English name for the city is derived from the Irish name Dubhlinn, meaning "black pool". Founded as a Viking settlement, it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and became the island's principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century; it was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire and the fifth largest in Europe. Dublin entered a period of stagnation following the Act of Union of 1800, but it remained the economic centre for most of the island. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, the new parliament was located in Leinster House. Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland. Like the cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, Dublin is administered separately from its respective County with its own City Council. The city is listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a global city, with a ranking of "Alpha-", placing Dublin among the top 30 cities in the world. It is a historical and contemporary cultural centre for the country, as well as a modern centre of education, the arts, administration, economy, and industry.