Dublin is the capital city of Ireland.

It is also the largest city in Ireland. As the small Kingdom of Dublin, the city grew, and it became Ireland's principal settlement after the 12th-century Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire after the Acts of Union in 1800. Dublin celebrated its 'official' millennium in 1988, meaning the Irish government recognized 988 as the year in which the city was settled and that this first settlement would later become the city of Dublin.