Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, situated at the mouth of the River Liffey in the Irish Sea, and has a population of over 1.2 million. The river divides the city in two, not only geographically but also economically, as the north bank is mainly a working class area, while the south bank is more affluent. Dublin is nicknamed the city of parks, as evidenced by Phoenix Park, which is more than twice the size of Central Park in New York. Trinity College Dublin, also known as The University of Dublin, was founded in 1592. It has earned its reputation for quality education, research and innovation. It is ranked the 8th most international university in the world, as staff and students come from over 120 countries. Right on Trinity's doorstep are a number of museums, theatres, galleries, cafes, restaurants and historic tourist sites.

One of the most famous places in Dublin is the University Library, which receives one free copy of every book newly published in Ireland and the UK. Around one kilometre of shelving needs to be built each year to store the new copies. The library itself was built in the 18th century and a second floor was added a century later. Today the library is 64 metres long.