Dublin was founded sometime around the 7th century, after which it was the capital of the Norse Kingdom of Dublin, the principal Irish settlement following the Norman Invasion of Ireland, and the second finest city in the British Empire. This proud status is readily apparent at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest in Ireland with a history dating back to the 12th century, and Dublin Castle, where visitors can discover 800 years of Irish history. The city’s literary history is equally prestigious with author’s including James Joyce and Oscar Wilde helping it earnUNESCO Recognition - in fact, one of the city’s most iconic sights is the library at Trinity College. Then, of course, there’s Dublin’s liquid heritage, with tours of the Guinness Brewery and Jameson Distillery topping the to-do list of every visitor, and the city’s countless pubs keeping tourists and locals alike well-lubricated.