Dublin is a city steeped in history, from its early settlement by the Vikings to the bloody rising against British rule in the early 20th century, all of which have left an indelible mark on the city.

And being of Irish origins myself I was more than enthusiastic to learn the history behind this most dynamic of European capitals.

The best place to start a tour of historical Dublin is Kilmainham Gaol. The bleak stone monolith that is Kilmainham Gaol has become synonymous with British oppression in Ireland, despite being originally constructed in 1792 in order to combat overcrowding in Dublin's existing dilapidated jails.

As well as being the site of many leading Irish republican's imprisonment, Charles Stewart Parnell among them, Kilmainham Gaol also has the dubious honour of being the place where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were imprisoned and ultimately executed.

As a result, Kilmainham Gaol occupies an iconic status in the Irish mindset and is the one attraction above all other that visitors to Dublin simply must see.

Thankfully an efficient bus service means that navigating your way around the city is easy enough, with many of the best sites located in the heart of the city centre.

Dublin Castle is one of the attractions found in the city centre, so if for no other reason is worth visiting for its convenience.

Standing on the high ridge, Dublin Castle dominates the landscape, looming over the city like a vast sentinel watching over the rebellious people of Ireland. And for long periods this was the role the castle performed.

It was the centre of British occupation in Ireland and the site of the symbolic handover of power to the forces of the Irish Free State in 1922. As a result, it is home to one of the finest museums in Ireland.

Trinity College, the most prestigious university in Ireland, is located nearby and is likewise worth a visit. Set back from the busy streets Trinity College boasts a genteel air of refinement, with gorgeous architecture and monuments to its past academic giants lending it an old-worldly air.

Oscar Wilde was among the most famous students at Trinity College, which also hosts the Book of Kells, an intricately decorated New Testament text written around 800 AD.

Other sites worth visiting during a trip to Dublin include St Patricks Cathedral, the resting place of Jonathan Swift, the General Post Office on O'Connell Street where the last stand of the Easter 1916 rising was made, and Leinster House, which now serves as the Irish Parliament.

Stepping further back in time, Dublin's Viking Adventure gives visitors the unique opportunity to see the social and historical development of Dublin through the ages.

An interactive museum complete with authentic sights, smells and sounds of 'Dyflin', as the city was then known, the museum is a favourite with families.

But having been a battleground for much of its long history Dublin is literally teeming with historical attractions, a fact that visitors will no doubt discover simply by walking the streets of this ancient, yet exhilarating city.

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