CDA – A Roadmap for Branding Dublin 2012 – A Discussion Paper

A Roadmap for Branding Dublin, A Discussion Paper 20125.9 At the Heart of Ireland, and the Centre of the WorldDublin is ideally located on Ireland’s east coast, with easy access to Dublin’sbeaches and mountains the city’s residents and visitors are never far awayfrom the great outdoors. As Ireland’s capital and largest city, Dublin is at thecentre of the country’s transport and communication network and is withineasy reach of Belfast, Galway and Cork, as well leading natural environmentssuch as the Wicklow Mountains, the Burren and Connemara. With 40 percentof the country’s population, the city is uniquely Irish, but also distinctivelyDublin and is the leading location for culture, business, innovation andeducation.“It has a compact nature where you can see a city, a fi shing harbour andmountains in one day.” – Your Dublin Your Voice panelDublin’s urban area is comprised of a series of interlinked villages and townswith strong community values. In the city centre is Phoenix Park, the largestenclosed urban park in Europe. The Park is home to many forms of wildlife,including deer, and brings nature to Dublin’s door step. Dublin has roughly78 square metres of green space per person 105 and the fact the city centre isso close to the mountains, countryside and sea is an under-exploited assetfor tourism development in particular. The suburbs of Dublin offer an escapefrom the urban lifestyle right on the city’s doorstep.Dublin is also ideally situated right in the middle of the international businesstime zones, allowing access to both the Middle Eastern and North and SouthAmerican Markets. Close to important European markets and businesscentres, Dublin Airport provides access to 171 different routes and is oneof the 10 busiest airports in Europe 106 , while it also hosts a United StatesCustoms and Border Protection facility allowing greater ease of travel tothe US. With an international airport and an excellent communicationsinfrastructure, Dublin is at the heart of global commerce.105 Creative Dublin Alliance (CDA), Discovering Dublin’s Identity, 2011106 Dublin Airport, , 201261