Dublin Bounces Back

"In a single generation, Ireland has gone from being one of the poorest countries in Europe to enjoying the second-highest per capita income in the European Union. No wonder the 'Celtic Tiger' has been held up as a model of progress, particularly for the new EU member states in Eastern Europe."

"Dublin is at the heart of this modern Ireland and nowhere is this more evident than on a visit to the capital city's port. Just 30 years ago, the country's main export, cattle, was still herded onto ships here; now, the glass and steel palaces of high-tech business jostle for space."

"Dublin, once the epitome of the 'Dirty Old Town', has had a makeover, turning it into a European metropolis with its mixture of scrubbed-up, newly restored brick buildings and modern architecture. Even the Liffey, the river running through Dublin, is being rediscovered."