Dublin’s thriving centre isn’t just the focal point of life for many locals today. Some of the most important events in Irish history have unfolded along these inner city streets. On this walking tour, you’ll see some of the country’s most important national monuments and learn how the Irish nation was created. Starting at O’Connell Bridge, you’ll cross the River Liffey and head to the capital’s main artery, O’Connell Street. You’ll find out why this landmark was named after Daniel O’Connell, and why the likes of Martin Luther King and Gandhi looked up to him. You’ll then make your way into the beating heart of the city, to the streets that Irish rebels fought and died on. I’ll show you where the last failed rebellion in Ireland against British rule, the 1916 Easter Rising, took place. You’ll find out exactly why the Irish people wanted to create their own nation and how they went about doing so. On this Dublin walking tour, you’ll have the chance to: • Hear stories about some of the most interesting characters who played their part in Dublin’s history • See bullet holes on national monuments like the O’Connell Monument • Meet Father Theobold Matthew, the man who almost got the Irish to stop drinking alcohol • See the Maid Of Erin, the ancient Irish mythic figure that inspired some of the rebels • Gawk at one of the most pointless and unpopular monuments in Dublin, the Spire, and hear its many nicknames • See market stalls that have been passed down through generations • Read the letter rebel Hugh O’Rahilly wrote to his wife as he lay dying on the street • See where Queen Elizabeth II of Britain honoured Irish rebels • Explore North Great George’s Street, one of the best-preserved and most beautiful streets in Dublin • Check out the Confession Box, the pub where Irish rebels were secretly given confession By the end of this tour outside Abbey Theatre, the country’s national theatre, you’ll have a much greater appreciation for the generations-long struggle that’s known as the Irish War for Independence. You’ll also have a sense of what motivated the men and women who fought and died to create an Irish nation.