d u b l i n
t h e f a i r c i t y
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and, though matters concerning the magical population of Ireland fall under the British Ministry of Magic, the city has become a de facto centre for Wizarding Ireland. Dublin has a sense of comfortably worn, faded grandeur. The city's heart is divided into "Northside" and "Southside" by the River Liffey; the Northside historically inhabited by the working class, and the Southside by the upper class. Wide shopping streets running either side of the river. Though much of Dublin has been modernised, some areas still have the winding Medieval streets the city was built on, such as Temple Bar and Trinity College -- Wizarding Dublin very much mirrors these older parts of the city.
Warm and welcoming, Dublin is known for the friendliness of its people and the craic or "crack" (a unique mixture of humour, intelligence and acerbic insight) which has charmed and attracted writers, intellectuals and visitors for centuries. Pubs are where a lot of the city's social life is conducted, as well as the huge amount of cafes and restaurants, and the sound of Irish music rarely allows time for silence.
Any witch or wizard visiting Dublin is bound to visit Eblana Lane. Hidden amongst the myriad of Medieval streets in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, one enters Eblana Lane by tucking down a narrow alley between two large brick buildings (once in Eblana Lane one will recognise these as the back of Ó SÃoda's and The Queen Maeve), a charm allows the alleyway to widen as one progresses down into a regular size shopping street with stores, pubs, cafés and restaurants. To muggles, this back alley looks dark, dangerous, and uninviting - those still interested will suddenly remember an important appointment elsewhere should they attempt to enter. Shops include:
• Quirke's Apothecary (potions, ingredients)
• The Queen Maeve (pub, restaurant)
• Ó SÃoda's Brewery (pub and brewery)
• Murphy's Menagerie (familiars, pet supplies)
• Post Office
• O'Donnell's (quills, ink, textbooks)
• Six o’ One (various magical items)
• Codraisc Curiosities (junk shop)
At some point Dublin locals began calling the portkey station the "Beyont", and the name stuck. It's a nondescript building located not far from Temple Bar.
