Dublin's Neighbors: The Counties Bordering Ireland's Capital

County Dublin— Ireland's smallest county by area but largest by population—does not "touch off" other counties; rather, it borders three neighboring counties:

• Meath to the north and west (historic royal seat at Tara).
• Kildare to the west and southwest (Curragh plains, horse-racing heartland).
• Wicklow to the south (the "Garden of Ireland," mountains meeting sea).

Administrative Nuance

Since 1994, County Dublin has been subdivided into four local-government areas—Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin—yet the traditional county boundary remains the reference for cultural and sporting identities (e.g., GAA). The River Liffey bisects the county eastward to Dublin Bay, while the Wicklow Mountains form a natural southern rampart.