Northside vs Southside

Traditionally, a north versus south division has existed in Dublin with the dividing line provided by the River Liffey. The Northside is generally seen as working-class, while the Southside is seen as middle and upper middle class. This is also reflected by Dublin postal districts, with odd numbers being used for districts on the Northside, e.g: Phibsboro is in D7, and even numbers for ones on the Southside, e.g: Sandymount is in D4.

This division dates back centuries, certainly to the point when the Earl of Kildare built his residence on the then less regarded Southside. When asked why he was building on the South Side, he replied “Where I go, fashion follows me", and indeed he was promptly followed by most other Irish peers.

The Northside/Southside divide is punctuated by examples of Dublin “sub-culture” stereotypes, with upper-middle class constituents seen as tending towards an accent and demeanour synonymous with (but not exclusive to) the D4 postcode on the Southside (see Dublin 4, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly), and working-class Dubliners seen as tending towards accents and demeanour associated with (but not exclusive to) Northside and inner-city Dublin neighbourhoods. (see Scanger)

This simplification of economic and social communities in Dublin ("southside rich, liberal and snobby"/"northside poor, industrial and common") does not survive more than a few real-world examples however. For example, the President of Ireland’s residence, Ã?ras an Uachtaráin, is on the Northside, although its postal district is D8, a Southside number. Three of Dublin’s wealthiest suburbs, Howth, Malahide, and Castleknock are to be found on the Northside. The Southside similarly has many working-class suburbs, like Tallaght, Palmerstown, Crumlin, and Ballyfermot.

The economic divide in Dublin is more east-west than north-south (the east side of the city generally being wealthier than the west side), however many natives to Dublin prefer to use the physical barrier of the River Liffey to divide the city up into different socio-economic groupings. In fact, a greater division in social terms is evident between the coastal suburbs in the east of the city, both north and south, and the newer developments further to the west, though this too is only a rough guide.

In 2006, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Dublin as the 16th most expensive city in the world.