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Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on Dublin's Southside Dublin.

The headquarters of the national broadcaster RTÉ, the RDS, University College Dublin, Lansdowne Road rugby stadium and a number of foreign embassies to Ireland are all located in Dublin 4. The Dublin 4 area is fixed by the Irish postal authorities.

'Dublin 4' or its abbreviation, 'D4', is sometimes used as a pejorative adjective to describe an Irish liberal elitist attitude, based on the perceived opinions and characteristics of some residents of this area.

The Minister — and no offence is meant — may live physically in County Wicklow but she has a Dublin 4 mentality.
— Hugh Byrne, TD, Dáil Éireann Debate, 15 February 1983

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 '''Dublin 4''' is a [[Dublin postal districts|postal district of Dublin]], [[Ireland]] including the suburbs of [[Sandymount]], [[Ballsbridge]], [[Donnybrook, Dublin|Donnybrook]], [[Ringsend]] and [[Irishtown]] on Dublin's [[Southside|Southside Dublin]].
-The Dublin 4 area is fixed by the Irish postal authorities. Dublin 4 is often abbreviated to the term 'D4'. The term 'D4' is used mostly in provincial Ireland. Dublin 4 consists mainly of leafy residential suburbs to the South East of Dublin city.
-The headquarters of the national broadcaster [[RTÉ]], the [[Royal Dublin Society|RDS]], [[University College Dublin]], [[Lansdowne Road]] rugby stadium and a number of foreign [[Embassy|embassies]] to Ireland are all located in Dublin 4. This district, includes the two largest embassies to Ireland, those of the [[United States]],and the [[United Kingdom]].
+The headquarters of the national broadcaster [[RTÉ]], the [[Royal Dublin Society|RDS]], [[University College Dublin]], [[Lansdowne Road]] rugby stadium and a number of foreign [[Embassy|embassies]] to Ireland are all located in Dublin 4. The Dublin 4 area is fixed by the Irish postal authorities.
-Dublin 4, and neighbouring districts of Blackrock, Foxrock, Cabinteely, Dundrum, Rathfarnham, and Dun Laoghaire have been the area of preferred residence of people holding positions of wealth, authority and influence, for a long time. Traditionally, the rich and powerful in Irish society, lived in the areas to the South East of the city. A high concentration of rich lawyers, accountants, bankers, medical professionals and senior civil servants lived in this district. In addition, the managerial elite of both public and private sectors, were resident in South East Dublin. This concentration of wealth, and influence, results in the highest property prices in Ireland. Within South East Dublin, the oldest and wealthiest sections, were always in included in the Dublin 4 postal code area. Therefore Dublin 4 includes the residential areas, for the upper rung of the Dublin professional class.
-Residential property valuations are highly sensitive to a feature best described as 'postal code address categorization'. Therefore if a house is in Foxrock, it's market valuation is €60,000 above that which could be located 20 metres away, in Blackrock, due entirely to perception. The most expensive district has always been Ballsbridge. Traditionally when people from other regions who become rich, and powerful, in Irish society they often chose to reside in South East Dublin,or alternatively it's rural equivalent, [[County Kildare]].
-The term 'Dublin 4' is used to describe a mentality, which though originally conceived in the district, is by no means representative of the entire population of the district.
-'Dublin 4' is often used by other Irish people, especially those from Dublin's Northside, and other counties, to describe people who live within a self imposed concept of upper middle class society within Ireland. There is a degree of historical influence stemming from British establishment which once ruled Ireland, as an Imperial dominion. During British rule many administration staff, and civil servants lived in this district. This is reflected in a strong preference of [[Rugby union|rugby]] and equestrian sports. There are many fee-paying secondary schools, and these form the basis of the important rugby playing tradition of Dublin's Southside, and the [[Leinster Rugby]] team. There is an intense network of rugby clubs in South East Dublin and an intense rivalry, between schools and clubs. Due to the popularity of rugby, golf is not as popular as would normally be expected. Tennis, and yachting are also popular.
-There is a strong tradition of social networking in southside Dublin, through the school system, and the various sporting clubs in the district. This is commonly described by the term 'old school tie'. Beyond this informal network is the fact, that traditionally postal codes were influential, in determining career success in Irish organizations, with candidates with suitable addresses gaining preference over candidates from other parts of Ireland, regardless of ability. This received much criticism in the 1980s when unemployment was high across much of Ireland, and [[cronyism]] was very widespread. This has had an adverse affect on Irish economic development as a whole. However, this seems have been reduced since the [[Celtic Tiger]] took hold. The informal networks are becomming less infleuntial in recent times, mainly due to EU legislation and the influence of  foreign multinationals, which have more meritocratic systems of promotion. There are long associations between middle class Dublin and and [[Trinity College, Dublin]] even though it is located in the neighbouring district of Dublin 2. Trinity is seen as a stronger bastion of middle class Dublin, than UCD which is located in South East Dublin, but which takes a large share of it's undergraduate students from the provinces.
-There is also a 'Dublin 4' accent. This is best described as 'mid-Atlantic'. It has English and American infleunces. It is a a badge of differentiation, to indicate to others one's (social class and educational) background, in an overt manner. It also includes numerous home grown phrases, terminology borrowed from media celebrities, and uses the phrases common in American television. A conversation in 'Dublin 4' English will often contain much exaggeration, and numerous grammatical errors, which in other countries indicate bad schooling. This can often contain more grammatical mistakes than any spoken conversation The humour of this district of Dublin is more heavily influenced by Hollywood, unlike the humour of rural Ireland has an undeniable British infleunce.
-The Irish journalist Ross O'Kelly Carroll, wrote a book called 'Guide to Southside Dublin' which describes many aspects of 'Southside' Dublin (South East Dublin). It is written entirely, in the dialect of English spoken in South East Dublin, using misspelled words to create the effect of the 'D4 accent'. The D4 accent is often also called the 'Dohrt' Accent, based on the DART train line connecting Dublin 4 with other professional suburbs of Dublin between [[Malahide]] and [[Greystones]].
-In commercial marketing, Dublin 4 is seen as a 'early adopter' consumer in the generation of brand/product awareness within the Irish market. Residents of Dublin 4 are seen as Ireland's premier 'bon viveurs', driving upmarket cars, high end designer clothing, and adopting habits like drinking fine wines, and dining in fine restaurants long before the rest of the population got in on the act. However cheap credit, and the infleunce of mass consumerism have made these aspects of consumerism are available to the rest of the population. This has meant that badges of differentiation are harder to find in Ireland's status obsessed social hierarchy, and has resulted in a drive to more cultural pursuits which are harder to imitate. The growth of 'chav' culture in [[England]], mass consumerism, the new economic vibracy of the hinterland to the West of Dublin, and the dumbing down of middle class values in contemporary Britain, have all contributed towards Dublin 4 turning to a mixture of Irish and continental high end culture. [[David McWilliams]], the Irish economist and social commentator, has made several observations, concerning consumer behaviour in middle class Ireland in his book 'The Pope's Children'. (McWilliams himself is a former 'Blackrock Boy' and exhibits a slight Dublin 4 accent). McWilliams used the term defined the 'HiCo' (Hibernian Cosmopolitan) to describe the type of consumer that is anchored in 'Dublin 4'. Currently this consists of a return to aspects of Gaelic culture (via Irish language primary schools), exclusive consumption patters, and a high end interest in ecological, spiritual, and cultural matters.
-In rural Ireland, the term 'D4' is used to describe a behaviour, that is derived from a [[superiority complex]]. This can exist as an accent, a sporting affiliation, or manners. But mostly it is used to define adoption of a costly consumer lifestyle. The Dublin 4 slight also gets assigned to state bureacrats, who know set out to make and implement their rules on others, regardless of their consent.
-In working class areas of Dublin, the term 'Dublin 4' is used as a term of derision against those who are perceived, as insulated from the realites, of having to live in a competitive society. Depending on your perspective,this can come from working class solidarity, or envy.
-On the positive side, the Dublin 4 mentality is also associated with good manners, tidyness, cleanliness, and an acute sense of social graces. This also covers an appreciation of the finer things in life, and an abiding respect for any form of higher culture. Education is actively encouraged, and the arts are more highly appreciated than elsewhere in Ireland, with the notable exception of [[Galway]]. It is also identified with tolerance, patience towards others, and greater openmindedness.
-The biggest gaffe in the history of Dublin 4, occurred after the [[1916 Rising]]. The Irish rebells were apart from a few leaders, entirely derived from the rural peasantry, and working classes. The residents of South East Dublin shouted scorn on the defeated rebel soldiers, who were being escorted via [[Dun Laoghaire]], to prison camps in Britain. The [[Irish Civil War]] probably prevented any form of retribution from ever occurring. Indifference to the suffering, of the working classes in the 1913 lockout, was replaced by later well meaning support for left wing politics. However, suspicion remained with respect to provincial Ireland, where many remained distrustful of state institutions, long after Independence.
-Middle class Dublin has always contained the element in Irish society, most likely to introduce new political philosophies, from abroad, outside Ireland. Extensive social networking in the broadcast and print media, concentrated for a long time in the residential areas of Dublin 4, make this effect even more accentuated. The fact that the rest of the country is always more preoccupied by more mundane and practical matters, and is always more cautious with respect to any form of change until the long term effects are fully known, is generally seen as a retarding force in this regard. The main newspaper that is purchased is [[The Irish Times]]. British newspapers like The Observer, and the [[ The London Independent]] are also popular. Dublin 4 votes for all political parties. Dublin 4 is part of the [[Dublin South East]] constituency. Economic issues are usually less of a concern than nationally. Ranelagh has a large transient student population, with many student politicians also resident in the area.
-'Dublin 4' has what could best be described as a schitzophrenic relationship with the [[Catholic Church]], regarding education by the[[Jesuits]] in particular as the pinnacle of a good foundation in life, seeking association with the continental Catholic community, but disagreeing on many areas of Catholic Social teaching. Both compete to serve as the source moral authority for society. However the influence of commerce in Irish society, has resulted in both being temporarily side lined, by a society less concerned with issues of public morality.
-'Dublin 4' is sometimes used as a pejorative adjective, to associate people of a liberal political viewpoint, with an [[elitist]] attitude, based on the perceived opinions and characteristics of some residents of this area. It is also used to describe the Dublin media, when the Dublin media advocates a policy, that is ignored, or resisted by other sections of Irish society.
+'Dublin 4' or its abbreviation, 'D4', is sometimes used as a pejorative adjective to describe an Irish liberal [[elitist]] attitude, based on the perceived opinions and characteristics of some residents of this area.
 {{Cquotetxt|The Minister — and no offence is meant — may live physically in [[County Wicklow]] but she has a Dublin 4 mentality.|[[Hugh Byrne (Fianna Fáil)|Hugh Byrne, TD]]|''Dáil Éireann Debate, 15 February 1983''}}
-[[Charlie McCreevy]] (of humble social background, and a declared enemy of middle class Dublin), claimed that Dublin 4 was a mentality on the [[Late Late Show]] in 1998. McCreevy is a persistent strong believer in competition, and working people helping themselves. He stated 'we have people of the Dublin 4 mentality in Allenwood in County Kildare, on the edge of the bog '. In this regard the Dublin 4 mentality is probably a term that, though regularly used, probably needs to be replaced with a newer label.
 ==See also==
 *[[Dublin postal districts]]
-*[[Terri Keane]]
 *[[Ross O'Carroll Kelly]]
 *[[West Briton]]
-*[[Leinster Rugby]]
 [[Category:Geography of Dublin]]