Between Atlanta And Savannah Is A Small Town Named After Dublin, Ireland, Known As ‘The Emerald City’ — Famous As The Location Of Martin Luther King Jr.’s First-Ever Speech

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Susan Swavely

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  March 8, 2026

It’s March, so we’ve got one thing on the brain: Saint Patrick’s Day! And while we’re thinking of fun ways to celebrate the Irish holiday, Irish cultural heritage and more, we thought it was a great time to introduce you, if you haven’t heard of it before, to Dublin! Ahem, that is, Dublin… Georgia.

Rich with tons of history, cool happenings, and of course, a LOT of Saint Patrick’s Day fun, Dublin, Georgia is a true hidden gem. Keep scrolling to learn more!

Where is Dublin, Georgia?

Obviously, when you first hear ‘Dublin’ you definitely think of the Emerald Isle. But what if we told you Georgia’s Dublin was called the Emerald City? (And no, it’s not in Oz!) Located just under two hours from Atlanta, Dublin sits in the middle of the state, Southeast of Macon.

Dublin is relatively small, with a city population of just over 16,000. But such a small spot packs a huge historical punch.

What is Dublin’s relationship to Ireland?

Or, more straightforwardly, why is it called Dublin, Georgia? Here’s what they have to say on the City of Dublin’s website,

The City of Dublin was incorporated by the Georgia Assembly on December 9th, 1812, and made the county seat. It is said that a citizen, Jonathan Sawyer, named it Dublin after the capital of his Irish homeland.

And of course, leaning into their Irish name, every March, the entire community is a “wee bit Irish” for the Dublin-Laurens St. Patrick’s Festival, which has been around for the past five decades! The month-long celebration of St. Patrick’s Day includes a parade, a road race, an arts and crafts fair, a leprechaun contest and TONS more fun for the whole family.

Does Dublin have more important history?

Yes! Of course, with beautiful parks, amazing local businesses and one of the best downtown areas in the state, Dublin, Georgia is an awesome spot to visit year-round, not just for St. Patrick’s Day!

But the Emerald City actually has some even more important history: it was the very first place that Martin Luther King Jr. ever gave a speech.

The First African Baptist Church in Dublin (which you can still visit!) was established in 1867 and is the oldest African American church in the City of Dublin, and the site of history. According to the First African Baptist Church’s website,

On April 17, 1944, the Colored Elks Clubs of Georgia held their state convention at First African Baptist Church in Dublin and sponsored an essay contest. A 15 year old student at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta delivered a speech entitled ‘The Negro and the Constitution.’ Little did the audience realize they were witnessing the first public speech by Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., and the start of the Civil Rights Movement.

The church notes that, on his ride back home to Atlanta from Dublin, a young Martin Luther King Jr. was asked to give up his bus seat for the first time.

For a city so small, Dublin, Georgia sure packs a lot of history, culture, and relevance! Don’t miss out on this amazing town. Visit this March (or any time during the year)!