Dún Laoghaire is a seaside town and ferry port situated some 12 km south of Dublin city centre in the council area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in County Dublin. The town was officially renamed Kingstown in 1821 in honour of a visit by the British King George IV, but reverted to its ancient Irish name by resolution of the town council in 1921, one year before Irish independence. The name derives from its founder, Laoghaire, a 5th century High King of Ireland, who chose the site as a sea base from which to carry out raids on Britain and France. The harbour is notable for its two granite piers and is home to four yacht clubs. From north (West Pier) to south (East Pier) they are the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, the Royal Irish Yacht Club, the Royal St. George Yacht Club, and the National Yacht Club. The town has some fine example of Victorian commercial buildings as well as a number of churches