The four areas (Dublin City and the three counties established in 1994) are often collectively referred as County Dublin, although this term is also still used to refer to the former administrative county which was abolished as an administrative area by the 1993 Act.
The four areas (Dublin City and the three counties established in 1994) collectively comprise the geographic county of Dublin. This county, which had been created following the Norman invasion of Ireland, was abolished as an administrative area by the 1993 Act.