History of Dublin the Catholic majority of Ireland's population. In Dublin however the Protestant Ascendancy was thriving, and the city expanded rapidly from the 17th century onward. By 1700, the population had surpassed 60,000, making it the second largest city, after London, in the British Empire. Under the Restoration, Ormonde, the then Lord Deputy of Ireland made the first step toward modernising Dublin by ordering that the houses along the river Liffey had to face the river and have high quality frontages. This was in contrast to the earlier period, when Dublin faced away from the river, often using it as a rubbish
Swords, Dublin Swords, Dublin Swords () is the county town of Fingal and a satellite of Dublin, Ireland. One of the larger settlements of Greater Dublin, the town is the closest to Dublin Airport, and is home to one of the Dublin region's larger shopping centres, extensive other retail facilities, and a range of industries. Lying on the Ward River, it features a restored medieval castle, a holy well from which it takes its name, a round tower and a Norman tower, presumably built by the same Normans who constructed the castle. The name "Swords" is also applicable to a townland, to