History of Dublin After the Anglo-Normans taking of Dublin in 1171, many of the city's Norse inhabitants left the old city, which was on the south side of the river Liffey and built their own settlement on the north side, known as Ostmantown or "Oxmantown". Dublin became the capital of the English Lordship of Ireland from 1171 onwards and was peopled extensively with settlers from England and Wales. The rural area around the city, as far north as Drogheda, also saw extensive English settlement. In the 14th century, this area was fortified against the increasingly assertive Native Irish – becoming known as The
Oldtown, Dublin Oldtown, Dublin Oldtown () is a population centre and townland in the civil parish of Clonmethan in Fingal, Ireland. The R122 road runs through the village linking Naul to St Margaret's and Dublin Airport. The character of the landscape is "Low-Lying Agricultural", as indicated in the County Development Plan. This area contains mixed pasture and arable farming on low lands, consisting of large fields with few tree belts or large settlements with few panoramic views or prospects. The village itself is situated in a shallow valley drained by a small river known locally as ‘The Daws River’ and is surrounded