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
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