They only held on by forming shifting alliances with the constantly warring Irish kingdoms. In 1170, the arrival of the Anglo-Normans at the gates of Dublin changed everything.

The Vikings were expelled to the far side of the river to live in their own town called Ostmantown (literally the Town of the Men from the East) and the native Irish were chased off to their own settlements.

Within a couple of years the Anglo-Normans were followed by English settlers and from that point onwards, for the best part of 750 years, Dublin, and ultimately the whole of Ireland would be ruled by the throne or parliament of England. From time to time Irish chieftains challenged the Viking and Norman rulers of Dublin but never very effectively and almost never as a united force.

However, this constant threat of attack and the ensuing unsettled political climate caused Dublin to grow very slowly and all the institutions and most of the population stayed within the safety of the encompassing defensive walls until well into the 16th century.

The City Expands

© www.patliddy.com
The above information was valid to the best knowledge available to the compiler but responsibility cannot be accepted for any unintentional inaccuracies or out of date data.