Dublin City Walls and Defences, c. 1170–c. 1317

The early origins of the city of Dublin centre around twin settlements, the one at Dubh-linn (the Black Pool) to the east, and the other, on the southside of Áth Cliath (the ford of the hurdles) to the west. These settlements would eventually combine physically and linguistically to give us both the core of the city we have inherited and the names that are still in use today.