History of Dublin Mapped

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Nowadays, Dublin is the largest city and the capital of Ireland, but a millennium ago, this city was very different.

There is an archaeological discussion regarding where and when Dublin formed, with a settlement founded by the Gaels during or before the 7th century Common Era.

It is currently considered that the first Viking settlement Duiblinn was established in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Vikings ruled Dublin for nearly three centuries. They were ultimately exiled in 1171 when King Dermot MacMurrough of Leinster conquered the town.

The map below shows viking-Age Dublin in AD 1000.

As the tiny Kingdom of Dublin, the town expanded, it became Ireland’s major settlement following the Norman attack. The city grew rapidly from the 17th century and was shortly the second most populous city in the British Empire after the Acts of Union in 1800. Following freedom in 1922, Dublin became Ireland.

Here is the animated map that shows the evolution of Dublin from 800 to 1500.