When the Vikings first settled in Ireland, they built forts at the mouths of some of the largest rivers. They used these forts as harbours for their ships. From then on, they spent more of their time in Ireland, instead of returning to their homelands after each raid. There was a Viking `longphort' at the mouth of each of these rivers: Liffey, Slaney, Suir, Lee and Shannon. From these longphorts the towns of Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick grew up. Many of the Vikings who settled down in these towns became peaceful traders and merchants. They traded with their fellow-Vikings in other Viking settlements throughout Europe.
The Vikings built a longphort a Dyflin 841 AD. This settlement was on a hill, overlooking the deep-water pool where the River Poddle entered the Liffey. The Irish name Dubhlinn means `Black pool'. Close by was a Celtic settlement called Ath Cliath (`The Ford of the Hurdles'), near a place where it was possible to walk across the River Liffey. The early Viking longphort was probably in the area between the present Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin Castle. A wall of earth surrounded the settlement and a row of wooden posts gave further protection to the townspeople. During the `dig' for remains of the past, at Wood Quay, in recent years, wooden ramparts were uncovered, that may have been part of the walls around the early Viking settlement.

As time went by and Viking trade increased, Dublin grew in size, spreading out westwards along High Street, which became the main street of the town. As the town grew, the walls around it were extended, so that the citizens were always well protected.

Puzzle