The Liberties is the area that grew up over many years around the Medieval Quarter of Dublin, after the invasion by the Normans in 1169. It gained its name ‘the Liberties’ because, whilst they were united under the rule of the Norman invaders, the owner of each piece of land (each manor estate, or ‘liberty’) was given dispensation to rule it as he saw fit.
The lands within the Liberties would develop after the 12th Century and even St Patrick’s Cathedral was considered one of these manors which, whilst being part of Norman Ireland, also had its own powers to develop autonomously up to a point.
The Guinness Storehouse is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Liberties; its location, just off Thomas Street, places it just outside the Medieval Quarter.