Meaning of word "ford" in combination with "hurdle"

Hurdled is a verb that could mean "to jump over a hurdle". The expression therefore could be taken to mean a ford which has been crossed by jumping over it. This could be taken literally or more probably figuratively. The expression therefore might be taken as "a place where a river was crossed easily".

However, as Mr. Lister pointed out, hurdled could also mean that hurdles were added to the ford. See this page: (emphasis added)

The Gaelic name for Dublin is ‘Baile Atha Cliath’ which translates literally as ‘town of the hurdle ford’, a description of the bank of wooden hurdles built up across the river Liffey by the Vikings. The word ‘Dublin’ is actually a composition of two Gaelic words: ‘dubh’ meaning ‘black’ and ‘linn’ means ‘pool’ (or ‘mire’). Thus the literal translation of the words from which Dublin gets its name is Black pool! Crossing the ‘hurdle ford’ was not without its dangers. In 770 AD a band of Bon Valley raiders were drowned crossing the Liffey at the hurdle ford.

A hurdle is a light frame with interwoven withes used as a temporary barrier or as strengthening or structuring element within earthworks. The more familiar modern sense of ‘a barrier to be leapt over’ is derivative: folks looking to make a more interesting race set up hurdles which were to be found on any farm.

I can readily imagine that hurdles might be employed at a ford to strengthen either earthworks for retaining the riverbanks or a built-up approach road.