A Bit of Background About our Name…

•  Dubh Linn in Old Irish means ”The Dark Pool”. In ancient times the river Dodder made a pool before flowing into the Liffey. Here the Vikings decided to settle. The Dodder today is a memory and has long been confined as a subterranean river. The dark waters from this pool were the inspiration for Arthur Guinness’ “Perfect Pint.”

• “Dublin” is an Anglicism of “Dubh Linn”. In the old script, ‘bh’ was written with a dot placed over the ‘b’ – thus appearing to be Dub Linn or Dublinn. The Norman-speaking English who arrived in Old Irish-speaking Ireland in 1169 omitted the “dot” (or séimhiú in Irish), and spelled the town’s name as ‘Dublin.’

• Some have suggested that “Dublin” is of Scandinavian origin: “djúp lind” (“deep pond”). However, the name “Dubh Linn” pre-dates the arrival of the Vikings in Ireland, and the Old Norse name is simply the words “Dubh Linn” re-spelled as if they were Old Norse: Dyflinn (correctly pronounced “DUEV-linn’ ).

• Therefore, we selected “Dubh Linn” as a way of tying two cultures together – the Scandinavian heritage of Northern Minnesota and the Irish traditions of fine spirits, good company, and a comfortable atmosphere you only find at Dubh Linn Irish Brew Pub of Duluth, MN.