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The name Dublin is an Anglicism of Dubh Linn (Irish, meaning
"Black Pool"), though some doubt this derivation. Historically,
in the old script used for the Irish language, '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 starting in
1169 omitted the "dot" (or séimhiú in
Irish), and spelled the town's name as 'Dublin'. |
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| Some have suggested that "Dublin"
is of Scandinavian origin, cf. Icelandic: "djúp lind"
("deep pond"). However, the name "Dubh Linn"
pre-dates the arrival of the Vikings in Ireland, and the Old
Norse (and modern Icelandic) name for Dublin is simply the words
"Dubh Linn" re-spelled as if they were Old Norse: Dyflinn
(correctly pronounced "DUEV-linn" - indeed, the letter
'y' is still pronounced like the vowel in "ewe" in
Modern Norwegian, Swedish, etc., just as it was in Old Norse;
Icelandic, while keeping the spelling, has changed this sound
to /i/). |
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| 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 in a pub.
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