Irish bars are famous throughout the world and known for their authentic Irish feel, overpriced drinks and unfortunately, often English owners! The pub name ‘The Dubliner’ is a common one and can be found as far as Tenerife, Prague and even Iraq. (Yes, seriously!)
However, the name is now at the centre of a legal dispute in the United States between two pubs, both called ‘The Dubliner,’ one in Washington D.C. and the other in Boston.
The Dubliner in Washington has been open for business for almost half a century and is located in the Phoenix Park Hotel in the US capital. On the bar's website, its owner and founder, Daniel Coleman, says “The Dubliner could easily occupy a corner of O'Connell Street as Massachusetts Avenue. Many of our friendly staff are fresh from Ireland and as colourful as any character in James Joyce's Dubliners, for which our pub is proudly named.”
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Meanwhile, The Dubliner in Boston opened last year in the centre of the iconic city with deep links to Ireland and full of Irish Americans. According to the Boston Eater, the bar has been a big success following its recent opening.
The recent court filing states that a cease-and-desist letter was issued to Oran McGonagle, Will McCarthy, and Aidan McGee, the owners of the Boston establishment back in October, demanding it discontinues the use of the Dubliner name within 60 days.
The letter said “It has come to our client's attention that your company recently began operating a bar and restaurant under the name The Dubliner in Boston, MA, which also serves our client's brand of Irish whiskey.
"These uses of Dubliner have not been authorized by our client and your company is in no way affiliated with our client.”
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However, on the 14th of March, the situation escalated as the D.C.-based Irish bar filed a lawsuit seeking compensation, including but not limited to the defendant’s profits and the plaintiff's damages.
While the two bars are located 692 kilometres apart and are not the only bars called ‘The Dubliner’ in the United States, the case appears to be heading before the US District Court in Boston shortly. Who knows where this will end, even The Dubliner in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq may soon get its day in court!
Conor Paterson