Established in 1754, The Long Stone derives its name from the fascinating history of the surrounding Townsend Street area. Over a thousand years ago, in 837 AD, Norsemen who had blazed a trail across the seas from Scandinavia landed at the mouth of the river we now know as the River Liffey. As some of the first residents in the region, they erected a tall stone pillar in the sea, as was their custom, to symbolize their possession of the surrounding lands and a new area of settlement. This long stone (or ‘steyne’) in turn gave its name to one of the many small rivers that were tributaries to the Liffey and in turn to the surrounding sandy plains that bordered the sea. Land reclamation has since completely changed this area of the south inner city beyond recognition. The programme that was started by Alderman Hawkins in 1663 was to change the face of modern Dublin as the boundaries of the sea were extended to Ringsend. During all this excavation, the steyne stood until 1794. Today, The Long Stone pub boasts a combined Celtic and Viking theme in tribute to the history of the area. Our Pièce de Résistance is our unique fireplace, a massive sculpture of Balder, the Viking God of Light and Warmth. A modern day representation of the steyne now stands at the front of Pearse Street Garda Station, a few hundred yards away.
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