History

How one Irishman inspired a city with Irish Attitude

At the center of our city's tale is a little known Irish working man who carried a deep love of his homeland all the way to central Ohio more than 200 years ago.

In 1802, Peter and Benjamin Sells of Pennsylvania purchased a beautiful slice of land upon the banks of the Scioto River (where Historic Dublin now stands) -- including a 400-acre tract for their brother, John. Within a few years, John Sells and his wife came to claim the land. Sells hired an Irish gentleman, John Shields, to assist him and they began to survey lots for the town in 1810.

Legend has it that John Sells gave the honor of naming the town to Shields -- who saw the beaming sun on the surrounding hills and dales and became nostalgic for his birthplace of Dublin, Ireland. Dublin, Ohio was incorporated as a village in 1881 but didn't become a city until 1987. Today, nearly 44,000 residents call Dublin home.

The ambiance of that original settlement is still evident in Historic Dublin's charming 19th-century architecture, limestone fences and brick sidewalks. Although our roots may not be truly Irish, visitors will find odes to the Emerald Isle throughout the city. From rolling green golf courses and quaint neighborhood pubs to one of the largest Irish Festivals in the nation -- Irish is an attitude here.

For more about Dublin's history and landmarks, visit the Dublin Historical Society.

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