YOUR local pub is long recognised as the beating heart of our social scene, where stories and conversations resound within their walls. And if those walls could talk, what stories would they have to tell? Heineken is exploring how these pubs can apply for official Museum accreditation via The Heritage Council in a bid to have them formally recognised as museums.
Heineken has partnered with three distinguished Irish pubs to pioneer the virtual Pub Museum experience including Limerick’s Mother Mac’s. Patrons can now embark on a digital journey through time, exploring the rich history and stories told within these beloved establishments. By scanning a QR code on historical artefacts within the pubs, visitors can unlock a trove of historical facts and stories. The chosen three establishments are Toners Pub in Dublin, Sean’s Bar in Athlone and Mother Macs.
Heineken is exploring how these pubs can apply for official Museum accreditation via The Heritage Council in a bid to have them formally recognised as museums.
Speaking about the initiative, Historian Gerry Farrell commented: “Few buildings or businesses maintain the same function over the span of centuries. A visit to a historic public house is a connection back to our own past where generations before, people gathered to talk, drink, eat, sing and play, to flirt and romance, to discuss the great events of the day and set the world to right, to cheer sporting triumph or to drown their sorrows. Irish pubs have been the site for rebellion and betrayal, settings for great literature and places of very real drama. It’s important to protect and preserve our historic pubs so that they can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
The Digital Pubseum opens at Mother Mac’s this Friday April 19.
Mother Macs Public House has stood on High Street and Upper Denmark Street since 1787, though its exact age remains uncertain.
Picture Andres Poveda
Formerly known as O’Malley, the building has served various purposes, including as a pub, whiskey/wine/tea merchants, and a grocery shop. Guests to the bar will be able to digitally explore many artefacts in the bar; including measuring jugs hanging from timber beams dating back to the 1800s which were used for ordering drinks based on volume, ensuring fair transactions. Guests can scan the three iron columns believed to originate from the nearby Harrison Lee foundry, operational from the early 1800s until 1932, located just 50 yards away. These columns, carried by local men during the pub’s construction, serve as a poignant reminder of the foundry’s legacy, immortalised within the walls of the establishment.
Mike McMahon, Owner and Operator at Mother Macs added: “It has never been more important to get behind Irish pubs. At Mother Macs our dedication to upholding the spirit of the Irish pub is extremely important to me and the team here. We invite our patrons to immerse themselves in the rich history of Mother Macs through the digital museum and discover the remarkable tales that have shaped our beloved pub.”
