Irish pubs seek UNESCO status

Traditional Irish public houses steeped in history

HURLING has UNESCO heritage status. Galway is a UNESCO City of Film. What about traditional Irish pubs?

The VFI (Vintners’ Federation of Ireland) sent an expression of interest to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, and Media for traditional Irish pubs to be considered on the UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific Organisation) list of intangible cultural heritage assets. A committee within the Department will meet in March to discuss the expression of interest, a spokesperson from the VFI confirmed to this newspaper.

Ireland has been a member of UNESCO since 1961 and can nominate an item to be placed onto their list of intangible cultural heritage sites each year.

The Irish Times journalist Una Mullaly wrote a column on the subject recently, putting forward the view that the traditional Irish pub could be proposed for inclusion on this list of intangible cultural heritage items.

Sean O’Boyle’s great grandfather on his paternal side was recorded in the 1901 Census as being a publican and a farmer in Laught.

Sean is manager of O’Boyle’s pub in Laught, outside Moylough, a pub that is owned by his parents Patrick and Dympna.

“I can go back that far. There was definitely a pub here since 1901,” said Sean, a secondary school teacher.

“I read the article in The Irish Times and thought that the whole UNESCO heritage status was interesting. There are many pubs like this pub around the country, that are family-run through generations. They are part of the fabric of communities in many cases.”

For more, pick up this week’s Tuam Herald or log onto our digital edition HERE