Athlone pub to operate new 'Pub Museum' initiative

Heineken has launched a new 'Pub Museum' initiative at Seán's Bar in Athlone, which will allow visitors to scan a QR code to hear stories and facts about the venue while enjoying a pint.

The QR code initiative has been in operation at Seán's Bar since Friday last, April 12. It was also launched at Toners in Dublin and Mother Macs in Limerick.

Manager of Seán's Bar, Declan Delaney, said visitors can scan the QR code with their mobile phone and they will then hear a talk about the pub's walls, pieces of memorabilia and floors.

“We have an 18th century copper old whiskey still that was used for poitín so it will take you then to different stories depending on where you are.” Mr Delaney said, adding that it was like a virtual museum.

The Manager of the oldest pub in Ireland said that the novel concept was Heineken's idea. “They're looking for different ways to showcase pubs, showcase the importance of pubs, the importance of community importance to locals.”

There will be many artefacts to scan in Seán’s Bar including the old walls made of Wattle and Daub or Wattle and Wicker, consisting of hazel sticks interwoven with horse and clay.

The use of wattle work in construction is a well-known feature from early times dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries. The old walls in Seán’s bar officially date back to 900AD and the pub has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Guests will also be able to learn about the history of the sloped floors which was the original form of drainage in the pub and the tradition of using saw dust on the floor. Another important feature of the pub is the old fireplace dating back hundreds of years which provides a warm welcome to visitors from near and far.

Mr Delaney remarked that the new initiative is a “way to highlight the importance of pubs in our social life. He continued: “It's a place where people meet, mingle and chat.”

He said that visitors to Seán's Bar love to find out about the history of the pub and the Athlone area and see old pictures and hear about famous musicians who may have played in the hostelry in years gone by.

The Athlone pub was approached by Heineken to take part in the 'Pub Museum' initiative. “We do a lot of talks ourselves, so I suppose because of our story we're lucky enough to get visitors anyway, but this is just another string to the bow. It's just another add-on feature.”

He said that the new initiative is for people who are “culturally curious” and would like to find out more about historical pubs.

He added that the initiative is “nice and simple” and “very professionally done” and that the QR code will take users to links providing them with more information on Seán's Bar and its history.

Fellow Manager of Seán’s Bar, Timmy Donovan, said: “As the world’s oldest bar, our commitment to keeping the spirit of the Irish pub alive is unwavering. We’re hugely proud of what we have preserved here. We’re looking forward to welcoming our customers in to have a go of this digital museum and learn even more about Sean’s Bar and all of the stories here.”

Rachael Crawley from Heineken Ireland, commented: “Pubs in Ireland play a pivotal role in Irish society and culture, and have done for generations. As a partner of pubs across the country, we’ve launched the Pub Museums initiative as a way to highlight the historical importance of Irish pubs, and act as a reminder of the importance of these establishments in the fabric of Irish society.”

In 900 AD, a man named Luain established a bar at a crossing point on the River Shannon, facilitating safe passage for both people and animals. This strategic location, near the confluence of the river fed by Lough Ree, led to the development of a settlement around the pub.

Later, King Turlough O'Connor erected a castle to protect the community, ultimately giving rise to the town of Athlone, derived from Átha Luain, meaning ‘the ford of Luain.’ As a result, the town owes its name to the bar's founder, marking a historic legacy dating back to the 10th century.

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. By supporting pubs in a bid to become an official museum, Heineken aims to preserve pub culture and the future of socialising.

The Pub Museum campaign complements the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland bid for UNESCO to formally recognise traditional pubs as key elements of Ireland's intangible cultural heritage.