An Irish politician is calling for Irish pubs to be listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's list of intangible cultural heritage.
The authentic Irish pub is undoubtedly something unique to our little island off Europe. Dark wood, cozy snugs, no televisions, no phones and time to chat and catch up with family and friends. However, since 1995 it's been reported that 1,937 Irish pubs have closed their doors. This week, in Ireland, discussions have heated up about protecting the Irish pub by having it featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
UNESCO is an agency of the United Nations that promotes international collaboration in education, science and culture. Ireland has been a UNESCO member since 1961.
In 2023, Fianna Fáil TD, Niamh Smyth, in her capacity as chairwoman of the Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, brought up this idea. In November the committee released a report on developing rural tourism in Ireland. One featured recommendation was to “conduct an audit of rural areas and of rural assets, with a view to identifying potential candidates for application to be inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
This proposal was brought to the attention of the public this week by Una Mullally's piece in the Irish Times. Speaking to the Times, Smith commented “The atmosphere in a traditional Irish pub isn’t tangible,” she said, “but we all know it. We all feel it. It’s different from a modern, newly built pub or bar… There is an argument to be made to protect Irish pubs... We’d be foolish to take them for granted. They are diminishing.”
Every year Ireland has the chance to add to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Already included on Ireland's list is uilleann piping, Irish harping and hurling. So should the Irish pub be added to this list?
Speaking on Newstalk, Smith said pubs in rural Ireland are “a very important part of our tourist offering”.
“They provide hospitality to tourists and are a tourist attraction in their own right,” she said.
“That’s a cultural value that should be recognized and protected."
The Vintners' Federation of Ireland also backs the idea. President John Clendennen said "The Irish pub has been exported to all corners of the world... but it's very much a case of often copied and never quite equaled.
"What we want to do is to highlight what is in our country and to make sure it gets the recognition it deserves.
"We have actually gone as far as submitting an expression of interest to the Department of Arts and Tourism for consideration that they would put this forward at the next meeting of UNESCO."
The Dublin-based radio station also spoke with owners of traditional Irish pubs. Rob Masterson, who runs the Man O’War Bar and Restaurant, in Balbriggan, founded in 1595. He told Newstalk that pubs are really "struggling at the moment and getting UNESCO recognition would be a fantastic help to the whole trade and industry.”
“Only in Ireland will you find the real magic of an Irish pub,”
“We can bottle a lot of things - you can bottle atmosphere and move it.
“But when it comes to a bit of magic, which I think that’s what the Irish pub has, it’s very hard to bottle that and transport that.”
Inside the Stag's Head in Dublin.
Fred Rainert, Manager of Johnnie Fox's pub, in County Wicklow, founded in 1798 told Newstalk, he is also behind the idea.
"Johnnie Fox's itself... is very much a believer in the tradition and upholding heritage.
"We fund a lot, we support a lot through our dances, bands and musicians.
"So, we would be very supportive of that and having that status would further enhance it.
"I think it would be good for all rural pubs across Ireland".
He added that having this UNESCO status would afford pubs in Ireland a voice.
He said "When things are changed, we might be heard better.
"We have the LVA (Licenced Vintners Association) and the IVF (Irish Vintners Federation) etc... but the reality is we've no voice of our own.
"So, if we had some form of status or protection of some sort, I think that would help".
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