‘Pubseum’ opens in the heart of Limerick city

LIMERICK pub-goers will now be able to get a slice of history with their pint, after a city centre bar has been transformed into a ‘pubseum’.

The proprietors of the landmark Mother Mac’s pub have teamed up with Heineken for the initiative, which will allow customers of the bar, with a smartphone, examine the storied history of the High Street building.

This will include measuring jugs hanging from timber beams dating back to the 1800s, used for ordering drinks based on volume.

Guests will, on their phones, be able to scan the three iron columns believed to come from the nearby Harrison Lee foundry.

This was operational from the early 1800s until 1932 and was located just 50 yards away from the current bar.

The Mother Mac’s building is steeped in history. Formerly known as The Roundhouse due to the shape of the building, it dates back to 1787.

Also formerly known as O’Malley’s, the building has served various purposes.

As well as being a pub, it has also been a whiskey, wine and tea merchants and a grocery shop.

An off-licence also operated in a smaller unit adjoining the pub.

Mother Mac’s proprietors Mike and James McMahon have turned this part of it into a whiskey corner, and called it Peggy’s Parlour, in honour of their late mother Margaret.

Indeed, it is she who Mother Mac’s is named after.

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Heineken is also exploring how Mother Mac’s can apply for official museum accreditation through the Heritage Council to have them formally recognised as a museum.

Mother Mac’s is one of only three bars in the country to be part of this initiative. The others are Sean’s Bar in Athlone - reportedly Ireland’s oldest pub - and Toner’s in Dublin.

Mike said: “We are honoured. To have our name Mother Mac’s - just eight-and-a-half years in existence - up with the oldest bar in Ireland and the iconic bar of Toner’s is a big deal.”