Pictures of pubs prove a pint: Photographer chronicles the beauty of Irish pubs
Gary Teeling’s photos of beloved pubs across the country have formed a chronicle of changing times in Ireland, writes .
A little over a year ago a lone man with his bike and camera took on the mighty quest to photograph every pub in Ireland.
What started as a hobby has developed into a full-time job for Gary Teeling, from Lusk, Dublin.
With a background in film, Gary was sucked back to his true love of photography.
It was at a turning point in his life when Gary found himself unemployed and having to move back home with his parents that he set himself the mammoth goal of photographing the beloved mainstays of Irish culture.
Over a year into his expedition, Teeling has photographed almost a thousand of some 7,200 pubs of Ireland. Despite having two bikes stolen, a love for the Irish pub continues to drive his journey.
In October 2018 he launched mypub.ie, where people can now buy prints of his work thus far.
For Gary, the humble pub is so much more than just a pretty building.
“The pub is the cornerstone to everything in Ireland. If you think about the community aspect to it, it’s where fundraisers and charity events are often held.
It’s also the venue for so many of the poignant moments in our lives, from christenings to 21st birthday parties. The pub is a very important part of Ireland’s social life.”
In recent weeks the sociable element of the rural Irish pub has been brought into the spotlight thanks to new drink-driving laws. This is something that has struck Gary while travelling the country.
“You see in the more rural areas that the older generation flock to the pub in the evening. This is where they socialise, meet with other neighbours, and for many it’s what they look forward to in the day.”
In reaction to the new laws, Gary has seen some publicans providing a mini-bus service for customers. Some pubs aren’t so lucky to avoid the inevitable lack of customers.
Since beginning his journey, 15 of the pubs he has photographed have closed, most of these rural pubs.
He says it’s not all doom and gloom, though, with many publicans taking new initiatives to attract customers. For example, one pub has set up a loyalty-card system for meals.
Gary began photographing the pubs in daylight but soon realised their true beauty sparkled at night.
“I noticed that most pubs were beautifully lit at night. As night-time is typically the time we mostly frequent the pub, I thought visually it would capture the essence of the pub.
"It causes for more editing but the end result is stunning.”
Like most journeys in life there isn’t always a smooth path. Taking an off-road, bumpy terrain can often bring us to a more interesting place.
Simply photographing the outside of a pub at night is no longer the end story for Gary.
It has awakened a curiosity in him to know more about the historical buildings he captures through a lens.
“Some of our pubs are housed in truly beautiful buildings. Take Gaffney’s pub in Fairview, for example. This is a Victorian building that has been a pub for over 300 years,” says Gary.
“There are 17 Victorian pubs in Dublin.”
Another favourite is Top Nolan’s pub in Kildare. Like so many older pubs, it functioned as more than just a pub.
“Usually the front would be a grocers or where they sold wheat and grains and in the back would be the pub,” he explains.
“Inside Top Nolan’s they still have the drawers and pieces from the original shop.”
It is these treasure troves that have given Gary the taste to expand the reach of his project.
He wants to tell the story of the pubs through capturing both the exterior and interior.
What began as a quest to photograph the pubs of Ireland in six years has now become a lifelong project.
Gary’s new challenge is to build an archive based on his work, which will include his images, historical photos, and documentation on the history of the pub.
He hopes to have this digital database launched in 2020.
Through his lens, Gary hopes to capture more than just the façade of a building.
The camera captures a moment in time but so much more lies beneath the bricks and mortar.
Through his images, Gary wants to take us on a journey away from the drunken connotations of the Irish pub.
“I want my images to step away from the usual clichés of the Irish pub. I wanted to present the pub in a different light. To show their beauty,” says Gary.
“My aim is to celebrate their wonderful variety and importance to our communities.”
