THIS DERELICT BUILDING WAS ONCE THE HOLY GROUND PUB
The now-derelict building on St John's Street in Limerick, photographed in 2015 when it housed Coasters Off Licence, was once the unique Holy Ground pub. Built upon a 17th-century graveyard, it even housed a large tomb within its walls, rumoured to have served as the owner's personal office until his death. This unusual pub was not only a popular local haunt but also played a role in the city's art scene.
In 2004, The Holy Ground was one of 12 venues featured in the EVA International art biennial, curated by Zdenka Badovinac and titled "Imagine Limerick." That same year, the pub also participated in a unique city-wide art project called "Traces of Fire" by artists Volkmar Klien and Ed Lear.
"Traces of Fire" involved the covert distribution of GPS-tracked cigarette lighters across Limerick, including in The Holy Ground and other pubs. The lighters were left to be picked up and used by unsuspecting members of the public. As the lighters travelled throughout the city, their movements were meticulously tracked, creating a map that visually represented Limerick's social fabric, highlighting patterns of movement and interaction.
The Holy Ground's inclusion in both the EVA International exhibition and the "Traces of Fire" project underscores its significance not only as a unique and historic pub but also as a social hub and a site of artistic exploration. It is a testament to the rich and layered history of this now-derelict building.
In 2004, The Holy Ground was one of 12 venues featured in the EVA International art biennial, curated by Zdenka Badovinac and titled "Imagine Limerick." That same year, the pub also participated in a unique city-wide art project called "Traces of Fire" by artists Volkmar Klien and Ed Lear.
"Traces of Fire" involved the covert distribution of GPS-tracked cigarette lighters across Limerick, including in The Holy Ground and other pubs. The lighters were left to be picked up and used by unsuspecting members of the public. As the lighters travelled throughout the city, their movements were meticulously tracked, creating a map that visually represented Limerick's social fabric, highlighting patterns of movement and interaction.
The Holy Ground's inclusion in both the EVA International exhibition and the "Traces of Fire" project underscores its significance not only as a unique and historic pub but also as a social hub and a site of artistic exploration. It is a testament to the rich and layered history of this now-derelict building.
THIS DERELICT BUILDING WAS ONCE THE HOLY GROUND PUB