Mike Fitzpatrick of Bullet Design is a constant innovator who has come up with a whole plethora of ideas, applications and designs over the decades. So in a sense, it was entirely appropriate that his latest one came up while he was enjoying a few leisurely pints in one of the city’s fine hostelries.
Indeed, many an idea was thought up in a pub in Ireland. Some of our best literature and engineering innovations were conceived through the fog odfa hlf-empty glass. Why should this one be any different?
It all started in MP Walsh, a pub located in Domnick Street Galway. In a previous life this building was the home of E.Brun Post Office which closed its doors in 1991.
The new owners of MP Walsh tastefully decorated their new pub with a definite nod to its history, with post office signs, old stamps and even a post box.
A marketing guru, this setting was enough to get Mike Fitzpatrick thinking — and the outcome is wonderful.
Speaking to the Advertiser this morning after last night’s launch of the new venture Pub Post at the venue, Mike Fitzpatrick said that the thought came to him after a pint or two while sitting in Walsh’s enjoying the atmosphere and looking at all the details of their interior design.
“In a moment of sheer genius (as any bar room philosopher will tell you ) I said I think you guys are missing a trick. I think you guys should also be selling postcards. Thats where our story starts and ends for nearly a year.
“As a graphic designer for over two decades (Bullet Design ) the idea sat with me and I thought what was needed was original postcards, designed and printed in Galway.
“When I had nine Galway postcards designed I got in touch with Gary again from Walsh’s and resold my idea. This time the response was much more positive and immediate. I had said all you need now are stamps, you already have a post-box.
“So this was the moment that Pub Post was born. Novel idea but I was never going to make my fame or fortune selling postcards to one pub in the West of Ireland. This is when I considered expanding the idea to other pubs that would be willing to meet the criteria of Pub Post.
“They must buy my postcards, they must sell stamps and they must have a post box in their pub. A one stop postal solution for a visitor to their premises. I had visions of visitors ordering a pint or cocktail and comfortably picking and writing their postcards, getting their stamps and posting them all in the pub, easy peesy.
“To offer more selection, we also created A4 mounted prints based on the design of the postcards which could be gifted or framed. So last night (Wednesday ) was our launch of Pub Post at MP Walsh’s of course and we were thrilled with the turnout and support.
“Our website is live at www.yoloprint.com and we welcome The Huntsman Inn, College Road and Joe Watty Pub/Restaurant, Inis Mor, Aran Islands the latest pubs to offer the Pub Post experience.
“We will expand the idea in Galway and invite your ideas to which pubs should have Pub Post. We are already considering other counties and are working on more postcard designs to show potential pubs in the rest of the country,” he said.
Reaction to the postcards has been very positive. Visitors to the city who have seen them are delighted with the idea.
“With this, I will be able to enjoy the real Irish experience and to tell the world what I am doing. It is very quaint and wonderful and much more meaningful than a social media post,’ said US visitor Todd Kirtin when he was shown a sample of the cards in the city yesterday.
