Colourful Ireland

“Colourful pubs and shop fronts” were among the topics mentioned in the briefing for my latest photo assignment for Tourism Ireland. The aim was to capture imagery that tourists immediately associate with Ireland: traditional pubs in all shades of colour and places with vibrant facades. There was no need for a classic location scouting to find these. In my former adopted home of West Cork, you come across such scenes at every turn. In fact, the villages and small towns here appear to be engaged in a quiet rivalry over who can paint the most magnificent colours on their façades.

Ireland’s capital, Dublin, is known for its colourful front doors, which appear like bursts of colour in a dull watercolour painting. In the west of the country, however, they don’t hold back on colour, and creativity knows no bounds. Rows of colourful streets have long since become iconic photogenic spots here, attracting visitors from all over the world. With good reason, as the colourful houses convey an irrepressible joy of life and represent cultural identity. Moreover, they act as a shining counterpoint to the often harsh coastal weather conditions.

Interestingly, the colourful façades don’t have a long tradition at all. Until the mid-20th century, most houses in Ireland were grey or, at their best, whitewashed. It was only from the 1960s onwards that the Irish developed the courage to use colour. Rumour has it that fishermen came up with the idea of painting their houses with the leftover paint from their boats. Others claim that the ‘Tidy Towns and Villages’ competition, launched in 1958, prompted the Irish to pick up their paintbrushes and beautify their towns and villages. Nowadays, it is impossible to determine the exact trigger. What is certain, however, is that Ireland has gained another trademark with its colourful houses. One that is now considered just as typically Irish as sheep on vast green meadows or leprechauns at the end of the rainbow.