Irish Pub in Sydney Gets Live Link to Motherland

By Ian Neubauer

A Sydney university student has created a ‘Sonic Well’ that allows pub patrons on opposite sides of the world to communicate by shouting messages down a well that transmits live sound.  

The temporary installation piece has been set up inside a faux stone well at the Mercantile Hotel in Sydney’s historic Rocks district. It is fitted with microphones and waterproof speakers and powered by IP (Internet Protocol) telephony that transmits data to an identical installation at Ryan’s Bar in Cobh in southwest Ireland.

Mercantile Hotel licensee, Terry O’Neill, said the concept parodies wishing wells and the their historic use as meeting points.

“I’ve heard some of the funniest things in my life coming through it, mostly things you couldn’t publish on your website,” he said. “Last night we had a group of Indian people in the courtyard and they were getting messages from a group of Indians holidaying in Ireland. They had a good bit of fun.”

O’Neil said the installation piece had not had a significant impact on revenue because time differences between Australia and Ireland mean Ryan’s bar in Cobh is closed during peak hours here — and vice versa.

“It’s a bit awkward with the time difference to suit everybody, so we have it on for a few hours in the morning here, which is closing time in Ireland, and then again at four in the afternoon. But it really is quite funny,” he said. “You’ve got no idea who you are talking to.”   

The Sonic Well will be in operation at the Mercantile Hotel through to October 8.