Speaking as an OG Hackernoon Author and even a 2022 Noonie finalist, I am delighted to present to Hackernoon readers my passion project with fellow Irish woman Lisa Gibbons (also an author on here).
The passion project is to create the world’s first Irish Pub in the Metaverse and to launch it on Sandbox.
It has taken more than a year to arrive at this place. Lisa and I had the idea two years ago and spent 12 months trying to find a metaverse that liked the idea (hint – all of them did) and then to find a metaverse that would back the project – and this came from Sebastien Borget from Sandbox.
We’d interviewed Sebastien before and then last year in April we attended the NFC event in Lisbon, Portugal. Sebastien really liked our idea and helped us secure funding to build the project, the contract which went to Hermit Crab in Brazil.
https://twitter.com/NFCsummit/status/1636020941397323779?embedable=true
It has taken a year to build the Irish Pub and included weekly meetings with Hermit Crab, The Sandbox and Lisa and I – this is a serious project.
And on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2023, we launched the Irish Pub complete with its own NFT collection.
https://twitter.com/hermitcrabgame/status/1636744480752533504?embedable=true
It will be live for 12 days. People will be able to visit, undertake quests, mint NFTs, see local artists and find a treasure trove of Irish lore and fun.
The first Irish Pub in the metaverse is reflective of the popularity of Irish-themed pubs across the world. Most cities boast an Irish pub where the craic (Irish for fun) is mighty and the welcome warm.
Lisa Gibbons, forager and Web3 journalist said: “Someone said to Jill and I that they felt homeless in the metaverse – that they had no place to go. I thought of the Irish Pub to provide an easy way to discover Irish Culture, artists and support a whole sector of creatives.The Irish pub is a place of comfort in every city around the world. Who knows, maybe there will be an Irish Shebeen in every virtual environment in the future, just like the real world.”
“It is a space that encourages people to interact, it will include gamification, showcase artists, musicians, poets, dancers and storytellers. We will feature Irish Culture, artists and support a whole sector of creatives,” continues Gibbons.
And here I added my tuppence worth as we say in the Emerald Isle - “As a homelessness activist here in Ireland – and a woman whose home was repossessed by the banks – the idea of being homeless on the internet was a shocking one. We can’t give everyone a home but we can give them a place to go and feel welcome and at home.”
The Irish Pub is partnered with Kinahan Whiskey to give away an exclusive bottle of Irish Whiskey as part of the launch.
The Irish Pub is supported by:
Kinahan’s Whiskey, Danny O’Brien, comedian, The Wicklow Brewing Company, Mick Flannery, Irish NFT gal, Zade Taher NFTArtist, NOVABLOX, Zodi Apes NFT Artist, Sarah Woods Artist, Techstars Web3 Accelerator, Joyce Moloney NFT Artist, Paddy's Odyssey, NFT Collection, Grafton Barbers, The Irish Horse Welfare Trust, The Bee Sanctuary of Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, The HR Company, G-P, Susan Jefferies photography, The Panel, Power of Words Literary Festival, Wexford GAA, Sigmar Recruitment, Mythical Ireland, Kathrine Geoghegan artist, Arthur Broomfield, Poet, John Lowe, the Money Doctor, Farrelly Irish Paint Company, and the Limerick Writers centre.
To enter the Sandbox - view this two minute video
The Irish Pub is located at Land -74, -89
https://www.sandbox.game/en/map/?zoom=4&lat=-89&x=-74&y=-89&lng=-74
About the two co-founders
Jillian Godsil is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author. She changed the law in 2014, ran in the European Parliament Elections earning 11,500 votes, and is now an advocate for women in Web3.
Lisa Gibbons is a passionate storyteller with over 15 years experience. She has a Masters in International Tourism. Most recently she spoke at the Women in Technology series in London about the future impact of NFTs.