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Limerick pub campaign wins top global advertising award at 2026 Cannes Lions festival
Limerick pub campaign wins top global advertising award at 2026 Cannes Lions festival
A campaign inspired by the community effort in Kilteely, County Limerick has won a top global advertising award at the 2026 Cannes Lions festival
The Pub That Refused to Die, a campaign inspired by the story of a community in Kilteely, which came together to save its local pub has won one of the creative industry’s top honours at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The creators secured the grand prize in the Creative strategy category for The Pub That Refused to Die, adding to four Bronze Lions in the PR, Direct, B2B and Entertainment categories.
The campaign tells the story of 26 local residents who came together to buy The Street Bar, the last remaining pub in Kilteely in fear of its closure having a negative impact on life in the village.
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The story was then documented and brought to the screen by award-winning filmmaker Gar O’Rourke and was premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival, with the story highlighting the community spirit and determination in the village while promoting the message for other communities to protect the local spaces they value.
One of the world’s leading independent agencies, THINKHOUSE developed an integrated communications strategy spanning PR, creators and social storytelling to bring Kilteely’s story to wider audiences in a culturally relevant and emotionally engaging way.
By placing the people of Kilteely at the heart of the campaign, THINKHOUSE amplified their voices beyond the documentary itself, transforming a local story into a national conversation about the importance of pubs as social and cultural hubs.
The campaign also featured a nationwide communications strategy, sharing the voices of Kilteely residents through print, online, radio and television, before expanding internationally through global media and creator partnerships.
To bring the campaign to life beyond the screen, The Pub That Refused To Die toured across Ireland, taking the story to places facing similar challenges.
This included Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, where locals were working to secure the future of their village pub. Following a screening in the community hall, publicans from The Street Bar shared their experiences and practical advice. The connection continued beyond the event, with Kilteely remaining a source of support. Ballylooby later successfully completed the purchase of its local pub, bringing the campaign’s message of community action to life.
The story resonated far beyond Co. Limerick, generating 1,196 media placements and 209 million opportunities to see through national and international coverage.
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