Phil Gibbon’s house

What’s believed to be the oldest house still standing in Carnlough is situated at 58 High Street. It belonged to local landowner Phil Gibbons who came originally from Westport, Co. Mayo and built a small harbour at Carnlough for his own use around the end of the 18th century. His father, John Gibbons is thought to have ben a prominent United Irish-man and after the unsuccessful rebellion he and his entire family reputedly became "wanted men". The house was originally a staging post or inn on the old coast road. An interesting feature is the fireplace and chimney above the front door.

Of passing interest is the old wall between "Gibbons House" and the church hall (built in 1894 at a cost of £600). The wall may be over 100 years old and is built from a conglomerate of economical building materials which gives an insight into local geology

Mill Tenement

The quaint looking building at 10-12 Bridge Street was originally a corn mill. It marked one of the boundaries of what’s believed to be the smallest townland in Ireland, the Mill Tenement, which stretches back to the river and down to the main road with Bridge Street as its boundary.

In around the corn mill is a small area of land known as "Millisle". Local historian, John Montgomery believes that the name originated as a result of a lade (which drew the water to the mill). Two of the houses were known as 10 Downing St since they were often the scene of in-depth discussion in the village. Another was known as the monastery. Now no longer in existence it is reputed to have been the main home-brewing factory in the village.

Postal Service

Carnlough’s first Post Office was situated at 14-18 Harbour Road, now Alex McKillop’s shop. The post master, David Reside began his operation around 1849 after the building of the Coast Road led to easier communication for Glens people with the rest of the country. The shop,which now also houses the local Tourist Information Office, was the last of Churchill’s property to be sold in 1946 for £200. Meanwhile the distinctive bridge further up Harbour Road was built in 1854 by the Londonderry family to carry the narrow-gauge railway line from the quarries to the harbour.

Local hostelries

Local hostelries in Carnlough boast their own fair share of history.

The Glencloy Inn, formerly Pat Hamill’s Hotel is mentioned in the famous ballad, "Sweet Carnlough Bay" and was renowned as a stopping off and cycle hire point for cyclists in the area.

The present day Waterfall Bar provided accommodation for tenants in the Mill Tenement and in 1990 won the award for Bushmills Pub of the year.

The present Bridge Inn was constructed in 1912. However, a pub has existed on the site since the early 1700s and was destroyed in a fire in the early 1900s.

It has been recorded that this building was used as a meeting place for the United Irishmen around the time of the rebellion in 1798. The Bridge Inn was in the ownership of at least six generations of the McAuley family up until 1972.

The Londonderry Arms

The Londonderry Arms Hotel was built in the mid 19th century by the Marchioness of Londonderry at a cost of £1500. The hotel was managed by a succession of different people before coming into the popular ownership of Frank O’Neill from Moy in 1947. Frank formed the famous Club in the 1960s and in the hotel bar is a horse shoe which belonged to Arkle himself. The present proprietor of the hotel is Frank’s son Frank Jnr. In 1996 Frank Jnr. made a major extension to the hotel with 17 new bedrooms. The three star AA approved hotel is now one of the most popular in the country.