Carnlough Bay

The name Carnlough derives from the Irish word, Carnlach. It means ‘place of cairns’.

The village, which sits at the foot of Glencoy, is on the famous County Antrim coast road in Northern Ireland. It has a population of just over two thousand.

Carnlough is the second of the nine Glens of Antrim. It’s picturesque harbour looks out on to Carnlough Bay. The harbour was constructed by the owners of the quarries that existed just west of the village.

In 1848, the great grandmother of Winston Churchill, Frances Anne Vane Tempest (Marchioness of Londonderry), built the Londonderry Arms Hotel in the village. It was predominantly used at the time, to provide food and board to the coaching industry.

The same distinguished lady also built a summer residence, called St McNissis, in the village. It is now known as St Killians.

Carnlough early 1900s

Carnlough in 1910

The village gets covered in the Belfast and Ulster Towns Directory for 1910.

Carnlough, a seaport village, 40 miles from Belfast.
The industries are limestone and iron ore.
Fairs — 10th February, Easter Monday, 12th June, 12th August, 10th October, and 12th December
Population — 639

POST OFFICE

J. M’Sparron, postmaster; Miss M’Sparron, assistant postmistress.
Letters from Belfast and the South arrive at 10.10 a.m., 1.40 p.m., and 6.55 p.m.
On Sundays arrive at 10-35 a.m. Letters despatched to Belfast and the South at 5.25 a.m and 3.25 p.m.
Car from Ballymena arrives daily at 11.10 a.m. and returns 2.00 p.m.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Church of Ireland (Ardclinis Parish Church) — Rev. E. M. Harriss, B.D.
Presbyterian Hall — Rev. James Scott, Rev. J. Stevenson, M.A.
Methodist Church — Ministers various
Roman Catholic Chapel—Rev. Jos. Burns, P.P.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

Bank — Branch of Belfast Bank; open every Friday at 11 a.m.
National Schools — Daniel Currell and Miss Bratton, teachers
Ballyvaddy National School — Miss Reid, teacher
Knockstacken National School — Miss Orr, teacher
Harphall National School — Charles Magill and Miss Kennedy, teachers; Miss O’Neill and Miss Darragh, assistants; Miss M’Sparron, monitress
Hotel (Londonderry Arms) — D. M’Conaghie, proprietor
Carnlough Lime Co., shippers limestone and lime
Chemicals, Limited — H. J. Towning, cashier
Coastguard Station — R. Ray, commission boatman; J. Lundy, boatman
Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths — Dr. Magowan, Glenarm
R.I. Constabulary Station — Sergeant Kane, Constables H. J. Clendinning, Brady, and Magee

INHABITANTS

Acheson, G., farmer, Bay
Adair, Blayney
Bamford, S., farmer
Benn, J., Effieville
Black, D., farmer, Stoneyhill
Black, D., seaman
Black, D., grocer
Campbell, Mrs., spirit grocery
Connolly Bros., stonemasons
Connelly, C., draper
Conway, J., farmer
Coulter, T.
Craig, A., seaman
Craig, James, farmer, Carifreagh
Craig, J., farmer, Highlandtown
Craig, R., farmer, Gortnacory
Craig, John
Craig, J., carpenter
Craig, Joseph, farmer, Gortnacory
Crawford, A., kelp dealer and farmer
Crawford, J. H., farmer, College
Crawford, W., farmer, Longtown
Crooks, J., farmer and carrier
Currell, Mrs., Unchenagh
Currell, Mrs., grocer
Currie, Alexander, engineer, Whiting Mill
Darragh, D., farmer, Drumnasole
Darragh, John, farmer, Highlandtown
Darragh, Mrs. R.
Delargy, D., farmer
Dempsey, J., car owner
Dinsmore, F., seaman
Doods, J., labourer
Duffin, H., naval pensioner
Dunn, R., carpenter
English, Robert, cashier to Carnlough Lime Co., Holyrood
Foster, James, manager Carnlough Lime Co., Auraville
Foster, James, jun., clerk, Carnlough Lime Co.
Gardiner, Miss, Carnlough
Gaston, A., foreman, quarries
Gaston, Daniel, foreman Tullyotter Quarries
Gibbons, Charles
Gibson, William, carowner
Glass, R.
Graney, D.
Hamill, J., farmer, Gortcarney
Hamill, P., innkeper and auctioneer
Hamill, William, stonemason
Hunter, N., farmer, Sheneghan
Hurl, J., shoemaker
Jackson, Miss, Drumalis
Jamison, Robert, house and property owner
Johnston, Mrs.
Kane, Mrs.
Kane, Mrs. P.
Kennedy, H., refreshment rooms
Kerr, Mrs.
Kilpatrick, J., farmer
Kirkwood, J., inn keeper and cycle manufacturer and district councillor
Lavery, J., farmer, Aughalum
Legg, A., spirit grocer
Logan, T., J.P., New Lodge
Maben, Mrs., Form
Maben, Cowan, farmer and rate collector
Maben, Joseph, farmer, Drumnagh
Magill, J., carpenter and builder
Maguire, Frank, inn keeper
Montgomery, J., fisherman
Montgomery, Mrs. J.
Montgomery, J., engine driver
Montgomery, R., seaman
Morrow, Mrs.
Morrow, J., farmer, Tullyotter
Morrow, R., farmer
Morrow, Nathaniel, farmer, Scaryhill
Mullan, R., postman
Mulvena, E., farmer, Drumorne
Mulvena, H., farmer, Drumorne
Mulvena, J., farmer
Mulvena, N., farmer
Murray, Mrs., grocer and refreshment rooms
Murray, N., hairdresser
M’Ateer, Alex., shoemaker and tea room
M’Auley, C., farmer, Harphall
M’Auley, J., farmer, Drumorne
M’Auley, C., flesher and district councillor
M’Auley, William C., surfaceman
M’Bride, James
M’Cambridge, H., farmer
M’Cann, M., shoemaker
M’Cart, Captain
M’Caw, David, carpenter
M’Caw, D., ex-sergeant R.I.C.
M’Clarnon, J., blacksmith
M’Clintock, W., farmer. Knock
M’Clure, S., farmer and gamekeeper
M’Fall, J., farmer, Drumorne
M’Galliard, H., Drumnacross
M’Galliard, G., gardener, Garron Tower
M’Galliard, H., Nappan
M’Galliard, Mrs. James, farmer, Gortin
M’Galliard, J., farmer, Burnside
M’Garel, Mrs., Drumcrow
M’Gavock, Captain
M’Gavock, Hugh
M’Gavock, J.
M’Gavock, J., blacksmith
M’Gavock, Miss, grocer
M’Gavock, J.
M’Guicken, Mrs.
M’Ilroy, Mrs., Peeble cottage
M’Kay, Alexander, farmer, Doonan
M’Kay, Hugh, farmer, Gallenagh
M’Kay, H., carpenter, Drummagh
M’Kay, James, farmer
M’Kay, A., grocer and flesher
M’Kay, W. J., corn miller
M’Kearnin, T., farmer, Limnalary
M’Kendry, D., farmer
M’Keown, H., farmer, Stoneyhill
M’Kernin, H., quarryman
M’Killen, Mrs., grocer
M’Kinty, H., Creggan
M’Kinty, J., farmer, Creggan
M’Mullan, D., harbour master
M’Mullan, J., farmer and pilot
M’Mullan, Mrs., The Hollow
M’Mullen, J., grocer, &c., Drumnacole
M’Neill, H. rural district councillor, Loughan
M’Neill, H., farmer, Aughalum
M’Neill, J., seaman
M’Neill, J., Garron Tower gamekeeper
M’Neill, Miss
M’Neill, William, flesher
M’Quillan, Mrs., Cantire view
M’Sparron, J., grocer and postmaster
M’Veigh, John, farmer and gamekeeper, Aughalum
Nicholl, T., grocer and draper
Ogilby, A., foreman lime kilns
Ogilby, H., seaman
Omelvena, Alexander, Oscar lodge
Orr, Alexander, foreman blacksmith
Orr, A., fireman
Orr, M., farmer, Knock
O’DonnoIly, D., blacksmith, Mullaghbuoy
O’Donnelly, B., tailor
O’Kane, P., farmer
O’Kane, Hugh, R.I.C.
Rea, A., gamekeeper, Drumnacross
Reid, D., shoemaker and farmer
Reside, James, grocer, draper, & newsagent
Robinson, James, farmer, Doonan
Rodgers, J., farmer, Doonan
Rodgers, J., farmer, Limnalary
Sayers, A., farmer, Redbraes
Semple, J., farmer, Knockstacken
Simpson, James
Smith, J., engine driver
Smith, J., grocer
Smith, George, kiln man
Stevenson, D., shoemaker
Taggart, J., farmer, Mullagh park
Thompson, A., carowner, Limnalary
Thompson, W., mariner
Toomey, Mrs., Bay
Turnly, John, J.P., Drumnasole house
Walsh, D., grocer
Watt, S., grocer
Welsh, Mrs., grocer
Wilson, Joseph, draper, pilot, and painter
Wilson, Mrs., Unchcnagh
Wilson, A.
Wilson, D., pilot
Wilson, H., farmer, Knock
Wilson, Mark F., J.P., Drumalis
Wilson, J., carpenter
Wilson, J., seaman
Wilson, R., fisherman and boatbuilder
Wilson, William, master mariner
Worthington, W., cardriver
Wright, Charles, farmer, Knowe
Wright, James, farmer, Ballyvady
Wright, John, farmer, Knowe

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

I discovered, while perusing old media, a delightful poem about Carnlough Bay.  It was written in the early 1930s by a Portglenone man, who called himself, E.J.S.

CARNLOUGH BAY

In summer time, a lovely spot
Along the Antrim coast,
With beauteous strand, and silv’ry sand,
And harbour it can boast:
Oh! could you find fairer place,
No matter where you stray,
Than the little town, away there down,
Beside sweet Carnlough Bay.

The hills around, stand towering high,
All bare and bleak, but grand,
Where tiny lambs, frisk ’round their dams,
Not very far inland.
The air is pure, the breezes fresh,
And when the sun’s glad ray
Doth brightly shine, it looks sublime
Around old Carnlough Bay.

The waterfalls I can’t omit
A place they’re sure to find
In poets dream, they’re silvery sheen
Enobles quite the mind.
’Tis here you’ll find old Natures work,
Majestic dancing spray;
’Tis a charming place when there’s a race
Being held at Carnlough Bay.

When the new moon shines on the lashing sea
And the stars on an autumn night,
I love to stray near the close of day
And watch “The Maidens” light.
But I often think of the friends of yore,
Whose locks were turning grey;
How they loved each year to come down here
And visit Carnlough Bay.

The folks improved of recent years,
The village up-to-date.
Their houses neat, and so complete,
And modern just of late;
But could you find more kindly folks—
Not anywhere today—
Than those down there, so free from care,
Around dear Carnlough Bay.

Here fisherfolks have lived, and loved,
Now sleep their last long sleep
In the churchyard near the village here,
Or in the rolling deep;
But the work goes on by the younger ones
Good marines are they,
Who love to sail, in a pleasant gale,
From out old Carnlough’s Bay.

E.J.S. of Portglenone
March 1933