Story 5

"Granny Smyth was a legend in herself. Together with her husband, Joe Smyth, they built Smyth's Dining Rooms. The ruins can still be seen on the Main Street in Carnlough. The business comprised a dancehall holding 500 people - dances every Friday night, weddings, and functions. Every Wednesday between April and September, Gaston's Tours from the Savoy Hotel in Bangor came with tourists from England, Scotland, and Wales. They would lunch here and move on to the Giant's Causeway. I have photos of the dancehall laid out for a function.

The separate dining room itself could seat about 100 people and there was a guest-house with about 10-12 family rooms. Granny Smyth was the great-grandmother of the actor James Nesbitt."

Linda McCullough