23 Mill St, Cushendall, Ballymena BT44 0RR
There are some pubs that you simply fall in love with right away, usually little old places that seem to have defied or escaped the passage of time. McCollam’s is just such a bar, a corner in Cushendall that seems to contain all the history of the village, both in its own form and in the photos it has collected for display on the walls. The pub is about three hundred years old and its two foot thick walls, tongue and groove timbering, red and black tiled floor and ancient cabinet Showcase reinforce the sense of antiquity that clings to the place. John Joe McCallam, who owns the business, represents the fourth generation to do so. His grandfather was called Joe and his father was John so even though he himself was christened Patrick Joseph he gets nothing but John Joe, or Johnny Joe He was born in this house, the rooms of which have now been enlisted to extend the tiny bar. The green cast iron stove, lino floor, Wally dugs and kitchen cupboards are still there in the former kitchen, and the front room or parlour still retains that feel even though it now serves as part of the bar.
The three very old barrels behind the counter once contained Cowan’s No 4 Whiskey and you’ll see the same brand on an original bar mirror. Cowan’s was a company that had its headquarters in Glasgow and a subsidiary branch in Belfast but its the Irish Spelling of the word Whiskey that appears here. Those old photographs mentioned earlier are from the famous Welch collection and among the scenes from old Cushendall is one which shows the sandy beach off to good effect. Sadly the sandy beach is now no more, having been taken off in carts by local farmers until it simply ran out. Also on the wall is a framed case showing about twenty different knots, including rare ones like the highwayman’s hitch, the buntline hitch and the Shamrock knot. There’s another framed display, this time showing a number of brass barrel taps used in the liquor business. It’s unnecessary to mention these exhibits, in a sense, because McCallam’ Bar is a display in itself, a potted history of a past way of life. It’s so comforting to know that the front of the bar is listed so that however subsequent owners may be called – John, Joe, Patrick or whatever – the name McCallam will still by there above the door.