Article submitted by Alison Kane

I was born here, Ferris Lane. Did you ever know the number of lanes at Riverdale. There was Blacks Lane, Mission Lane, Hamilton's Row and Mill Lane. These were all the lanes leading off Mill Street. Mill Street and Dunluce Street were the main streets in the old days. Nearly every house in Mill Street had a big window, and that would have been a shop at one time, this is before my time, but there was shops in them, Craig's and so on. I remember how this man Henry McNeill he used to send a broth cart round in the winter, a cauldron of hot broth like a soup kitchen, and he used to dish it out in the lanes. It wasn't Henry McNeill himself it was Antrim McCullough who drove for him. Anyone who wanted it could receive it but my mother wouldn't let us go but I was dying to go, it was great broth!. He used to stop where the paint shop is now which was Mission Lane and people used to come down with their jugs and fill them up.

Tourism in Larne

McNeill's Hotel

He was very nice McNeill, I suppose you've heard that 'Knock 'em down' was his nick name. He was the first man to bring tourism to Northern Ireland. He owned the McNeill Hotel where McNeill Court is now and the Kings Arms and Castle Sweeney. There was a time there would be maybe 10 coaches sitting outside for English people who had come for tours. They were horse drawn like buses, with 10 people up top and 10 people down below and pulled by 2 horses. A brake they called it. It took people down the coast. I remember all the jaunting cars lined up outside the hotel and the Charabangs. I remember my father driving a Charabang which was a big open bus. You know the type of prams with the hoods, well there was one of those came over the top of the bus. Made of canvas. You were frozen to death! These were mainly for tourists.

The Laharna was beautiful. There must have been a dozen hotels then in total. I remember it was £7 a week to stay in the Laharna and we thought it was terribly dear. It was mainly people from Lancashire and Yorkshire came over. They called the pub the L and Y that was down the main street. It was called after those visitors. It's still a pub today. The visitors used Larne as a base and had day visits out. There was always a dozen coaches lined up outside the front and they were always full!

Special thanks goes to the Larne Millennium Initiative for its help in sourcing this story

Your responses:

Robert Cooke - June '08
My name is Robert Cooke , born in Larne and lived in Mill Street for about 14 years before migrating to Australia. In 1990 I returned with my Ausie wife.She was so impressed with the town of Larne and its people that she wants to return to live there.We might do that.I am retired now, but my family are here, along with their children and both my wife and I would miss them . Reading these stories printed has filled my heart with memories.To think how I could not get away from Mill Street Quick enought. Now wish it was still there. My friend Jim Moore and his wife Vera will tell it better than me.I am trying to compile my family history and would like to hear from anyonewho thinks they might be of help.The Cooke's from Larne or Kilauughter area's , or anywhere. Many thanks for your time Kindest Regards, Robert & Aileen Cooke.

Jim Shields - Mar '08
My name is Shields - Who is Tommy Shields?

Judith Close - Feb '08
Im interested in Mill Street. My grandparents owned Mossie's Bar. My dad, William Close ,came to England where I was born. I vsitied my grandparents in Mill Street several times. Apparently Mill Street isn't there any more. That is very sad. I have vague memories of the shops and a hairdresser, and very fond memories of visiting my grandparents. I would love to receive further memories of mill street so that I can fill in some gaps.

Seamus Kelly - Dec '07
I was born in Ferris Lane too.

Biddy Dwyer - Sep '05
Very interesting. My uncle Patrick Avington used to work for Mcneills Tourist Service I believe. His son still lives in Ardglass. I have never been overseas, but read all I can about Northern Ireland. God bless you all!