47 Castle Street

Project Attributes

Project:

Ballycastle Museum

Owner:

Ballycastle Museum

Date:

23rd June 2025

Address: 47 Castle Street

Listing: not listed

Construction date: 1740-1759 (Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010); 1748 plaque

Year	Owner/lessee	Business name	Building use	Notes
1748	John Boyd		Surgery	“At the rear of No. 47 Castle Street there is a stone in fine preservation whereon the Boyd arms are beautifully carved. An inscription beneath the arms reads: “This house was built by John Boyd, Surgeon, 1748″. (The tombstone of this Dr. John Boyd is in Old Ramoan churchyard; it bears the inscription “John Boyd, Surgeon, died 1776, aged 66 years”. This Dr. Boyd, if entitled to bear the Boyd arms, which he set up in his house, was almost certainly descended from Colonel Hugh Boyd …”, see Boyd in the Glynns vol.5 (1977).
1824	John Boyd		Surgery	A John Boyd is listed as a surgeon and apothecary in Castle Street in Pigot’s 1824 Directory.
1835	William Hill		Iron mongers?	Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010. An iron monger William Hill is listed on Main Street (Castle Street) in Pigot’s 1824 Directory.
1859	William McAleese			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
1864-1873	William McLees			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1874-1877	Representatives of William McLees			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1877-1892		RIC	Barracks	Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010. SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1893	Vacant			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1894-1897	W. Black			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1898-1900	Representatives of W. Black			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1901	Sarah Jane Black		Grocers	Census – building no. 16 Sarah Jane Black, 43, head of family, COI, grocer, widow Robert Charles Black, 15, son, COI, scholar, not married Gordon Boyes Black, 11, son, COI, scholar, not married Harold Edward Black, 6, son, COI, scholar, not married Catherine Mary Clarke, 21, servant, RC, cook-domestic servant, not married James Craig, 24, boarder, Presbyterian, grocer’s assistant, not married James Boyd, 17, boarder, Presbyterian, apprentice-grocery, not married
1901-1902	Sarah J. Black			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1903-1911	Jane Ewing			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1911	Jane Ewing		Dwelling	Census – building no. 17 Jane Ewing, 62, head of family, Presbyterian, living private, single Lizzie McLean, 19, servant, COI, domestic servant, single
1912-1930	Jane Ewing			SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.
1936-1941	William McLaughlin			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010. According to Caoimbhin Mac Gabhann, there was An Archie Mc Laughlin here who operated a homewares store.
1943-1946		YMCA		Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
1946-1948	P. Dougherty			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
1948-?	Alexander Stewart			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
1952-1956	Pierce Dempsey		Ladies’ Clothes Shop	Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010. Kevin McAfee (10/12/24).
1957-1964	Phyllis Boyd			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
1965-1970	John J. Butler			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
1970-after 1972	Archibald Currie			Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/010.
	John Brown		Tailors	JMcC research.
Mid-1970s-2015	Harry Mulholland			Jerry O’Donnell (email 22/10/24) notes that Harry Mulholland owned no.47 and it is likely he who extended the main building and converted it into flats. Harry passed away in 2015.
1990s-2015	Kieran Mulholland	KJM Videos	Video hire	According to Castle Vapes staff member, Joanne (17/10/24). Jerry O’Donnell (email 22/10/24) notes that Keiran Mulholland was Harry Mulholland’s son, and operated out of the downstairs area.
2015		Dalriada Books	Bookshop	Working Group review 19/12/24.
	Vacant			Working Group review 19/12/24.
2019-2022		Kinney’s Uppercuts Barbershop	Barbers	According to Castle Vapes staff member, Joanne (17/10/24).
		Castle Vapes	Vaping store	Spoke with staff member, Joanne (17/10/24).
(rear outbuilding, no.47e) 1990s?-present		Blackmore Fuels	Home heating oil	Spoke with staff member (17/10/24).