Once known as one of 'the smallest bars in Ireland', Mary McBrides stands proudly in the heart of Cushendun amongst the backdrop of the sea and the Glens of Antrim.
At nearly 200 years old, the pub has become a historical landmark on Northern Ireland's famous north coast and is loved by both locals and tourists in search of a good pint of Guinness.
Proprietor Cormac McKeegan, who has been involved in the pub for over 16 years, told Belfast Live about how the little white pub came to be the success it is today.
Read more: Cushendall businesses share what makes the 'lively wee village' a special spot
The building in which Mary McBride's is now known was originally built in 1830 by local craftsmen and was first licensed in around 1860 by Mary's great grandfather Daniel McBride.
Cormac said: "Mary's father, also Daniel, and mother Elizabeth inherited the premises in 1902 and Elizabeth ran the pub until her death in 1951.
"Mary became licensee in 1951 and that's when her name was added to the sign above the door.
"She ran the bar until her death in 1982 and for a further 10 years, her nephew Randal McDonnell took over until 1992 until he surrendered the tenancy to the National Trust."
Mary McBrides then went under a full re-consultation and reopened in 1997 under a new licence with the Miller family who ran it until when it was sold to the Magee family who were locals in the area before making its way to Cormac and his sister Fiona in 2006.
"The original front bar was indeed one of the smallest bars in Ireland. It was the size of what would be known as the box room in any house, but what it lacked in size, it made up in character," Cormac added.
"Myself and Fiona have been involved in the bar now for 16 years and we are just about to begin our 17th summer reason.
"Running such a well-loved and well-known bar is a privilege but a privilege that brings many a stress, but thankfully when you are having 'one of them days', someone will come through the door that had visited the pub many years ago and tell you stories of Mary and the good old days and you realise just what an interesting little place you own."
Cushendun has become a hotspot for tourism on the north coast over the last number of years, particularly for Game of Thrones fans who travel across the country in search of the filming locations.
Cormac is proud to be able to display one of the 10 Game of Thrones doors that were made when some of the Dark Hedges’ trees blew over and the wood was turned into carved doors which displays a scene from the show.
He continued: "Over the 16 years we as a family have been involved, tourism has become a massive part of the village, especially from the end of the Troubles and the growing fame from the filming taking place, especially along the Antrim coast.
"We also have massively benefited from the Production of GOT and that extra benefit of housing one of the 10 doors.
"Tourism in the north and all over is moving in a direction that we have never seen before and one day, in particular, stands out and highlights that for me - in 2018, when everything was a little more normal, we had our visitors book out and on one day, it had been signed by people from 23 different countries."
He credits the local people of Cushendun for always supporting the pub and making the village the thriving spot it has become.
Cormac added: "Living in Cushendun is like living in a little piece of heaven - many days we just take it for granted but many other days when out walking my many miles I just sit down and take it in all its beauty.
"The village and community is a massive part of the beauty of the area and McBride's is in the heart of that. It's not only the local pub and restaurant, but it is also for village meetings, to holding birthdays, charity quizzes and if the local teams win, it's where we all celebrate.
"The pub itself is only a stone throw from the beach and the River Dun runs alongside it. The view from the front door to the north is looking over the sea to Scotland and looking south to the Glens of Antrim, I think that says it all about where the little pub is."
Read more: Co Antrim crisp firm are flavour of the month at Tesco
Read more: Liam Neeson supports NI family who raised £57k for mental health charities
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
