Site of 'Tilly Molloy's', formerly 2-4 Main Street, Armoy, Ballymoney, County Antrim

Site of 'Tilly Molloy's', formerly 2-4 Main Street, Armoy

This site on the southeast side of Main Street in Armoy was formerly occupied by a two-storey house with basement, now demolished. The building was constructed in two phases: the eastern section in 1859-60 and the western section in 1873. The structure was pulled down in 1996 and replaced with new larger buildings.

Photographs taken in 1995, shortly before demolition, show a gabled building with urban vernacular character. The eastern half was shorter than the western addition, with a basement level that was exposed only on the south elevation where the ground slopes toward the river. The façade was rendered in dry dash with painted render surrounds to the window and door openings. The roof was slated and overhanging, topped with polychrome brick chimneystacks.

The windows were relatively uniform in size with timber sash frames, though the ground-floor windows at the front had been enlarged at some point and fitted with plate glass glazing. The entrance was positioned to the right of centre on the north elevation, consisting of a panelled and glazed timber door.

Historical records show the site was undeveloped on the 1832 Ordnance Survey map. The eastern section was recorded as under construction in 1859, with the first occupant being David Brangan. In 1873, Brangan added the western portion. Robert Gillan was resident in 1877, followed by Mary Gillan in 1896. By 1901, the valuers noted it as a licensed house, likely the date when the front windows were enlarged. Between 1930 and 1956, the property passed to G.F. Molloy, and from 1965 it was occupied by Mathilda ('Tilly') Molloy. During the mid-twentieth century, the building served as a focal point for village dances, social evenings, drama performances and cinema screenings. After Ms Molloy vacated in the mid-1970s, it fell into disrepair. A local voluntary community group acquired and demolished it in 1996, replacing it with a community facility including shops, café and apartments overlooking the River Bush.