Local histories not only give satisfaction to those in the area but, to those beyond it, they convey a flavour of another life, and are, obviously, of value to the full-time historian who, nevertheless, may often need a dash of salt as he or she digests them. One of the more interesting local histories and most intriguingly put together is "McCahan's Local Histories" a series of pamphlets on north Antrim and the Glens by Robert McCahan, for the book to hand was published in 1988 by the Glens of Antrim Historical Society and consists of 23 pamphlets, which the author had issued over the years, now all bound together in unusual presentation i.e. that each pamphlet is introduced by two sheets of coloured paper - green, or pink or yellow or light brown - presumably following the original, individual issues. McCahan was sent to Belfast from Ballycastle, Antrim, by his widowed mother to become a doctor, but after two years he gave it up because he felt it was too much of a financial burden on the family. He opened a newsagency and a lending library and was long a noted figure in the town.
Born in 1863 he was still, in the 30s of the last century, an active member of his local Presbyterian Church. "A small dapper man, he looked every inch an antiquarian in his clawhammer coat, wing collar and bowler hat," writes Cathal Dallat in his introduction. He is buried "in the shadow of the historic ruins of the twelfth century round tower at Armoy." Some of the places he writes about will be familiar to anyone who has travelled the Antrim coast. The town itself; Bunnamairge Friary, Carrick-a-Rede, Ballintoy, Whitepark Bay. McCahan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Ireland, and he writes with scholarly care. Also with thorough local knowledge. Thus, of Carrick-aRede, often used by the Northern Tourist Board as a natural attraction - do you remember those pictures of the bridal party crossing the bridge while the bride's veil floats out for yards behind? This bridge is a natural and McCahan knows all about the runs of salmon along the cost from there towards the Bush, Bann, Foyle Rivers.
How have they been affected by the overall salmon situation? McCahan tells us that at this point as many as five hundred salmon have been caught there in one day. Then there is Dunseverick, Dunluce and, of course the Causeway. There are seven biographical articles, among them Casement (though Roger was born in Dublin, the family was from north Antrim and he went to school in Ballymena); Samuel Ferguson and others. Every County Antrim household should have a copy. The pamphlets were originally published by the Northern Constitution in Coleraine. Y