The Old Inn, Clanwilliam Arms, The Square
It was built by John Hawkins with stones taken from the Magennis Castle in circa 1682. Visitors can see that the original three-storey building still stands and now houses the three businesses from the corner of Newry Street. In 1688 a Town Guard was formed here by John Hawkins
In 1792 Wolfe Tone, leader of the United Irishmen on his second visit to Rathfriland, was refused food by the landlord, Mr Murphy. He recorded in his diary “stop at Murphy’s Inn. Got paper and began to write to Dr Tighe, Mr Barber, and Mr Lowry. Stopped short by the intelligence that the landlord will give us no accommodation; the fellow absolutely refuses. He has cold beef and lamb chops but will give us neither and turns off on his heel. The dog is a Quaker.”
Dr Tighe was Vicar of Drumballyroney, 1778-1821 who coached Patrick Brontë. Mr Barber was Minister of First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church. Mr Lowry was a local owner of linen mills and lived at Linen Hill, Katesbridge.
Dean Jonathon Swift, satirist, author and Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, stayed here on his way to Newry, probably around 1729.
The cellars, which are extensive, were reputed to have been used by “The Hellfire Club.” These clubs, popular in the 18th century, were often patronised by ‘persons of quality’ and promoted ‘drunkenness, immorality and a disregard for social convention’. Having existed as an Inn from 1791 the lessee Daniel Keane gave up the lease in 1829, after which it ceased to function as an inn.
In 1920 a Town Guard or citizens corps had their headquarters here.