The simple solution was to drop the Joymount Arms name and produce a brand that reflected the bar, the clientele and the history of the pub. We took great inspiration from the previous owner of the pub who was a real character and the mispronunciation of his name by one of his family was Ownie and it stuck. We took on-board lots of comments and stories about Auld Ownie and developed an identity based on the character. We also wrote an Ode to Ownie to explain the man behind the myth.

A poem about Ownie:

In Carrick s long, lively history, There s a man of myth and mystery, A rogue of strange and wild renown, Who brought rare spirit to a thirsty town.

Long, long ago a sea captain, Opened a bar called the Joymount Inn And after he had left the helm, A landlord called Ownie seized the realm.

Churlish, grumpy, often rude, Ownie was a peculiar dude, He walked with a limp, used a stick, His nose hair was wonderfully long and thick.

He thought much less of fear than ire, And when his bar was seen afire, By neighbours who clobbered at his door, He peered through billowing smoke to roar Away with youse all! Move your butts! Can you not see the pub is shut?! (This language has been somewhat amended, So that sensitive souls are not offended)

And yet his bar was always packed, The whole of Carrick loved the craic, They loved his banter, his wit was rare, No other tavern could compare, The Joymount Inn s name dropped from their heads, They called Carrick s finest Ownie s instead.

And glower as he might from behind the glasses, Ownie’d a glint in his eye for the lasses! Not all of him limped, and that s for sure, For one morning, while sweeping at his front door, A girl caught his eye — a slip of a thing, He offered her tea, invited her in.

Nose-hair notwithstanding, she agreed to a cuppa, And she still hadn’t left when it came time for supper. Young Kathleen fast fell for his dubious charms, And before long she had a wee babe in her arms; For, while Ownie may have served and sold liquor, It seems, in this case, that tea was far quicker.

Kathleen stopped at Ownie’s for 40-odd years, Having the babies and serving the beers, While Himself propped the bar, chattering with cronies, Til the Landlord Above called  Time!  on old Ownie.

But the spirit of Ownie’s far from gone, The tradition of welcoming everyone, Is more lively than ever as Ownie s has grown, We re treasuring the past while embracing the new, To create the perfect Ownie’s welcome for you, Great surroundings, great bars, great food, great craic; You may not stay forever but we know you ll be back.