The premises in which Fiddler's Green is situated, (facing the castle, built in the 1500's - see left) dates to the late 1700's and started off as a spirit grocers in the Market Square, Portaferry. The owner at that time kept cattle and pigs at the rear of the building and also bottled his own stout.
The bar changed hands a few times over the years, and the owner before Frank and Maureen McCarthy was the well known tenor singer Peter Tomelty, brother of the famous novelist, playwright and actor Joseph Tomelty and uncle of actress Frances Tomelty (TV appearances and Film appearances) who married Sting, the rock star.
Peter and his wife Gertie ran the pub for 20 years and Peter entertained their clientele with his repertoire of Moore's Melodies. Frank and Maureen McCarthy purchased the premises 18 years ago on Peter's retirement.
Frank had been a long distance trucker for 30 years and used the long winter evenings to practise the guitar and banjo while on the road. Getting a bit long in the tooth for all that driving, Maureen and Frank decided to try the pub life especially as she had been a barmaid for most of her life.
