Mallow, County Cork

Mallow
Magh Ealla

Per Ignem et Aquam

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
52°′″N 8°′″W / 52.131, -8.6415

Irish Grid Reference
W549982

Statistics

74 m (242 ft)

Population (2006)

7,864

Website: www.mallow.ie

Mallow (Mala, Magh Ealla, and other variations in Irish) is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town.

Magh Ealla in Irish means 'Plain of the Swans'. The more recent Irish Mala or even Mála are government inspired re-Gaelicisations of "Mallow" (itself an Anglicization of Magh Eala).

Set deep in the Blackwater Valley, Mallow was traditionally an agricultural market town but due to vast improvements in infrastructure, coupled with significant promotion and investment from the Mallow Town Council and the private sector, the town has become a thriving business and satellite town. Mallow is twinned with Treguier, Brittany and Tinley Park, USA.

History

The town was the HQ of the infamous North Cork Militia known as North Cork Rifles. The town's RIC barracks was the only one captured nationwide during the War of Independence. In retaliation, several main street premises were subsequently torched by the British Army (and not the Black and Tans as is sometimes reported). Mrs King, wife of Capt W H King, RIC was killed during attempt to kill Capt King near Mallow Railway station. In retaliation, British military and Black and Tans killed three railway workers-Patrick Devitt, Daniel Mullane and Bennett. The murders prompted industrial action by the National Railworkers Union in Britain and Ireland.

Demographics

The urban area has a population of 7,864 (2006 census) and with improved road and rail since the mid '80's, has developed significant student and worker commuter traffic with Cork city.

Local Economy

East end of the main street, showing the historic Clock Tower at Muddy Hill

Mallow developed as a defensive settlement protecting an important ford on the River blackwater. Mallow developed rapidly in the late 16th century as a plantation town. It has prospered throughout the centuries as a market town due to its rich agricultural hinterland. Irish Statesmen such as Thomas Davis and William O'Brien were both born in Mallow in the 19th century. The main street in Mallow is called Davis St. (although commonly referred to as Main St.), and joins with O'Brien St. outside Mallow Town Hall. Ironically, at the point where Davis St. meets O'Brien St. there is a monument to J.J. Fitzgerald, a little-known local politician who was instrumental in establishing both Mallow Urban District Council and Cork County Council. The monument is often mistaken for O'Brien, even by a number of local people. In fact, it was O'Brien himself who unveiled this monument in the early part of the 20th Century.

The town developed a significant industrial base in the early 20th century, based largely on its agricultural capability, with dairy produce and sugar beet supplying the Sugar Factory, Rowntree Macintosh, Bournes and Dairygold. Changes in the European Union sugar subsidy programme resulted in the closure of the Sugar Beet factory in mid 2006, after 75 years continual production.

The development of Market Square which contains both residential and commercial units in 2006 effectively relocated the town centre and has made the town a thiriving commercial centre once more.

Transport & communications

Road

Mallow lies at the convergence of several important routes:

National Primary Route 20 (N20) north-south road between Cork (35 km) and Limerick (70 km)
National Primary Route 72 (N72) east-west between Dungarvan (51.5 km) and Killarney (41.5 km)
National Secondary Route 73 (N73) northeast to Mitchelstown (21 km)

Air

The nearest airports are Cork Airport (42.5 km) and Shannon Airport (59 km).

Mallow Racecourse, now known as Cork Racecourse became an emergency airfield on April 18, 1983, when a Mexican Gulfstream II business jet made a precautionary landing. A temporary tarmacadam runway of 3,000 ft (910 m) in length was laid to enable the aircraft to leave five weeks later on May 23, 1983. The runway was subsequently utilised for parking during race meets and was a popular facility for learner driving. Light aircraft have occasionally landed at the racecourse on the grass area. The F3A World Model Aircraft Aerobatic Championship was held there in 2001.

A flying club exists at nearby Rathcoole.

Rail

The Mallow railway viaduct which straddles the Blackwater, commonly (and still) known as the "Ten Arch Bridge" was bombed and destroyed during the Irish Civil War. It was rapidly rebuilt in girder form due to its importance in connecting the Cork, Tralee and Dublin lines. An additional line east through Fermoy and Lismore to the Waterford South station closed in 1967. Mallow railway station opened on 17 March 1849.^[1]

Sport

Football

Mallow United Football Club was founded in 1926 and continues to field Senior, Junior, Schoolboy, and Schoolgirl soccer teams in the Munster Leagues.

Golf

Mallow Golf Club, founded in 1947, is located just outside Mallow and has 18 holes.

Horse racing

The local racecourse, now renamed "Cork Racecourse at Mallow", plays host to large horse racing events.

Rugby

Mallow Rugby Club is one of the predominant sporting clubs in the area. The club has recently won both League and Cup in 2005/2006 season and attained promotion to Munster Junior League Division Two. In the 2006/2007 season the club have consolidated their position in Division Two and have qualified for the All Ireland Junior Club competition.

People

Birthplace of William O'Brien (1852 - 1928), nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher and author.

External links

References

^ Mallow station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.

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