| Mallow Mala |
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| Per Ignem et Aquam | ||
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| Location | ||
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WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
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| Irish grid reference W549982 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Munster | |
| County: | Cork | |
| Elevation: | 74 m (242 ft) | |
| Population (2006) | 7,864 | |
| Website: www.mallow.ie | ||
Mallow (Irish Magh Eala "valley of the swans") 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.
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.citation needed
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Name in Irish
The earliest form of the name is Magh nAla "plain of the rock", which was gradually elided to Mala.1 In the Anglicisation "Mallow", -ow originally represented a reduced schwa sound, which is now however pronounced as a full vowel IPA: /oʊ/2 In 1975, Mala was among the first Irish placenames adopted by statute,3 on the advice of the Placenames branch of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland.45
In the Annals of the Four Masters, compiled in the 1630s, Magh nAla is misrepresented as Magh Eala, the Donegal-based authors being insufficiently familiar with Cork places.1 P.W. Joyce in 1869 surmised that in Magh Ealla [sic], Ealla referred to the river Blackwater, and connected the name to the nearby barony of Duhallow.1 Professor T. F. O'Rahilly in 1938 interpreted Magh Eala as "plain of the swans".1 This false etymology remains widely cited and has caused resentment of the official Mala as being a gratuitous simplification of Magh Eala.1
History
Evidence of pre-historic settlement is found in Beenalaght (13.6km/8.5 miles south-west of Mallow), where an alignment of six standing stones lie on a hill to the west of the Mallow-Coachford Road.6 (grid ref: 485 873, Latitude: 52.035818N Longitude: 8.751181W7)
During the Anglo-Irish war, the town was the HQ of the 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.
Recent flooding
Mallow has become known for flooding in recent years. During the night of January 9, 2008, heavy rain entered the river near Mallow and flooded major roads, up to the Clock Tower. A similar event occurred on 1 August, 1814 - 1845). In 1984, particularly heavy rain resulted in a flash summer flood that damages local property.
Demography
The urban area has a population of 7,864 (2006 census) and with improved road and rail since the mid 1980s, has developed significant student and worker commuter traffic with Cork city.citation needed
Economy
Mallow developed as a defensive settlement protecting an important ford on the River Blackwater. Mallow developed 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.citation needed Irish states-men 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 William O'Brien St. outside Mallow Town Hall. 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. This has resulted in considerably less heavy traffic on the roads connecting Mallow to nearby towns - and has freed up space in the centre of town for future commercial, residential and civic development.
The development of Market Square (which contains both residential and commercial units) in 2006 effectively relocated the town centre.
Transport and 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 Secondary 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). There is also a flying club at nearby Rathcoole.
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 910 m (3,000 ft) 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.
Rail
The Mallow railway viaduct which straddles the Blackwater, commonly 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 1849.8
Sport
Founded in 1882, Mallow Rugby Club9 is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country and 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.
The towns association football club, Mallow United Football Club, was founded in 1926 and fields senior, junior, schoolboy, and schoolgirl soccer teams in the Munster Leagues.10
Mallow Golf Club, founded in 1947,11 is located just outside Mallow and has 18 holes.
The local racecourse, now renamed "Cork Racecourse at Mallow",12 plays host to large horse racing events.
Mallow GAA is the town's GAA club.
People
- Birthplace of Thomas Osborne Davis (1814 - 1845), nationalist, politician, author, poet and patriot. Author of the famous Irish rebel song "A Nation Once Again."
- Birthplace of William O'Brien (1852 - 1928), nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher and author.
- Birthplace of Seán Sherlock (Labour Party TD) for Cork East Constituency, elected to Dail Eireann 2007 General Election.
- John Hogan (1805-1892) was a United States Representative from Missouri born in Mallow.
Twinning
Mallow is twinned with the towns of
- Tinley Park in the United States
- Tréguier in France
See also
- Metropolitan Cork
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Mallow (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
- The Corkman
References
- ^ a b c d e Ó hÚrdail, Roibeárd (1996-03-01). "Marshmallows", The Irish Times, p. 15.
- ^ Gazetteer of Ireland / Gasaitéar na hÉireann. Government of Ireland. ISBN 0 7076 0076 6.
- ^ "I.R. Uimh. 133/1975 — An tOrdú Logainmneacha (Foirmeacha Gaeilge) (Uimh. 1) (Postbhailte) 1975." (in Irish). Government of Ireland (1975-07-22). Retrieved on 2008-01-27. "Mallow (33) Mala (g. Mhala)"
- ^ "Placenames Orders". Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
- ^ "The Placenames Commission". Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
- ^ Weir, A (1980). Early Ireland. A Field Guide. Belfast: Blackstaff Press, p113.
- ^ "Beenalaght". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Mallow station". Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
- ^ Official Mallow Rugby Website
- ^ Official Mallow United FC Website
- ^ Mallow Golf Club
- ^ Cork Racecourse At Mallow
External links
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 24 November 2008, at 19:53.
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