Mallow in the past: The Spa
THE Mallow Town side of Spa Glen was a hive of activity in years gone by for many varying reasons.
McCarthy’s Hill or Carthy’s Hill, which bordered the national school yard and the old mart was sometimes the ‘escape route’ for some brave-hearted school pupils who scaled the school wall and tumbled down the hilly field on to the Spa Road to freedom from a long day in school. When such an incident, called mitching, occurred, black-robed teaching brothers ringing bells and blowing whistles raced after the ‘fugitive’ like a scene from the Shawshank Redemption.
When apprehended the misfortunate young lad suffered the consequences with a canning and a report sent to his parents, who in those days gave him another hiding for his thrillseeking escapade.
In more pleasant ways McCarthy’s Hill became a sporting arena in snow falling winters with courageous youngsters manufacturing timber sleighs to take on the hill. Some snowbound lads often ended up unscathed on the Spa Road after clearing the bottom ditch like Red Rum at Beecher’s Brook.
King of the piste in those days was Paddy Buckley from Glenanaar. Paddy had a unique sledin the form of the roof of an old Morris Minor car turned upside down, which became a flier on the snowy descent.
Opposite McCarthy’s Hill was the Grove, where many young people spent hazy lazy warm summer days. The Spa pool was a ringed spring water affair, which was circled by mud walls lovingly built by those using the facilities. Its depth was about two to three feet and was thronged with kids morning noon and late into the night.
The nearby Grove was the centre of loud attraction when it came to making and setting off weed killer and sugar bombs. It was the grace of God that nobody in those days was injured or maimed in anyway.
This was a lethal concoction and weed killer was easily purchased in any hardware outlet in those days by young or old. Short bits of copper piping were packed with the mixture.
After being placed on the ground a fuse trail was laid at a safe distance After being lit it was heads down before the copper bomb exploded in a cloud of smoke and an enormous bang.
Late one summer’s evening such a bomb was set off and immediately we were chased by two men who lived in Spa Terrace. After that experience we set aside the bomb making and went on to pursue more peaceful hobbies and activities.
The nearby elegant Spa House, which was central to the area known in the 18th and 19th century as the Bath of Ireland, was somewhat off limits to young people in those days but it was always respected and admired. The Spa House was built in 1828 by C.D. Jephson M.P. who was then Lord of the Manor. This was an old English type of building and local people over the years were occasionally allowed to view the famous well in the house itself.
In more modern times the Grove and Spa House area was cultivated into picturesque surroundings with the Tip O’Neill Park adding to its splendour.
The new park has one resident, the Little Man, who graced the junction directly in front of the Clock House for many years before being removed and put in storage for may years due to the increase of traffic in the area.
Spa Glen certainly holds many memories of times past.