The events of a very different year around Mallow
JANUARY
BT Young Scientist Success for St. Mary’s
THERE was success for St. Mary’s Secondary School Mallow in the BT Young Scientist competition held in Dublin in January.
Sophie McQuillan and Róisín Grant, Second Year, came first in the Junior Section of the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Category. Their project was entitled ‘An Investigation into the Photolytic Degradation of the Nitrate Radical (NO3) by Light Pollution in Cork City and County’. They were mentored by Mr. Rory Coote.
Clodagh Lehane and Camille Ní Shúilleabháin, Second Year, also competed in the Junior Section of the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Category. Their project was entitled ‘ A Study of an Alternative to SAR Testing to Compare Mobile Phone Emissions’. They were mentored by Ms. Cáit Thompson.
Mallow C.U. Annual Schools Quiz
IT was quite the battle between schools across North Cork, for Mallow Credit Union’s annual schools quiz, which took place in January in the Hibernian Hotel.
Over 30 schools competed in the quiz, which has gone from strength to strength with thanks to schools’ support. The junior competition was won by Dromahane NS, with St Pat’s Boys NS in second place. The senior competition was won by Baltydaniel N.S with Mallow Convent Primary winning second place in a tie breaker.
Snooker Legends In Mallow STEVE Davis and Denis Taylor received a heart warming welcome to the town in late January. The stars of the baise entertained for up to three hours on the night to a sold-out audience. Davis Students Secure €800 from YSI Dragons Den
THE Davis College YSI class pitched at the Young Social Innovators Den in late January. The Den, a component of the YSI Programme, sees successfully shortlisted schools pitch for mentoring, money or means. The students involved Meadhbh Sexton, Liam O’ Herlihy and Domas Kalesnykas, made a hugely successful pitch for their project ‘Mental Health: The Ripple Effect’.
Blackwater Photographic Society.
THERE was some outstanding results for members of Blackwater Photographic Society at the Southern Association of Camera clubs Nature Photographer of the Year competition which were held in The Horse and Jockey in Tipperary in January. PAKIE O’Donoghue came away with the overall title on the day as well as a gold medal, a silver medal and four honourable mentions. This was Pakie’s second time winning the title within three years. Paul Madigan also picked up a gold medal and an honourable mention, Kieran O’Mahony won a silver medal and an honourable mention and new member to the club Diarmuid O’Donovan also received an honourable mention.
FEBRUARY
Sharon Chosen As Grand Marshall
THE hugely popular Sharon Cregg, President of Mallow Chamber and owner of Park West Flowers, was chosen as Grand Marshall for the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Luke Buckley Crowned County Champion
RENOWNED local young boxing star Luke Buckley was again crowned Cork County Champion at Boy 3-46kg at Churchfield in February. Luke, grandson of Mallow boxing legend Dave Buckley, took out his Duhallow Club boxing mate Sam Grogin in the second round of the semi-final. In the final the Mallow boxer faced old rival Joe O’Donnell from the Charleville Boxing Club. It was their fourth meeting in the ring with Luke winning three of the contests. Corkery’s Take League Title
THE final games of the Blackwater Valley Darts league took place in February. It has been a long wait for the two teams at the top of the league table. Corkery’s were at home to the mighty Horgan’s, while Kilbrin were at home to the in-form Kit Roches. With only a point between them both teams needed a good result. Corkery’s squeezed a draw with Horgan’s. Kilbrin fell foul of Kit Roches, who continued their winning run, 5-3.
MARCH
Raymond Is U/30 Champion
THE U/30’s Dart Tournament took place in Kit Roches, Buttevant in early March. 18 players took part and they produced a high standard of darts which came down to the last two, Raymond Harrington trying to put a new name on the cup, and Aaron Ryan, last years winner. Harrington was the eventual winner.
Parade Cancelled
IN the early March it was announced that the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade was cancelled due to the arrival of Covid-19.
APRIL
Paddy Noonan RIP
PADDY Noonan, who sadly passed away in early April in the US, carried the Irish flag with pride in many ways as an American citizen. Born in Ballydaheen in Mallow in May 1936, Paddy emigrated at the age of 12 with his family settling in New York City. Shortly after he found music was his first love. The renowned accordion player broke into the music scene at the age of 16. He gained popularity with Irish music lovers with his band in the Big Apple playing at the Center Ballroom during the 1950’s and 1960’s
Mary Mulcahy RIP
RENOWNED Irish dance teacher Mary Mulcahy passed away in April at 93. Mary was known nationally and internationally known for her involvement in the art of dance for well over 70 years.
MAY
Music Events
SINGERS and musicians such as Majella Murphy, Hank Wedel, Johnny Bongos, Eoin Turner, Eibhlin Eleanor Mac Mathuna, Dick Daly, Noel Walsh, Natasha O’Brien, Carmel Gleason, Pat Barrett, Kenny O’Connell and so many more offer their services free to entertain people during the lockdown from May in an open and safe environment. Hank Wedel performed in the garden area of Nazareth House Nursing Home during one of his many appearances.
John Spazzer Walsh RIP
THE well known Mallow musician John Spazzer Walsh passed away in Galway in mid May. From Beecher Street Spazzer played guitar with many local groups in the 1960s and 1970s.
JUNE
Moving tribute to murdered Garda
OVER 130 Gardai from all ranks were present at a poignant memorial ceremony at Mallow Garda Station at Bowling Green in June to remember their murdered colleague Det, Garda Colm Horkan. Uniformed and plain clothes Gardai from all stations and sub stations
throughout North Cork and some retired members of the force observed a minute’s silence as the nearby St. Mary’s Church clock rang out 12 noon.
Second Deputy Principal for St. Mary’s
THE Dept of Education and Skills allocated a second deputy principal to St. Mary’s Secondary School, which has 740 students. The Board appointed Ms. Jennifer Hickey to this position to join Yvonne Bane, Principal and Sinead Luttrell, Deputy Principal on the school leadership team. Ms Hickey had been working in St Mary’s since 2007 as Guidance Counsellor and History teacher.
Hanna Ma Sheahan RIP
IN June the Mallow community lost Red Cross stalwart Hanna Ma Sheahan who was in her 90s. Hanna was renowned countrywide for her work in Red Cross affairs and was active in the organisation for well over 70 years. Guards of honour from various groups took part in her funeral. Hanna will also be lovingly remembered for her work in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee where she spearheaded the continued success of the March 17 celebrations
over the years.
JULY
Rathduff School Graduation
TWENTY two pupils from Rathduff National School Gathered informally at the nearby Grenagh Sports Complex in July to mark the graduation of the 2020 class. Eleven Boys and eleven girls were present with their teachers parents and families for the event. The girl pupils read some Poetry and were presented with gift bags to mark the occasion while the 2020 boys signed each others’ jerseys. Music and song also took place at the grounds of Grenagh Sports Complex.
Majestic Pitch and Putt
THE Majestic Pitch and Putt Club was very much the scene of action in July with both the local Sadie Sherman Cup and the Intermediate Cork County Stroke event being held on the 49 year old course situated next to the former Majestic Ballroom. 18 local players challenged in the Sadie Sherman event over 36 holes with Dave Daly coming up trumps as Gross winner while former club P.R.O. Paul O’Sullivan took the honours in the Nett section. The Mallow club were deeply honoured to play host to the event which had over 30 players from across Co. Cork taking part with the eventual winner being Robbie Donovan from Fermoy while Frank O’Brien was second and Aaron Roche was third with best 18.
AUGUST
Take a walking tour
MALLOW Field Club invited us to take a guided walk through the old town of Mallow - on your own. With numbered maps published in both local newspapers, the club provided a run down on local historical and cultural sites, also published. The guides were based on their very successful guided tours of the town, which were unable to go ahead in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Credit union ups the ante MALLOW Credit Union got the green light from the Central Bank to increase its loan limits. Under the new provisions branch members can now borrow up to €100,000, plus the value of savings they may have, with a reduced rate for those borrowing over €60,000.
Back at Centre Stage
AFTER months of online classes students from Mallow’s Centre Stage School of Performing Arts finally got the chance to meet up for a special outdoor performance. The students put on the ‘Razzle Dazzle’, performing an all-singing, all-dancing medley of numbers from the hit Broadway musical ‘Chicago’ outside their Bellevue studio to celebrate their return to the studio.
SEPTEMBER
Smoky coal ban
FROM September 1, people were banned from burning ‘smoky coal’ in Mallow - part of a wider ban extended to all towns around the country with populations of 10,000 or more. Speakeasy On Zoo
IN September the popular local Speakeasy Toastmaster Club began their autumn and winter meetings via Zoom due to the Covid 10 crisis.
Holy Communion
FIRST Holy Communion ceremonies took place in Mallow in September under strict restrictions.
The Pub Comes Back
THE so called wet pubs reopened in mid-September with strict restrictions in place.
Album Launch
MUSICIANS Johnny Bongos and Eoin Turner launched their new album at the Plaza in late September.
Commemorations
IN September there were celebrations to mark events in the War of Independence in 1920. Both the Willis family
and local Sinn Fein organised separate events at Barack Street to mark the 100th anniversary of the taking of Mallow Baracks. There were also ceremonies at Gouldshill and St. Joseph’s Cemeteries.
OCTOBER
Award For Judy
THE generosity and dedication of Mallow United club secretary Judy Long was acknowledged in October when she was awarded the Cork Sports Volunteer of the Year Award 2020 in recognition of her contribution to sport in the community. Judy has done monumental amounts of work at Mallow United as the club has expanded in the last five years, much of which is beyond her remit as secretary and goes unnoticed behind the scenes.
Mallow United open Astroturf
IN October Mallow United reached a significant milestone in the 94 year history of the club with the opening of their new all weather astro turf training facility at St. Gobnait’s Park. The pitch will serve as a base for the club and host their Boys Academy and Girls Academy as well as training sessions for their boys, girls and adult teams.
Tadhg Cork Person Of The Month
FORMER hurling great Tadhg Coakley was honoured by being nominated for the Cork Person of the Month in October. Formerly of the Cork Road and now residing in Cork City, Tadhg took up writing some years ago and has published many novels since, including a launch in 2020.
NOVEMBER
104 Year Old Nellie
NELLIE Haugh celebrated her 104th birthday at Nazareth House surrounded by family, staff and well wishers on November 16. Nellie formerly lived at Bath View in Fair Street.
Christmas Lights
IN comparison to other years the official turning on of the Christmas street lights in Mallow this year firmly proved that times are changing. The event took place two weeks earlier than usual and just a handful of parents with children braved the elements to be part of the celebration marking Christmas in Mallow. Sharon Cregg, President of Mallow Chamber of Commerce and Councillor Pat Hayes were on hand to officiate at the short ceremony which was streamed live on the evening.
DECEMBER
Hampers From Academy Council
A Special Blessing for Christmas materialised in December from the Student Council of the Patrician Academy. Money raised from parents, students and teachers funded many hampers for various charities in Mallow with the Academy Student Council workers put the hampers together. The 50 hampers were distributed by teacher Regina Glynn and the Council to such groups as Cope, Le Cheile and St. Vincent de Paul.
Mallow Field Journal THE 38th edition of the Mallow Field Journal was published in early December and priced at €15.00.
Barry Linehan Launches Book
WRITER Barry Linehan launched yet another publication in December. His latest work surrounds the bloody Great War 1914-1918 and is called Duhallow District And The Great War. The book examines the lives of 102 men with a connection to the Duhallow district who lost their lives in the Great War 1914 - 1918.
Christmas Tree Appeal Launch
THE Rotary Club of Mallow’s Annual Memorial Tree of Remembrance Appeal was launched at St Mary’s Church Mallow in mid December in a small, socially-distanced ceremony.