Editorial compiled for the Mallow supplement of the Cork Independent Newspaper – Christmas 2017
As one of the Local Government representatives for Mallow Town, I would like to warmly welcome you to Mallow this Christmas. Mallow is one of the largest towns outside Cork city and it is known far and wide as the crossroads of Munster. Home to a population of in excess of 12,000 people, Mallow not only caters for all those who live and work in the town, but also for the many people who choose to visit Mallow throughout the year.
Friday 24th November next will see the “official” commencement of the Christmas festivities in Mallow with the turning on of the Christmas lights in the town. Just like last year, we are expecting Santa to arrive in Market Square at approximately 5pm who will meet and chat to all the excited children and will then proceed to walk down the town to the Thomas Davis Plaza where he will be ably assisted to switch on Mallow Town’s Christmas Lights for Christmas 2017.
There has been a great buzz in the Town over the last number of years as the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District of Cork County Council in co-operation with Mallow Chamber of Commerce have invested in new lights and Christmas features. We have seen the purchase of new lights for the Plaza, The Spa, Bridge Street where we never had Christmas lights before and also replacing some of the old lights on part of the Main Street. There is also a spectacular Christmas lighting effect featuring Mallow’s historic Clock House and glowing Christmas decorations over the Thomas Davis Plaza. There will be some new features again this year so be sure to come to Mallow to see them over the Christmas period.
The first Saturday in December (2nd December) will see the renewal of the now annual Mallow Christmas Fair on the grounds of Mallow Castle, which is owned by Cork County Council. The theme of the fair this year is Family, Food & Craft and will run from 12 noon until 4pm. Santa will be on hand to meet all the children who will be in attendance on the day which is set to be a wonderful family fun day at Mallow Castle. Let the kiddies go on a tour of the Castle grounds in the Mallow Men’s Shed Christmas Train while you relax and enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie! There will be many activities for all to enjoy including face painting, food and novelty stalls offering Christmas foods and gifts and there will also be lots of Christmas Carols and Christmas Songs performed during the day. So please put the date in your diary!
There will also be new more lenient parking arrangements for Mallow town during Christmas 2017. In conjunction with the free parking already in existence from 9-10am and 5-6pm from Monday to Friday and free parking on Friday afternoons (after 1pm) and all day Saturday and Sunday, you will now have one hour free “On Street” parking and 3 hours free parking in all “Cork County Council car parks” for the entire month of December. Please remember that usual parking limits apply so make yourself aware of these limits before going shopping!
So there is no excuse not to come to Mallow this Christmas and buy your loved one something special. I strongly believe that this year more than ever, there are lots of reasons to stay local for your Christmas shopping and we should all do our best to support our local shops and towns.
If I had one Christmas wish for Mallow, I would love to see the materalisation of the M20 (Cork to Limerick Motorway) for the Town. The Government has recently announced the re-instatement of the M20 in the Country’s Capital Investment Plan which must be welcomed and applauded. The most important issue for Mallow now and indeed all of North Cork, County Kerry and West Limerick is that the route for the M20 remains as the initial route selected. Mallow Town needs its Bypass and the M20 provides for this and will not only alleviate it from the daily traffic congestion the town suffers from but it will also open up and allow the town centre to continue to develop as one of North Cork’s most attractive Towns. So Leo (Varadkar) and Paschal (Donohue), don’t be a scrooge and don’t delay in delivering what I firmly believe is the most important piece of infrastructure Mallow will ever see. The people of Mallow have been “very well behaved all year” so they deserve their Motorway and Bypass!
On behalf of the members, executive and staff of the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District of Cork Council, I want to wish you joy and happiness this Christmas and I look forward to meeting you all during the festive season and in 2018.
Nollaig Shon Daoibh,
Cllr. John Paul O’ Shea
