Mallow (Magh Eala, "place of the stone") is a town in County Cork with a population of 12,459 in 2016. It's a market and light industrial town best known for its racecourse, and as the place you get stuck if you miss your rail connection to Killarney. As Mallow is the main town hereabouts, sights in the north of the county are also described here.
There isn't a physical TIC, but see the town website.
Get in
By train
Trains run hourly from Dublin Heuston, taking 2 hr 15 min to Mallow via Kildare, Portlaoise, Ballybrophy, Thurles and Limerick Junction, and continuing to Cork, another 25 min. Change at Limerick Junction for connections from Limerick city, Waterford, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cahir and Tipperary.
Commuter trains also run non-stop between Mallow and Cork. It's the same fare as for the inter-city trains, about €10 single. Change at Cork for Midleton or Cobh.
From Limerick, change at Limerick Junction. Change there also coming from Waterford, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cahir and Tipperary.
Trains run every two hours from Tralee via Killarney to Mallow. They usually terminate here, but one or two continue south to Cork or north to Dublin.
1 Mallow railway station is 500 m west of town centre.
By bus
Bus Éireann 51 runs hourly from Galway via Gort, Ennis, Shannon Airport and Limerick to Mallow then Cork.
There are no direct buses from Dublin, travel via Cork or Limerick.
There isn't a bus station, the most central stop is Town Park on N72, a block south of Main Street.
By road
From Dublin follow M7 / M8 to Mitchelstown then follow N73 west into town.
Get around
You can walk to the castle and the racetrack. The bus will get you to Buttevant, but you need wheels for anywhere else.
See
- The Clock House on Spa Square is the main building of note in town. Built in 1855, it's now just offices.
- 1 Mallow Castle, Castlelands. Daily 09:00-19:00. There are three buildings : the first, built in the 13th century by King John, became known as the Desmond castle, but was derelict by the 16th century. A fortified house was built in the 16th century, a rectangular 3-storey Jacobean building. Defence was still a major concern in that era so it was designed to have a good field of fire. It was wrecked in the Williamite wars and the third was built in the 19th century in baronial style, though incorporating older fragments. This third is in private ownership and you can't tour, but you can stroll round the shell of the other two. White fallow deer graze in the grounds. Free.
- 2 Beenalaght is a line of six standing stones, probably from Bronze Age; their ritual significance is unknown. One has fallen over. They're off R619, 12 km south of Mallow beyond the village of Bweeng.
- 3 Doneraile Court and Park, Turnpike Rd, Doneraile P51 XR66 (13 km northeast of Mallow), ☏ 353 22 24771. Apr-Sept Th-Su 10:00-18:00. The mansion (from 1720, but re-modelled in the 19th C) is visited by guided tour, and admission includes the gardens. The surrounding parkland with red deer is free to enter daily, 09:00 to 20:00 in summer and 17:00 in winter. House adult €8, conc €6, child €4.
- 4 Buttevant is a village 20 km north of Mallow on N20 to Limerick. The main sight is the Franciscan Priory, founded in 1251 and dissolved in 1540. Illegal masses and hold-out friars persisted for almost 300 years, "little for the good of the King and the State", as one Protestant bishop complained. One km south of Buttevant along N20 is Ballybeg Priory, which was Augustinian and of similar dates: there's just a few walls standing and the stump of a castle. In July Cahirmee Horse Fair is held in town.
- 5 Kanturk Castle or "Old Court" is the substantial shell of a tower-house built in 1601. It was never completed, as English settlers suspected it was being raised as a bastion against them. It's 15 km west of Mallow and free to stroll around anytime.
- 6 Anne's Grove Gardens near Castletownroche are open in summer. The "miniature castle" is just a gatehouse lodge with cod parapets, rented out for self-catering.
- 7 Nano Nagle's birthplace is in Ballygriffin: she was an 18th century pioneer of Catholic education for girls. The heritage centre here only caters for pre-booked groups. Individuals can see more of Nagle's life and works at her centre in Cork.
Do
- Gate Cinema is on Market Square.
- 1 Cork Racecourse, Killarney Road, Mallow (1.5 km west of village on N72), ☏ 353 22 50207, ✉[email protected]. The course has flat-racing in summer and National Hunt (jumps) in winter. A free shuttle bus runs from the village on race days. The first steeplechase is believed have been held nearby in 1752 - literally "steeple chasing" from one village church to another over natural obstacles, without a prepared hurdled track. Adult €15, conc €10.
- 2 Mallow Golf Club is 1 km east of town, south bank of the river. Blue tees 5960 m, par 72.
- 3 Ballyhass Lakes, Ballyhass P51 N550 (10 km northwest of town), ☏ 353 22 27773. Su M 09:00-17:00, Tu-Sa 09:00-21:00. Flooded quarry, now a water sports centre: water-skiing, kayaking, wakeboarding, aquapark and so on.
- Cahirmee Horse Fair is held at Buttevant 20 km north on 12 July, though it was cancelled in 2020. There's a legend that Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington's horse at Waterloo, was bought here but it doesn't fit with his known dates. Napoleon's horse Marengo has been added to this tale, so it's only missing the mounts of Frederick the Great and George Washington for a full set: see Blarney.
Buy
Sugarpuffs  The Mallow loco, now at Downpatrick |
- Tesco in town centre is open daily 07:00-22:00. It doesn't have fuel.
Eat
- Gallery Bar & Restaurant, Castlelands (by Clock House), ☏ 353 22 20760. Daily 16:00-20:30. 130-seater place with good food and service.
- The Arches, Bellevue (south bank of river), ☏ 353 22 42680. Su-Th 10:00-23:30, F Sa 10:00-00:30. Cheerful bar and eating place.
- Jumbo Malaysian on Shortcastle St is open M-Sa 17:00-22:30, Su 13:00-22:30.
Drink
- There's a slew of pubs around the Clock House. Try any of Chasers, Colie's, Olde Fiddle, Sheehan's (aka Mona's), O'Keefe's or Maureen's. Bridge House Bar is just over the river.
Sleep
- Annabella Lodge (west side of railway station), ☏ 353 22 43991. Comfy convenient B&B. B&B double €90.
- Hibernian Hotel, Main St, ☏ 353 22 58200, ✉[email protected]. Central mid-range hotel, value for money. With fitness centre and conference facilities, live music on Thursday. B&B double €100.
- 1 Springfort Hall Hotel, Twopothouse P51 YP96 (5 km north of town), ☏ 353 22 21278. Slick friendly country house hotel with great food, does a lot of functions. B&B double €100.
- 2 Longueville House, Ballyclough P51 KC8K (7 km west of town on N72), ☏ 353 22 47156. Upscale hotel in Georgian country house in wooded parkland, just 12 rooms en suite. Presidents Restaurant has fine dining. They produce their own cider and calvados-style spirit. In late 2020 only the self-catering mews is available.
Connect
As of Nov 2020, Mallow has 5G from Eir and Three. With Vodafone you'll manage a call but might not get 4G.
Go next
- North is Limerick, with a Norman castle, Georgian centre and many visitor attractions.
- Northeast is Cahir, with a river island castle and the playfull Swiss Cottage.
- East you pass through Fermoy to reach Lismore, with a castle and gardens.
- Cork city to the south needs several days to explore. Blarney is along the way, though by public transport you have to double back via Cork.
- West is Killarney and scenic County Kerry.