What is recorded here

Mallow is a historic town on the north bank of the Blackwater River in County Cork, Ireland. It emerged as a settlement under the Fitzgeralds of Desmond, suffered fire during the conflicts of the seventeenth century, and recovered to become a market and spa town by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its streets still carry that repeated rhythm of loss, return and ordinary human renewal.

On N bank of Blackwater River (see 14793), on main Cork-Limerick road. Though Anglo-Normans probably had castle (14373) here in late 12th century, earliest references to town are murage grant of 1286 (Zajac et al. 1995, 73) and reference in 1298 to 'the burgagers of the vill of Mallow' (Berry 1894, 17). By this time Mallow manor was a possession of Fitzgeralds of Desmond (ibid.). Thomas (1992, vol. 2, 232) is doubtful if town was ever walled. Survey of 1584 found nine 'vills' within manor of Mallow, all 'now lying waste' (Berry 1893, 22); four of these appear to contain settlements, none of which is named Mallow though 'The Shorte Castell' contained 'a great town' (ibid.; see 14313). Town re-established as part of Munster Plantation and by 1611 twenty five settlers 'held houses and gardens in the towne of Mallow' (Berry 1906, 11); by 1641 town contained 'nearly 200 houses, thirty of which were of stone, strong and slated' (ibid., 14), but it suffered greatly in 1642 when the Irish 'set fire to the town in several places' (ibid., 15). However, town survived and in 1659 had a population of 463. It further developed in 18th and 19th centuries as market and spa town (Myers 1984; Crowley 1992, 1993, 1997). Principal buildings of present town of 18th- and 19th-century date though some may contain late 17th-century core; two recently demolished houses on Davis Street (see photograph Zajac et al. 1995, 72), part of terrace of four houses, contained 'central dividing wall composed of timber uprights, 0.01m apart, with mud infilling between them, and timber laths nailed across the uprights' (ibid., 73). Recent archaeological investigations at E end of town did not reveal any features earlier than late 17th century (pers. comm. S. Lane). Former parish church (14719) on S side of Main Street. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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