Mahon (Irish: Machain)[1] is an area to the south-eastern side of Cork, Ireland. Mahon gets its name from Lough Mahon, a wide stretch of the upper section of Cork Harbour. It was once a semi-rural peninsula, but from the late 20th century was subject to residential development, and has a number of housing estates and developments.[2] The area was generally known as the Ring of Mahon, and is the site of Ringmahon House (formerly occupied by James Murphy of Murphy's Brewery and later by Ben Dunne of Dunnes Stores).[3] Mahon is within the Cork South-Central Dáil constituency.
The area is also home to the Mahon Point Shopping Centre, which is Cork's biggest shopping centre and retail park, and Munster's second largest shopping destination (after the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick). The centre has over 60 stores, a thirteen-screen cinema, and a food court. RedFM, a Cork radio station, has a broadcasting pod in the centre.[5]
Places of interest
Blackrock Castle, also known as "Blackrock Castle Observatory", is a 16th-century castle located in nearby Blackrock, a suburb which borders Mahon. The castle is a short distance from the centre of Mahon on the banks of the River Lee, and was built by the citizens of Cork as a watch tower and fort to guard the city's waterway. In a collaboration between Cork City Council and the Cork Institute of Technology, Blackrock Castle was re-opened to the public in August 2007 as Blackrock Castle Observatory.[6]
An area known locally as "the Marina" is also located in the neighbouring suburb of Blackrock. It is a tree lined avenue (not strictly a marina) which runs along the southern bank of the River Lee from Blackrock village past Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It is used for recreational activities such as walking and cycling. The "Atlantic Pond", close to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, is also used by walkers and its wildlife includes ducks, swans and herons.[7]
Dundanion Castle, located in Blackrock and overlooking "the Marina", is a ruined 16th-century castle. It is from this spot that William Penn reputedly sailed on his first voyage to America in 1682 before founding the state of Pennsylvania.[8]
Geography
Lough Mahon is an expanse of approximately 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) within upper Cork Harbour.[9] It stretches from Mahon to Passage West and incorporates the estuary of the Douglas River.[10] Several Cork City southern suburbs, including Mahon, Blackrock, Douglas and Rochestown lie along its shores. At low tide, Lough Mahon has extensive mudflats which are used as feeding grounds for a number of bird species and migrating waders in particular.[9][11]
Transport
Bus stop in Mahon
By road, the Jack Lynch Tunnel crosses under the River Lee from Mahon to Dunkettle. Completed in 1999, it transports vehicular traffic in uni-directional bi-lanes. In 2015, it was estimated that approximately 63,000 vehicles were using the tunnel per day.[12]
A walk has been developed along the old railway line from Mahon to Harty's Quay, Rochestown and from Hop Island, Rochestown to Passage West.
Sporting clubs in the Mahon area include St Michael's GAA Club, Ballinure GAA Club and Ringmahon Rangers Football Club.
Mahon Golf Club is located at Clover Hill House off Skehard Road and owned by Cork City Council. Designed by Eddie Hackett, Mahon Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course and Ireland's first purpose made municipal golf course. It was financially assisted by the Golfing Union of Ireland. The course was officially opened on 3 September 1980 and was named the "Ted McCarthy Municipal Golf Course" after a long-serving local councillor.[14]
Schools
Mahon has three schools including Secondary School Nagle Community College and primary schools Scoil na Croise Naofa (Holy Cross School) and the Irish speaking Gaelscoil Mhachan (Mahon Gaelscoil).
Nagle Community College is situated on Avenue de Rennes in the centre of Mahon.[15] The college was built on land owned by Joseph Nagle (uncle of Nano Nagle founder of the Presentation Sisters), with the first classes held in September 1981.[citation needed]
Scoil na Croise Naofa (Holy Cross School) is also situated on Avenue de Rennes.[16] The school opened in September 1984 to provide primary education for the children in the (then) growing suburb of Mahon. The school is in the trusteeship of the Bishop of Cork and Ross. In 2005, the status of the school changed to co-educational. Scoil na Croise Naofa also has an "Early Start" preschool on the premises.[citation needed]
Gaelscoil Mhachan was founded in 1986, with the intention of providing education through Irish to children in their area.[17] The school was officially recognised by the Department of Education in 1987, and originally located at Ringmahon House. It moved into a new building on Avenue de Rennes in 2001, with a further extension opened in 2008.[18]
^Richard Henchion (2005). East to Mahon : the story of Blackrock, Ballintemple, Ballinlough, Ballinure and Mahon. Cork: Dahadore Publications. ISBN0954129326.
.jpg)
.jpg)
