Mallow

Mallow stands on the River Blackwater in the fertile country north of Cork. A castle guarded the river crossing, and the town grew into a market centre for the surrounding district. The fortified house known as Mallow Castle became associated with the family of the president of Munster, its large windows and defensive features combining the comforts of a residence with the needs of an unsettled age. It was burned in 1689 during the Williamite war, when rival armies moved through Munster and the crossing at Mallow acquired renewed importance.