Festivals & Events: To have your Festival or Event entered on this page contact: maria.ocallaghan@corkcoco.ie

FEBRUARY:
The Mallow AC/Kostal 10 Mile Road Race, which was deferred recently due to icy conditions , has been provisionally rescheduled for Sunday 7th. February. A final decision will be taken by the AAI County Board on Sunday 24th. January, so keep an eye on the club website www.mallowac.ie for up to date information.

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MARCH: 
ARTS ALLIANCE:
Dusty O'Callaghan
P.R.O. Arts Alliance,
Mallow. 
Phone: 086 3255323
To Whom It May Concern:
Arts Alliance Mallow meeting on Tues. March 2nd. @ 8pm in Ozanam House (St. Vincent De Paul)  New Road - next to St. Patrick's Boys National School. We are seeking new members who are interested in the Arts in Mallow. Due to the success of DAMHSAFEST last year in Mallow we aim to make it bigger, broader and more inclusive this year. Anyone with an interest in the Arts is welcome to come on board and get involved in the Arts in Mallow.

Yours truly,
Dusty O'Callaghan.

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BRAIN AWARENESS DAY:
To Whom it May Concern.
Monday 8th. to Friday 12th. March is Brain Awareness Week.
As part of this initative, Headway will have an information stand on display at the Gilbert Centre, Mallow Community Campus, Fair St. Mallow on Tuesday 9th. March.
Information on Headway, the services they provide and the impact of acquired brain injury will be made available by Headway Staff.
You are cordially invited to drop in to the Gilbert Centre between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Any enquiries, Phone Headway at 021 4871303

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ST.PATRICK'S DAY PARADE:
St Patrick's Day Parade to highlight environmental issues.
This week the St. Patrick's Parade Committee in Mallow launched their 2010 parade. This year's parade will return to the town park for assembly. People may recall last year that because of the flood relief scheme works the assembly point was between Beecher Street and West End.
Participants are asked to assemble from 1.45pm at the town park where stewards will allocate positions. This year, as in most other years, the parade will take place on St. Patrick's Day itself: leaving the park road at 2.30pm, moving to West End and then down Davis Street. The reviewing stand will be positioned outside Mallow Credit Union.
Mallow's own Thomas Davis Pipe Band will head the parade. Blarney Brass and Reed Band have also booked their place, and many youth groups have already registered with the committee. Any group not registered yet should contact the secretary, Maire Ui Bhriain, at the G.A.A. Complex in Carrigoon, or the Chairman, Noel O'Connor, at 087-2738222.
The treasurer of the parade committee is Mrs. Hanna Sheahan. This year the committe has decided on a green theme for the parade. The Killavullen Country Market Group will be bringing some fresh organic vegetables on their float in the parade. Cllr. Noel O'Connor, Chairman of the committee said "Awareness of environmental issues is important nowadays. As many of the participants and the onlookers will be young children, surely by giving this year's parade the Green Theme it will help to heighten awareness of environmental issues among the youth of Mallow. I would like to especially invite any of our businesses working in the area of reducing emissions, or producing energy saving devices to consider putting a float in our parade. Let's make this year's parade a bigger one than ever before. Let's make this year's parade Mallow's first ever green St. Patrick's Parade".

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APRIL:
4th. April 2010
RIVER RAFT RUN Takes To The Water On Easter Sunday:
The annual Fun River Raft Run from Mallow To Killavullen organised by Mallow Search and Rescue Unit will be held on Sunday 4th. April, starting from Mallow Bridge at 1pm. This is a hugely popular annual event for participants and spectators, and great crowds usually gather at Mallow Bridge to cheer the rafts as they set off, and then in Kilavullen for the finish. All entrants must have lifejackets and an entry number. Check-in time in 8.30-10.30am. and all rafts will be subject to a safety check before they set off. All rafts must be registered before Monday 29th. March and sponsorship cards and entry forms are available at the Arches Bar or tel: 087-6353850 or 087-2230920

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RACING HOME FOR EASTER FESTIVAL - 3rd - 5th. April 2010

Racing Home For Easter Festival 2010 - Welcome to Mallow's brand new Festival which is anchored around three days of great racing in the heart of the beautiful Blackwater Valley, where National Hunt racing has a long and proud tradition.
As a Hub Town we wish to promote Mallow as an important tourist destination, for more information on Mallow visit www.mallow.ie  The town itself will be in festive mood for the weekend with a range of activities and events which will cater for all interests and age groups. Among the many events -  street entertainment, a food and craft fair, a family 10K fun cycle, guided walks and heritage trails, and entertainment galore in local hostelries. Another major attraction will be a 'Blackwater Valley Music Idol' competition with a big prize for the winner.
A very special welcome to Mallow people home from abroad, to people from other parts of Ireland and to all the tourists visiting us for the first time, we really hope your stay in the Mallow area is a very enjoyable one. To the locals we say - come out and support the festival, enjoy yourselves and help establish Racing Home For Easter Festival as a permanent feature in the national calendar of events and festivals.
We hope you will marvel at the first class racing, sample the craic, meet people and come back to an even bigger and better festival next year.  Keep up to date at www.corkracecourse.ie    For Full Programme See - NEWS on left.

The Racing Home For Easter Festival Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their support.

* Failte Ireland
* Avondhu Blackwater Partnership.
* Mallow Town Council.
* Cork County Council.
* Mallow Chamber.
* Blackwater Valley Tourism.
* Irish Rail.
* Mallow Credit Union.
* Musgraves/Danos Supervalue.
* Mallow Vintners.
* Market Square Mallow.
* Mallow Arts Alliance.
* Mallow Development Partnership Ltd.
* RAPID Programme.
* Cork Racecourse Mallow.
* Sheehan Coaches.
* Dermot Casey - Tool Hire.
* Dermot Casey - Tree Care.
* Springfort Hall.
* The Hibernian Hotel.
* Beamish.
* Kostal.
* McDonalds.
* Studio Fiona, Fermoy.
* Dairy Gold.

Racing Home For Easter Festival 2010 - Easter Week-end Packages.

THE HIBERNIAN HOTEL, Bank Place, Mallow.
Tel: (022) 58200
E-Mail: info@hibernianhotelmallow.com        www.hibernianhotelmallow.com
2 Nights Bed & Full Irish Breakfast and one Evening Meal & Full Use of All Leisure Facilities.
€99 Per Person Sharing.
3 Nights Bed & Full Irish Breakfast and one Evening Meal & Full Use of All Leisure Facilities.
€130 Per Person Sharing.

SPRINGFORT HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL, Mallow.
Tel: (022) 21278
E-Mail: stay@springfort-hall.com               www.springfort-hall.com
1DBB Packages:
Fri. 2nd/Sat. 3rd/Sun.4th. April.
1 Night, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast - €89 Single Occupancy.
1 Night, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast - €79 Per Person Sharing.

2BB1D Packages:
Fri. 2nd/Sat. 3rd./Sun. 4th. April.
2 Night Bed & Breakfast, 1 Dinner - €130 Single Occupancy.
2 Night Bed & Breakfast, 1 Dinner - €115 Per Person Sharing.

B&B Rates:
Fri. 2nd/Sat.3rd./Sun. 4th. April.
€65 Single Occupancy.
€50 Per Person Sharing.

CHARLEVILLE PARK HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB:
Tel: (063) 33700
E-Mail: info@charlevilleparkhotel.com         www.charlevilleparkhotel.com
Charleville Park Hotel & Cork Racecourse Mallow Racing Package.
Enjoy 2 nights Bed & Breakfast & 1 Evening Meal at the 4 star Charleville Park Hotel which includes full use of all Leisure Club including 25m pool @ €99 Per Person Sharing. (€89 pps without dinner)
Racecourse tickets can be pre-bought at the hotel.
Superb location only 25 minutes from Mallow.

 ESSINK RESTAURANT & CATERING BUSINESS:

As a restaurant and catering business in the town Essink will be offering the following among more offers to locals and visitors to the festival.
In the Restaurant: 3 Course Meal €19.95 (All day and night every day)
Complimentary tea, coffee and scones for all those participating in the guided walks on the three days of the festival.
Free breakfast for kids - when eating with their parents.

In Catering:
(For those in rented accommodation or B&Bs)
Full Irish for €7.95
Hot meals from €7.95 delivered to your accommodation.
Picnic packs from €5.95 pp

BALLYHASS LAKES:
To support the Racing home for Easter Festival 2010 and the Ballyhoura/North Cork adventure hub Easter campaign, Ballyhass Lakes are providing family sessions at the lakes for a special introductory price of only €10 per participant. Each session will include two activities from the extensive range available at Ballyhass. These include Low Ropes, Archery, Rock Climbing, High Ropes, Abseiling, Aeroball, Kayaking, Raft Building, Bouldering on an indoor climbing wall. Each session will last approx three hours. All equipment supplied. Minimum age 8 years - no maximum.
Over the Easter Period these introductory sessions will be held on:
Wednesday March 31st. - 2p.m.
Easter Saturday April 3rd. - 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Easter Sunday April 4th. - 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Easter Monday April 5th. - 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Wednesday April 7th. - 2 p.m.
Groups can be accommodated by arrangement outside of these times. Places can be reserved by calling (022) 27773 or E-Mail: info@ballyhasslakes.ie      www.ballyhasslakes.ie

IRISH RAIL:
Irish Rail are offering a special fare of only €10 to Mallow from anywhere in the country, and only €5 from Cork. This is indeed a fantastic opportunity to visit Mallow.

MALLOW LIBRARY:
To celebrate Mallow's Racing Home For Easter Festival, Mallow Library offers children an Easter Bonnet decorating workshop on Holy Thursday, 1st. April.
Bring along your hat, learn to decorate it and wear it to the parade on Easter Monday.
Places Limited: Names to library staff (022) 21821

Mallow Youth Arts Festival

The Mallow Youth Arts Festival is a unique and hugely successful one day event organised each June to showcase local youth talent in a range of arts including drama, visual arts, music, song and dance.

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Mallow Food Festival 

Mallow's Food Festival takes place each August and is a wonderful family and community occasion. Organised by a number of local businesses, the main street is closed off for the event allowing visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy great food in a wonderful, pedestrianised setting.