Mahon
Home of the Cork’s largest shopping centre Mahon (Machain in Irish) is one of the busiest suburbs of Cork. Mahon gets it’s name from Lough Mahon a large special area of protection under the EU Birds Directive.
Along with the Shopping Centre Mahon is home to a large number of technology and engineering companies such as VoxPro, Jacobs, PM Group and DPS as well as the Central Statistics Office.
Public Transport
Mahon is bordered on it’s southern and eastern side by the N40 south ring road and is connected by the Jack Lynch tunnel to the Dunkettle roundabout which allows easy access to the Dublin road leading north and the N25 leading east.
Walking
Mahon is roughly 6km from Cork City Centre. This distance can be walked in roughly an hour and fifteen minutes but there is also good bus routes which are mentioned below.
Bus Routes
The following bus routes run through Mahon allowing access to the city centre and many of it’s suburbs.
- 202 Apple Campus – Hollyhill – City Centre – Mahon
- 215 Cloghroe – Blarney – City Centre – Ballinlough – Mahon Point
- 215a City Centre – Boreenmanna Rd – Mahon Point
- 219 Cork Institute of Technology – C.U.H – Togher – Ballyphehane – Douglas – Ringmahon – Mahon Point/City Gate
Buses to other cities and rural areas leave regularly from Cork Parnell Place Bus Station in the city centre.
Taxis
There are many taxi services running in the Mahon area such as
Satellite Taxi – 021 480 80 80
Cork Taxi CoOp – 021 427 2222
The area is also served by the FreeNow Taxi App.
Trains
The nearest train station is Kent Station in Cork City Centre.
History & Heritage
Mahon was originally a rural fishing and farming peninsula and the area was known as the Ring of Mahon. It was said to have originally been the home of the O’Mahony family who lent the area their name.
Mahon began to be developed in the early 19th century as middle class citizens working in the City decided to separate their home from their workplace. Ringmahon house was built around this time by James Murphy as part of this trend. James was a wealthy merchant, importer and shipowner and was one of the founders of the Midleton distillery.
In the late 20th century as the city grew outwards Mahon became the subject of more and more residential development and as such became part of the city itself.
At the start of the 21st century came the development of the Mahon Shopping centre and the associated commercial parks which have led to an industrial boom in the area.
Attractions
Mahon Shopping Centre is the largest attraction in the area and is the second largest shopping centre in all of Munster. It has over 60 shops, cafes and restaurants along with 2000 free parking spaces. There is also an Omniplex Cinema as part of the centre and a retail park across the way meaning that almost everything you could want is available here.
Mahon also has a fantastic greenway which allows safe walking and cycling in a sheltered lit pathway.
Culture & Activity
Sport & Clubs
Mahon is a great sporting area. Some of the local clubs include:
St. Michael’s & Ballinure GAA Clubs, Mahon Municipal Golf Club and the RingMahon Rangers AFC.
There is also a fantastic gym and fitness studios at Gym Plus Cork.
Eating & Drinking
There is a fantastic food court at Mahon Point Shopping Centre which contains
Milanos, McDonalds, Abrakebabra, Hillbillies, Nandos, Oodles, O Briens Sandwich Bar, Ginzeng, Jump Juice and Bean & Leaf Coffee.
Outside of this their is takeway offering at the nearby Legers Chipper, Somen Asian Noodle Bar and Mizzoni’s Pizza.
The Blackrock Inn does a fantastic cavery and is also a great spot to grab a pint or a glass of wine.
Religion
There is a roman catholic church called Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mahon.
Education
Mahon is home to three schools; 2 primary and one secondary school. There are also two higher education institutes in Cork; UCC & MTU.
Primary
Scoil Na Croise Naofa/Holy Cross National School
Gaelscoil Mhachan
Secondary
Nagle Community College
