JUST two weeks ago Captain Ruben Ocano said in a newspaper report he would never forget, in his lifetime in aviation, the April morning in 1983, when he crash landed his Gulf Stream jet at Mallow Racecourse. Sadly, just days after the interview the Mexican flier passed away in his home country after a short illness at the age of 81. The landing in Mallow brought world recognition to the area and news teams from across the globe converged on the town to report on the building of a runway so that the multi-million dollar aircraft could take off safely and continue its journey several weeks later. Ocano was treated as a hero in Mallow and even acted as judge at a beauty contest held in conjunction with the Rakes of Mallow festival which was a popular event in the town in the early 1980s. Captain Ocano was a friendly man who had a kind word for all he encountered during his stay. The captain and his flight crew flew out of Mallow in May in front of a huge crowd who gathered to witness the historic event. As the colourful Mexican flew into the Banteer skies he skillfully turned his aircraft and flew low over the town twice as a final gesture of farewell. One year later Ocano and his family returned to Mallow on a holiday where he met with many familiar faces, some who remained friends with him up to the time of his passing.

Art club

Mallow Art Club will hold its first demonstration of 2009 on Tuesday, February 3 in the Mercy Centre at 7.30 pm. Paul Quane, will demonstrate a still life in oils. Admission is €5 for members and €7 for nonmembers. The picture will be raffled on the admission ticket, and light refreshments will be served.

GAA Lotto

Wheelspinner Gretta Lucey, Ballydaheen was unavaillable to take part in the Mallow GAA Weekly Members Lotto draw which was held in Carrigoon on Tuesday January 20. The €30 lucky dip winners were Catherine ( MABS) c/o Anne O'Neill, Mick O'Riordan, Ballybeg West c/o O'Keeffe's Bar, Timothy O'Mahony, Ballyviniter c/o John O'Connell and Edmund Grey, Dairygold c/o Paddy McCarthy. The numbers drawn were 13 - 15 - 21 - 27. The jackpot is currently at €1,500. Spinning the wheel on Tuesday January 27 was Paddy Coughlan c/o Tara Telecom.

Red Cross AGM

Mallow Red Cross will hold their AGM in the Social Services Centre on tomorrow Friday January 30 at 7.30 pm. All members are requested to attend and new members are welcome.

Mallow Utd fixtures

Saturday January 31, U/11 Cup Ballinhassig V. Mallow United at Gortnaglough at 10.30 am. Munster Senior League Division One Mallow United V.Tramore, Town Park at 2 pm Munster Senior League, Junior Premiership Blarney United V. Mallow United, O'Shea Park at 6.15 pm. Sunday, February 1, U/11 Cup, Division Six Mallow United V. Leeside/Knockrah, St. Gobnait's Park at 10.30 am. U/13 Cup Mallow United V.Kinsale St. Gobnait's Park at 11.45 pm. AUL County Cup Second Round Mallow United V. Donoughmore Athletic St. Joseph's Road at 10.45 pm.

Table quiz

Scoil Ghobnatan Parents Association are holding their annual fund raising table quiz in Albert's Bar on tonight Thursday January 29 at 9.15 pm. Tables of four is €40. The quiz master for the night is Ray O'Mullane. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Ladies social

The Mallow GAA Ladies Senior Club will have their social on next Saturday January 31 at 8 pm. in Carrigoon with a disco. Tickets are €20 each and are available at Sheehan's Greengrocers or telephone Deidre on 086-8289258 or Tom at 087-2249071. They can also be bought at Carrigoon. Tickets for this event are limited.

Fatima

A Pilgrimage to Fatima will be held ex Cork on September 10 2009 which will be led by Bishop John Magee, Bishop of Cloyne. The Pilgrimage consists of seven nights full board at Hotel Avenida with guided tours to other major Portugal sites. For further information please contace Nora on 0872509184 or 022-42877.

GAA news

Congratulations to Irene Herlihy who has been selected for the Cork U/14 panel. Mallow GAA wish her all the best for the future. Mallow U/21 men's footballers begin the Macroom tournament next Saturday in Macroom at 3 pm with a match against Nemo Rangers. Please support. Mallow GAA Club were hosts to two matches over the weekend, the first being the Cork senior hurlers taking on Justin McCarthy's Limerick side in a challenge match. In what was harsh winter conditions Limerick emerged victors in a scoreline that read Cork 1-07 to Limerick 1-18. The other match was the ladies Munster semifinal between St. Mary's School Mallow and Loretto, Fermoy with the end result reading Mallow 0-11 Fermoy 3-07.

Prayer and healing

An afternoon of Prayer for Healing will take place in Banteer Community Centre on Sunday, February 8 commencing at 2.30 pm. with Fr. Paulus (Friars of Renewal - Germany and Moyross), John Delaney, Portlaoise and Donal Enright, Monkstown. The programme begins with Hymns at 2.20 pm followed by Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 2.30 pm with Fr. Paulus. At 3 pm there will be a talk by Donal Enright and at 3.30 pm a talk by John Delaney. Benediction and Eucharistic Blessings will take place at 4.10 pm followed at 4.40 pm with a talk by Fr. Paulus. The Healing session will begin at 5.20 pm with Fr. Paulus and John Delaney. Individual blassing with first class relics of St. Pio is available for all who attend. For further information please contact Eamonn Moynihan at 029-56269 or 086 1961098.

GAA 45

First, Joan Murphy and Ann O'Shea. Second, Richie O'Connor, Tom Lenehan, Joe Sheehy and Norman Bolster. Ladies, Hannie Brennan and Sheila Walsh. Mix, Nora and Dan Hanley. Gents, Mick O'Callaghan and Stephen Moylan. Raffle, Ned Cremin, Patsy Lenehan, Joan Murphy, Gerry Carroll and Willie O'Connor and partner. Cards as usual every Wednesday in Carrigoon commencing at 9 pm. All are welcome. The Carrigoon card school sends their deepest sympathy to the family of Ben Finn, Mallow and Denis O'Keeffe, Rockchapel and Carrigoon who died recently. R.I.P.

Medugorje

A Pilgrimage to Medugorje will take place ex-Cork on July 19 with seven nights stay costing €599 pps. If full payment is paid by February 6 €100 will be deducted off the full price. Please ring Nora on 087-2509184 or 02242877 for further details.

Farmers' market

A farmer's market will take place in the grounds of 4Home, Park Road, Mallow, every Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. A delightful range of food is available; from fresh fruit & vegetables, fish, free-range eggs, delicious cheeses, olives, pates, freshly baked artisan breads and cakes including a wide variety of allergy and glutenfree breads.

Kumon education

From Wednesday January 21 to Friday, February 20 February, Kumon - one of the leading after-school education providers — is running a two-week free trial. This offer is totally free and open to all children. Offering maths and English programmes, Kumon exists to provide as many children as possible with the opportunity to learn and aims to give them the best chance in life by offering a unique and individualised study programme that is tailored to the needs of each child. Through daily practice and repetition, students build their confidence, improve their concentration and gain effective study skills that will enhance their future learning. For further information contact Leigh Goodman, local Kumon Instructor at Mallow Study Centre on 022-24691 or email, mallow@kumoncentre.ie

Computer course

A FETAC Level 5 Word Processing Computer Course begins on Monday, February 8 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Mallow Return To Education Centre at Lower Beecher Street and will run for 15 Mondays. This BTEI Course is free for anyone without Leaving Cert, or anyone in receipt of Social Welfare Benefit or Medical Card. Priority is given to those who are free. To register please phone Brendan at Lower Beecher Street on 02255452.

Valley Players on the run

The Valley Players opening night of Ray Conney's hilarious comedy 'Run For Your Wife' commences on tonight Thursday Jan 29 and runs until Sunday, Feb 1 in Kilshannig Community Centre, Glantane. Dermot Cogan is magnificient in the lead role as bigamist taxi driver John Smith. Denis O'Hanlon plays his sidekick Stanley and the two wives are played by Aoibheann Cronin and Lorraine O'Sullivan. The cast also includes Paul O'Shea, Dan Curtin, Philip Sheehan and Sean Hourigan.This is a fast paced comedy with hilarious antics. A very

enjoyable play.

The late Ben Finn

The death of a popular Mallow resident at his home on Wednesday, January 21 brought great sadness to all who knew him. Ben Finn of Connolly Avenue was well liked in the community. He was a great lover of sport and he loved the game of 45 with his card playing friends. Ben always enjoyed a chat and was always willing to contribute to a conversation on any subject. Interment of his ashes took place in Clonfert Cemetery in Newmarket after Requiem Mass in the Church of the Resurrection in Mallow on Saturday January 24. Ben is survived by his partner Jean, son Connie, brothers Mossie and Denis, sister Juliet, mother Pauline, Beechwood Park, the O'Mahony Family, Connolly Avenue, family connections in Crosshaven and Newmarket, relations and many friends. To Jean, Connie and the Finn Family we express our deepest sympathy.