Kanturk

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Kanturk (Irish: Ceann Toirc = Boar's Head, also the town's emblem) is a town in the north west of County Cork, Ireland. Kanturk is situated at the confluence of the rivers Allow and Dallow (also Dalua), streaming further on as tributaries into the Blackwater. It is a market town, which after many years with a static population has commenced to grow again.

1 Attractions
2 People
3 Industries
4 Leisure Facilities
5 See also
6 External link

[edit] Attractions

Kanturk is a very accessible for visitors. It is about 50 km (30 miles) from Cork City and Limerick City, and about 40 km (25 miles) from Killarney and Blarney.

A significant historical site close to the town is Kanturk Castle, built in 1609. Due to its architectural and historic importance, it is owned by An Taisce (National Trust for Ireland). Heritage tourists from the McAuliffe, O'Keeffe, O'Callaghan, and McCarthy families can search for their roots in Kanturk. As families moved during wars and the plantations, some O'Neills, O'Donnells, and other families can date their roots in Kanturk since the Siege of Kinsale. Another infamous family that has originated from County Cork is the O'Connor family.

The town's schools include the Community School and Scoil Mhuire (the school of Mary), where many students go and learn worldy languages such as German, Gaelic (Irish) and Spanish.

[edit] People

Many people of note had their origins in the area, including:

Pat O'Callaghan, Dr., twice Olympic Gold Medal winner
Edel Quinn, missionary worker declared Venerable in 1994
D.D. Sheehan BL., a labour activist and parliamentarian M.P. from 1901 to 1918
Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, suffragette and author, 1877-1946
Pádraig A. Ó Síocháin S.C., author and Irish language activist, 1905-1995.
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair
Thady Quill, historical rake.
Paddy Sheehan, UCD Gold Medalist, Law.

[edit] Industries

A small town with a creamery, Kanturk produced casein from milk, a raw material for early plastics. A knitware factory provided considerable employment from 1930 until 2000. Concrete flooring products are now produced. Keating's bakery now closed.

[edit] Leisure Facilities

Kanturk has a thriving rugby club, located just outside the town. An eighteen-hole golf course is located on the Mill Road. A new soccer pitch and facilities are also under construction, and will be open shortly.

Kanturk also has great trout fishing in the rivers that flow through the town, the Dalua and Allua and the freemount river also, the river blackwater, well know for it's salmon fishing. One of the local fishermen in the Kanturk club, Colm Lynch, will again represent Ireland in July 2007, in the world fly fishing championships to be held in Ireland. Colm has previously represented ireland in Italy in the early 90's.