Kirkop

Kirkop
Ħal Kirkop
Local council
Il-Kunsill Lokali ta' Ħal Kirkop

The Medieval Church of the Annunciation.

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: Parva non Iners
Coordinates: 35°50′31″N 14°29′6″E / 35.84194°N 14.48500°ECoordinates: 35°50′31″N 14°29′6″E / 35.84194°N 14.48500°E
Country  Malta
Island Malta
Borders Luqa, Mqabba, Ħal Safi, Żurrieq
Government
 • Mayor Terence Agius (PL)
Area
 • Total 1.1 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Population (March 2013)
 • Total 2,173
 • Density 2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi)
Demonym Koppi (m), Koppija (f), Koppin (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code KKP
Dialing code 356
Patron saint Saint. Leonard; Saint Joseph
Day of the Feast (Il-Jum tal-Festa) 3rd Sunday of August; 2nd Sunday of July
Website Official website

Ħal Kirkop is a small village in the south of Malta. It is found near the Malta International Airport and has a rich history, that of even Punic times. The parish church is dedicated to St. Leonard. Apart from the feast of St. Leonard, a secondary feast of St. Joseph is celebrated in summer. The village football team, Kirkop United F.C., currently plays in Division 2 of the Malta Football Association competitions.

History and Population growth

The name of the village is derived from an ancient family name that had roots within the area. The village name was known as 'Casal Prokopju' and this name is found in old registers of the militia that existed prior to the coming of the Knights of Malta. It is traditionally known that the name described the place where this family lived. After a while the official name became 'Kirkop' by the local people. Kirkop has been a village before the 1000s and a parish before the 1600s. Punic remains of catacombs are dotted all around the village, and most of them remain undiscovered, but plans state that they will be explored in the future.

In 1969 the anthropologist Jeremy Boissevain published his research on the social fabric of this village in his book Hal Farrug: a village in Malta. The book was republished in 1980 and re-issued under a new title, Ħal Kirkop: A village in Malta, in 2006. In his book, Boissevain identified Ħal Kirkop people whose families had lived in the area for centuries as having the most striking traces of the ancient Phoenician bloodline. The Phoenicians were ancient marauders who had occupied the Maltese islands around 700 B.C. Punic remains of catacombs are dotted all around the village, and most of them remain undiscovered, but plans state that they will be explored in the future. Kirkop was part of a larger community called 'Bir Miftuh' in Middle Ages when on 29 May 1592 it was declared a parish on its own right

The village has a population of 2,260 people as of March 2011.[1] By March 2013 this decreased slightly to 2,173 people.[2] It is home of the STMicroelectronics plant, whose production accounts for 60% of the exports in Malta.

Places of Interest

In Kirkop, one finds the Menhir monolith (which has become the symbol of the village), Paleo-Christian Catacombs, the medieval Church of the Annunciation, the Parish Church dedicated to St. Leonard, two band clubs (St. Leonard Band Club and St. Joseph Band Club), and the cemetery inside which there is a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas.

A cross placed on column is found in Kirkop Square and it is called "Is-Salib tad-Dejma" in Maltese. There is also a quite interesting collection of niches scattered around the village.

Kirkop is also becoming famous and well sought for 'Faux Farming'. Many wealthy and middle-class families are becoming increasing interested in taking up summer residences and buying parcels of land to develop for recreational agriculture activities and outdoor entertaining, mostly due to the relatively low price of land in the south of Malta.

Ħal Kirkop main roads

Band clubs

Zones in Ħal Kirkop

Twin village

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Csa" (Mediterranean Climate).[4]

Youngest mayor of Ħal Kirkop

During the 2015 Local Elections which were held in Ħal Kirkop, Terence Agius, 18, was elected as mayor of the village with 391 votes on the 1st count. He was the youngest candidate to get elected as mayor and the youngest mayor that Ħal Kirkop has ever had.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Population statistics" (PDF). Malta Government Gazette. mjha.gov.mt. 9 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Estimated Population by Locality 31 March 2013. Malta Government Gazette 19,094. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Site Officiel de la Mairie de Rousset sur Arc
  4. ↑ Climate Summary for Ħal Kirkop
  5. ↑ http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150418/local/18-year-old-elected-mayor.564472

External links