Kilnamartyra ( , meaning ''church of the martyr'' or ''church of the relic''), also Kilnamartery, is a village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

, Ireland. It is located around half-way between

Killarney Killarney ( ; , meaning 'church of sloes') is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, part of Killarney National Park, and is home to St Mary's Cathedral, Killar ...

and

Macroom Macroom (; ) is a market town in County Cork, Ireland, located in the valley of the River Sullane, halfway between Cork (city), Cork city and Killarney. Its population has grown and receded over the centuries as it went through periods of war, ...

. The parish is a kilometre from the L3402 local road which joins the N22 road, three kilometres away. Historically its townlands were part of the

barony Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...

of Muskerry West. The local national school is called ''Scoil Lachtain Naofa''. It is a '' gaelscoil'' and is named after Saint Lachtain, the patron saint of Cill na Martra. Other amenities in the village include a GAA pitch and two pubs.

History

The Irish St Lachtin is believed to have found a monastery in the area in the 8th century, and the village name of ''Church of the relic'' likely refers to him, while the Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm, now in the

National Museum of Ireland The National Museum of Ireland () is Ireland's leading museum institution, with a strong emphasis on national and some international archaeology, Irish history, Irish art, culture, and natural history. It has three branches in Dublin, the arch ...

, may have originate from the area and once have contained portions of his arm bones.Synnott, Chris.
Artefacts from Blarney in the National Museum
. Blarney and District Historical Society. Retrieved 3 October 2021

Industry

Kilnamartyra has been home to the Prince August Toy Soldier factory since 1976. Founded by the Swedish couple Lars and Gunilla Edman, they manufacture and sell a range of military and fantasy figurines and home-making kits, and have established a local visitor center. At one point, the company employed almost 40 people.

Cultural references

The song ''Kilnamartyra Exile'' was written by Johnny Brown of Kilnamartyra. Brown, who had served in the First World War, subsequently joined the St. John of God Brothers and was a missionary in Africa.

References

Sources

* Synnott, Chris.
Artefacts from Blarney in the National Museum
. Blarney and District Historical Society. Retrieved 1 August 2021 {{County Cork Towns and villages in County Cork Gaeltacht towns and villages Gaeltacht places in County Cork