Kanturk

Kanturk (Irish: Ceann Toirc, meaning 'boar's head') is a town in the north west of County Cork, Ireland. It is situated at the confluence of the Allua (Allow) and Dallow (Dalua) rivers, which stream further on as tributaries to the River Blackwater. It is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Cork and Limerick, and lies just north of the main N72 road, 15 km (9 miles) from Mallow and about 40 km (25 miles) from Killarney. Kanturk is within the Cork North-West Dáil constituency.

Located at a crossing point at the confluence of the River Allow and River Dalua, evidence of ancient settlement near Kanturk includes a number of ringfort, holy well and fulacht fiadh sites in the surrounding townlands of Coolacoosane, Curragh, Greenane and Gurteenard. The town's English name, Kanturk, derives from the Irish Ceann Toirc or Ceann Tuirc, meaning head (or headland) of the boar.

To the south of the town, in Paal East townland, is Kanturk Castle. Known locally as the Old Court, this fortified house was built c. 1601 for MacDonogh McCarthy as a defence against English settlers during the Plantation of Ireland. The building was a limestone rubble Tudor mansion four storeys high, 28 metres in length and 11 metres wide, with four towers of five storeys high and a height of 29 metres. The castle was never fully completed. Work stopped c. 1618, reputedly because local English settlers were concerned that the structure was too large and fortified, and could be used as a base to attack them. Accordingly, the Privy Council in England ordered that building works be stopped. After changing hands several times in the intervening centuries, Kanturk Castle is now owned by An Taisce (the National Trust for Ireland), and is a designated National Monument.

As of 2015, there were 32 buildings or structures listed on the Record of Protected Structures for County Cork. These include a number of the town's bridges, which date to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The larger religious and administrative buildings in Kanturk date to the early to mid-19th century, including the former market house (1810), court house (1825), Church of Ireland church (1858), and Roman Catholic church (1867).

The local creamery, North Cork Creameries, was founded in 1928 and produces casein powder and other milk products.

Kanturk's library offers lending facilities, newspapers, reference books, internet access and also organises cultural events.

Kanturk Town Park is a short distance from the town shopping centre. The "Unity Stone" monument is located near the park's entrance. The park has oak, beech, chestnut and ash trees, a children's playground, some cultural exhibits, and a walkway by the banks of the Dalua.^{[citation needed]}

The town's schools include a number of national (primary) schools and two co-educational secondary schools. The secondary schools, Coláiste Treasa and Scoil Mhuire, have enrollments of over 500 and 270 students respectively.