Kilnamartyra ( , meaning church of the martyr or church of the relic),[ Placenames Database of Ireland (see archival records)] also Kilnamartery, is a village and civil parish in County Cork, Ireland. It is located around half-way between Killarney and Macroom.[Keogh, Jackie. " Wet, Wet, WET! West Cork counts cost of third major flood in a fortnight". The Southern Star, 31 August 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2021] 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 of Muskerry West.[" Estate: Baldwin (West Muskerry)". NUI Galway, 18 May 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2021]
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.[" Scoil Lachtain Naofa". An Roinn Oideachais. Retrieved 31 July 2021] 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, 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][Crawford, Henry. "A Descriptive List of Irish Shrines and Reliquaries. Part I". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th series, volume 13, no. 1, June 1923. ]
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.
[O'Keeffe, Donal. " Beloved toy soldier factory to reopen in North Cork on Monday". Irish Examiner, 15 May 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021][Quinlan, Áilín. " Building an army in Kilnamartyra". Irish Examiner, 13 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2021]
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.
Sources
