Birkirkara
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| Birkirkara (Il-Kunsill Lokali ta' Birkirkara) | |
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 Coat of arms |
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| Official name: | Birkirkara |
| Inhabitants: | Karkariż (m), Karkariża (f), Karkariżi (pl) |
| Other names: | B'kara, Birchircara, San Ġwann ta' l-Għorgħar (code: BKR) |
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| Coordinates: | 35°53′48″N 14°27′45″E / 35.89667°N 14.4625°ECoordinates: 35°53′48″N 14°27′45″E / 35.89667°N 14.4625°E |
| Area: | 2.7km² |
| Population total: | 21,858 (Nov 2005) (1st largest locality) |
| Population density: | 7,971/km² |
| Borders: | Balzan, Iklin, Lija, Msida, San Ġwann, Santa Venera, Qormi |
| Patron saint: | St. Helen; St. Mary; St. Joseph the Worker; Our Lady of Carmelo; St. Anthony of Padova |
| Day of festa: | St. Helen August 18 (or first Sunday after date); Sunday after 15 August; May 1; First Sunday of July; First Sunday of June |
| Mayor: | Michael Fenech Adami (PN) |
| Website: | [1] |
Birkirkara or B'Kara is a city of 21,775 inhabitants (as of November 2005) in central Malta. It is the largest and most populous city on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of the Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College. Birkirkara is the home town of Ex-President Edward Fenech Adami and former Opposition Leader Alfred Sant and also the first president of Malta Anthony Mamo. It is the birthplace of Malta's leading singer songwriter Walter Micallef.
The city's motto is "In hoc signo vinces", and its coat of arms is a plain red cross, surmounted by a crown.
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[edit] Description
There are many places of interest in Birkirkara, amongst them the Old Railway Station which is today located within a public garden.
Trains were used as means of transportation across the island until the Railway's closure in 1931. Other town features include the aqueducts built by Grandmaster Wignacourt in the 17th Century and St Helen's basilica, one of the most beautiful churches on the Maltese islands, housing Malta's largest bell. Birkirkara is one of Malta's oldest towns and received mention in the 1436 Ecclesiastical Report establishing parishes in Malta and Gozo, from which Birkirkara emerged as the largest parish. Various parishes and suburbs developed out of Birkirkara over the years, including Sliema, St. Julian's, Msida, Hamrun in the 19th century and Santa Venera in the early 20th century. In more recent years, San Gwann (1965) and the hamlet of Ta' l-Ibraġ hived off Birkirkara to form part of the new parish and locality of Swieqi in 1993.
Birkirkara's main religious feast is that of St Helen which is celebrated on 18 August if it falls on a Sunday, or on the first Sunday after that date. The main event of the celebration is a procession with a large wooden statue carved by the Maltese master-sculptor Salvu Psaila. Notably, this is the only procession on the island carried out in the morning. The procession leaves the basilica at exactly 8:00 a.m. and returns to it at 10:45 a.m. The statue is lifted to shoulder-height by a group of townsmen and is carried through the main streets of the city.
Birkirkara has grown into an important commercial centre as well as a densely populated residential area. Birkirkara is known for its football club, Birkirkara F.C., founded in 1950.
[edit] Birkirkara Local Council
The current Birkirkara local council members are:
- Michael Fenech Adami (mayor, PN)
- Joanne Borg (PL)
- Emanuel Aquilina (PL)
- Rita Borg (PL)
- Doris Bonavia (PN)
- George Debattista (PN)
- Anthony Buttigieg (PL)
- Chirelle Sciberras (PL)
- Mark G. Abdilla (PN)
- Josianne Cardona Gatt (PN)
- Rose Frendo (PN)
- John Borg (PN)
- Jimmy Calleja (PL)
[edit] Birkirkara Community Service
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Triq Fleur-de-Lys (Fleur-de-Lys Road), Fleur-de-Lys
- Our Lady, Mother of the Church Parish Church, Triq il-Graffitti Navali, Swatar
- St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church, Triq il-Bwieraq (Bwieraq Street)
- St. Helen's Parish Church, Triq is-Santwarju (Sanctuary Street)
- St. Mary's Parish Church, Triq il-Knisja l-Qadima (Old Church Street)
- Our Lady of Victory Parish Church, Triq il-Vitorja (Victory Street)
- Birkirkara Local Council, Triq Tumas Fenech (Thomas Fenech Street)
- Birkirkara District Police Station, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Birkirkara Malta Labour Party Club, Triq Fleur-de-Lys (Fleur-de-Lys Road)
- Birkirkara Partit Nazzjonalista Club, Triq Fleur-de-Lys (Fleur-de-Lys Road)
- Birkirkara Branch Post Office, Triq il-Wied (Valley Road)
- Birkirkara Sub-Post Offices at: Triq Mannarino (Mannarino Road); Triq Tumas Fenech (Thomas Fenech Street); and Triq L. Casolani (L. Casolani Street)
- Da Vinci Hospital, Triq Kan. K. Pirotta (Can. K. Pirotta Street)
- Birkirkara Health Centre, Triq Tumas Fenech
- Birkirkara Regional Library, Triq Tumas Fenech
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Birkirkara Local Council
- the Historical Society Website
- Birkirkara: general information
- Birkirkara and the cross
- Empress Helen en fete
- Places to visit in Birkirkara
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