Iklin

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Iklin
L-Iklin
Local council
Chapel of St. Michael Archangel built in 1615
Chapel of St. Michael Archangel built in 1615
Flag of Iklin
Flag		 Coat of arms of Iklin
Coat of arms
Iklin in Malta.svg
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  Malta
Region Central Region
District Western District
Established 1954
Borders Balzan, Birkirkara, Għargħur, Lija, Naxxar, San Ġwann
Government
 • Mayor Anthony Dalli (PN)
Area
 • Total 1.7 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Population (March 2014)
 • Total 3,130
 • Density 1,800/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Ikliniż (m), Ikliniża (f), Ikliniżi (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code IKL
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-19
Patron saint Holy Family
St. Michael
Day of festa Sunday before 29 September (St. Michael)
Website Official website
Centre of Iklin - Community Parish dedicated to the Holy Family[1]

Iklin (Maltese: L-Iklin) is a village in the Central Region of Malta, with a population of 3,130 as of March 2014.[2] Iklin was established in the mid-20th century; however some archaeological sites and a medieval chapel, named as St. Michael Chapel, are proof to earlier settlements.[3] Until recently, the town was considered to form part of Lija. It is bordered by Għargħur, San Ġwann, Birkirkara, Balzan, Lija and Naxxar.

Iklin is divided in Lower Iklin siding on the Birkirkara bypass and the Upper Iklin. Lower Iklin is were houses are built side by side, in general villas and maisonettes but also recently some apartments. At the Upper Iklin is were land is on a hill close to Naxxar and land is considered more expensive; in general the land consists of villas and farmhouses. The two sides share two common facts, the neighborhoods structural design and the general silence living areas.[4]

Etymology

The name of Iklin is derived from the herb rosmarinus, which is known as l-iklin in Maltese. The valley in which the herb grew has now been built up.[5]

History

Dar -il Lewza, oldest house in Iklin Malta.jpeg

Modern day Iklin began to develop in the mid-20th century, but the area still has a few minor sites of archaeological importance:[6]

  • a megalithic site, perhaps the remains of a temple, was discovered in 1967 by the Teenagers Din l-Art Ħelwa group from St. Aloysius' College. Unfortunately, this site has never been seriously surveyed or studied.
  • a second megalithic site was studied in 1986 during works on the new Birkirkara By-Pass, in the area known as Tar-Raddiena. Two large megaliths, and a few smaller ones are still visible (though often ignored) on this busy road. The ruins were dated, through pottery sherds found during excavation, to the Temple Period.
  • the foundations of a Roman Villa were excavated in 1975 during construction works. Unfortunately, the site - which seems to have been quite an interesting minor site - was destroyed soon after excavation, in the name of progress.

In the 15th century, a chapel dedicated to St. Michael was built in what is now Iklin. Pietro Dusina visited the chapel during his Apostolic Visit of 1575, and he described it as being in a poor state. The chapel was rebuilt in 1615 by Gilormu Agius. Today it is open once a year for the feast of St. Michael, which is celebrated the Sunday before 29 September by the Lija fireworks team.[7]

The first house in modern Iklin was Dar il-Lewża, which was built in 1954.[4] A number of villas were constructed in the 1960s and early 1970s, and development increased rapidly between the late 1970s and the 1980s.[5]

Iklin has had a local council since 1994, and the town became a separate parish in 2005. A new parish church is currently under construction.[7]

Government

The Iklin Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993, along with the other local councils of Malta.[8] The first election was held on 19 March 1994. Other elections were held in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2015,[9] and the next elections are set to be held in 2019.[10]

The following people have served as Mayor of Iklin:[11]

  • Joseph Buttigieg (1994–1996)
  • Anthony Dalli (1996–present)

The present local council, which was elected in 2015, is made up of the following members:[12]

  • Anthony Dalli (mayor)
  • Anthony Borg (deputy mayor)
  • Carmel Amante Attard
  • Martin Fenech
  • Yvonne Bartolo
  • Etienne Montfort (executive secretary)

Demographics

Typical neighbourhood in Ikin

Iklin has a population of 3130 people as of March 2014.[2] The population is relatively young, with about one third being younger than 18 years. However, the amount of people older than 60 have also increased due to longer life expectancy.[5]

Zones

The locality of Iklin includes the following zones:

  • Il-Qasbija
  • Ta' Ġnien Fonsu (Alphons Garden's Village)
  • Ta' Kieles
  • Ta' Simblija
  • Tal-Balal
  • Tat-Tabib (Doctor's Village)
  • Tax-Xwieki

Main Roads

Iklin historic road leading from Naxxar to Valletta with contemporary modern neighbourhoods
Iklin neighbourhoods

The main roads of Iklin are:

  • Triq Dun Karm (Dun Karm By-Pass)
  • Triq Geronimo Abos (Geronimo Abos Street)
  • Triq il-Wied (Valley Road)
  • Triq in-Naxxar (Naxxar Road)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00789.pdf
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00790.pdf
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.english-studies.org/sitemenu/7malta/Malta-The_George_Cross_Island/page17/page14/page14.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ http://www.oocities.org/poinike/iklin.html
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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