Iklin

The name of Iklin is derived from the herb Rosmarinus officinalis, which is known as l-iklin in Maltese.https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/41627/1/L-ilsien_Malti_dokument_ta_l-Istorja_1989.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} The valley in which the herb grew has now been built up.{{cite web|title=L-Iklin|url=http://lc.gov.mt/Page.aspx?catid=15&pid=184|website=lc.gov.mt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924222930/http://www.lc.gov.mt/Page.aspx?catid=15&pid=184|archive-date=24 September 2014}}{{cite journal|journal=L-Imnara|last=Caruana|first=Joseph|date=2009|volume=4|issue=35|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/L-Imnara/L-Imnara.%2009(2011)4=35/11s.pdf|title=Toponomi f'Ghajnsielem|pages=187–188|access-date=10 July 2018|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418041200/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/L-Imnara/L-Imnara.%2009(2011)4=35/11s.pdf|url-status=dead}}. The coat of arms depicts a shield on a blue background with Saint Michael in the centre and, the six roses of L-Iklin on the borders.{{Cite journal|date=1880-02-14|title=COAT OF ARMS|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/notesj/s6-i.7.145-e|journal=Notes and Queries|doi=10.1093/notesj/s6-i.7.145-e|issn=1471-6941|url-access=subscription}}

Modern day Iklin began to develop in the mid-20th century, but the area still has a few minor sites of archaeological importance.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

File:Iklin pre-historic temple.jpg

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 Bronze Age. The foundations of a Roman Villa were excavated in 1975 during construction works. The site has had its own historic importance, but it was destroyed soon after the excavations when the development for housing estates proceeded.{{cite journal|journal=Hyphen|last=Bonanno|first=Anthony|date=1981|volume=5|issue=2|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Hyphen/Hyphen.%202(1981)5/02.pdf|title=Two Archaeological Sites Discovered at l-Iklin|publisher=Melitensia|pages=212–220|access-date=6 March 2016|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100751/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Hyphen/Hyphen.%202(1981)5/02.pdf|url-status=dead}}Sagona, Claudia (2015). [https://books.google.com/books?id=qR5TCgAAQBAJ&dq=paola+palace+vilhena&pg=PA314 "The Archeology in Malta"]. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|1107006694}}, 9781107006690. p. 313. Various references can be found related to these pre-historic sites with documents penned by Maltese archeologist, Anthony Bonanno.{{Cite journal |last=Bugeja |first=Anton |title=Rediscovering Forgotten Sites: A Megalithic Site at L-Iklin |url=https://www.academia.edu/34696036 |journal=The Oracle |volume=1 |pages=39–40}} It is widely believed that further remains are still to be found and unearthed in the surrounding areas.{{Cite web|title=Iklin Megaliths|url=https://www.oocities.org/poinike/iklin.html|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.oocities.org}}

File:Iklin_parish_centre.jpeg

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.{{cite web|title=National Inventory Register |url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/page.asp?p=21574&l=1 |website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912174931/http://culturalheritage.gov.mt/page.asp?p=21574&l=1 |archive-date=12 September 2016 |date=27 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last1=Scerri|first1=John|title=Iklin|url=http://www.malta-canada.com/churches-chapels/Iklin.htm|website=malta-canada.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112061248/http://www.malta-canada.com/churches-chapels/Iklin.htm|archive-date=12 November 2012}}

The first purposely-built residential house in modern Iklin was Dar il-Lewża, which was built in 1954, suffered severe structural impact as outlined in 2012,{{cite web|title=Rose Zammit u b'digriet tas-17 ta' Settembru 2004 il- Qorti ordnat li l-gudizzju jghaddi fil-persuna ta' Elizabeth Galea wara l-mewt ta' ommha l-attrici fil- mori tal-kawza. vs 1. EneMalta 2. Maltacom|url=http://justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/Judgements/script_get_judgement_document.aspx?CaseJudgementID=81226}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130819/local/Wires-and-cables-fixed-on-property-cause-damage.482663|title=Wires and cables fixed on property cause damage|website=Timesofmalta.com|date=19 August 2013 |access-date=11 July 2018}} and demolished in 2018.{{cite web |date=11 February 2018 |title=Dar Lewza can be described as having a sober form of Modernist design which must have been quite daring when it was built (late 1950s/ early 1960s). It exemplifies a style of Maltese architecture of which few quality pieces remain. Sadly this was not recognised by the authorities and last month demolition works began, to be replaced by showrooms and offices. Photographs taken this afternoon. |url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1001257766678674&id=333026300168494 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710172024/https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1001257766678674&id=333026300168494 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |work=Modernist Architecture of Malta |publisher=facebook}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20180815164000/https://zh-cn.facebook.com/Maltese.Modernist.Architecture/posts/dar-lewza-can-be-described/1001257766678674/] A number of villas were constructed in the 1960s and early 1970s, and development increased rapidly between the late 1970s and the 1980s. Iklin has had a local council since 1994, and the town became a separate parish in 2005. A new parish church named for the Holy Family was built for this purpose.

The Iklin Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993, along with the other local councils of Malta.{{cite web|title=About Local Government|url=http://www.lca.org.mt/pages/iseSinglePages.asp?m=20|website=Local Councils' Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207214517/http://www.lca.org.mt/pages/iseSinglePages.asp?m=20|archive-date=7 December 2014}} The first election was held on 19 March 1994.

The local council, elected in 2019, is made up of the following members:{{Cite web|title=Electoral Commission of Malta|url=https://electoral.gov.mt/ElectionResults/LocalCouncil?v=855|access-date=2021-07-28|website=electoral.gov.mt}}

• Dr. Dorian Sciberras(mayor)
• Mrs. Yvonne Bartolo (deputy mayor)
• Ms Bernice Farrugia
• Mr Emanuel Zammit
• Mr Godwin Catania
• Etienne Montfort (executive secretary)

The Holy Family Parish Church, situated in Pjazza Ninu Cremona, serves as the main church in this small locality.{{Cite web|title=Familja Mqaddsa - Parish Church - Iklin, Malta|url=https://www.quddies.com.mt/churches/121/Familja-Mqaddsa/Iklin|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.quddies.com.mt}} In the 80s, the need for a church was evident with the growing population. The first steps were taken by the then Lija parish priest to set up locations where catechism could be taught and mass celebrated. On 23 July 1993, through the donation of a benefactor, a property was converted into a church and the new Pastoral Centre was officially inaugurated.{{Cite web|title=Noti Storiċi|url=http://parroccaiklin.com/il-parrocca/taghrif/noti-storici/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Parrocca Familja Mqaddsa Iklin|language=en-US}} It was only in 2005 that this church became an officially recognised Parish church.{{Cite web|title=Iklin Parish Church in Malta-Pray, Visit and Experience|url=https://www.malta.com/en/local-information/parish-church/iklin|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.malta.com}} 360 Virtual tour of the church can be seen here.[https://regjuncentru360.org/localities/l-iklin/]

The Lija/Iklin Football Nursery is fast gaining prominence on the local sports scene. Inaugurated in 2002, this association was co-founded by Lija and Iklin as a training nursery to eventually feed the best players to the Lija Athletic Football Club.{{Cite web|title=Lija Iklin Football Academy, LIJA ATHLETIC Sports Complex R. Mifsud Bonnici Street,, Ħal Lija (2021)|url=http://www.findglocal.com/MT/%C4%A6al-Lija/476504409030548/Lija-Iklin-Football-Academy|access-date=2021-07-30|website=www.findglocal.com}} The need for better training and playing facilities continues to be felt in this locality.{{Cite web|title=Iklin football ground still an unrealised dream|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/iklin-football-ground-still-an-unrealised-dream.236661|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Times of Malta|date=11 December 2008 |language=en-gb}}

The locality of Iklin includes the following zones:

• Il-Qasbija
• Ta' Ġnien Fonsu (Alphons' Garden)
• Ta' Kieles
• Ta' Simblija
• Tal-Balal
• Tat-Tabib (Doctor's area)
• Tax-Xwieki
• Hal Mann{{cite book|last1=Abela|first1=Giovanni Francesco|author-link1=Giovanni Francesco Abela|title=Della Descrizione di Malta Isola nel Mare Siciliano con le sue Antichità, ed Altre Notizie|date=1647|publisher=Paolo Bonacota|page=85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=krRTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA85|language=it}}

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)

Ninu Cremona Square

Anton Buttigieg Square

File:Iklin place 03.jpg|Old Buildings, Iklin

File:An old house in Iklin.jpg|Old houses being replaced by new developments, Iklin

File:Iklin malta street.jpeg|Residential Areas, Iklin

File:Iklin pre-historic temple.jpg|Remains of Pre-historic temples, Iklin

[https://localgovernment.gov.mt/en/lc/iklin Iklin Local Council]

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Category:Towns in Malta

Category:Local councils of Malta

Category:Populated places established in 1954