Muirkirk (Eaglais an t-Sléibh in Gaelic) is a small village in East Ayrshire, southwest Scotland. East Ayrshire ( Siorrachd Inbhir Àir an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32 Council areas of Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is located on the north bank of the River Ayr, between Cumnock and Glenbuck on the A70. The River Ayr ( Uisge Àir in Gaelic in what was the old county of Ayrshire of Scotland, is approximately 65 kilometres in length Cumnock ( Cumnag in Gaelic is a Town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Glenbuck ( Gaelic: Gleann Buic) is a small remote village in the hills to the east of Muirkirk parish East Ayrshire, Scotland. The A70 road is a major road in Scotland, United Kingdom. It runs a total of 82 miles from Edinburgh to Ayr. The Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area was set up to protect the countryside surrounding Muirkirk, which is an area of scenic beauty and environmental importance. Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area is an extensive area of moorland extending south from near Darvel in southern Ayrshire to near Kirkconnel
The 2001 census recorded a population of 1,865. A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001
The village developed around its church, which was built in 1631, and was a fertile recruiting ground for the Covenanter movement. The Covenanters formed an important movement in the religion and politics of Scotland in the 17th century In recent times, the village has fallen into decline due to its geographic isolation and the collapse of its coal and iron industries, but attempts are being made at regeneration through the Muirkirk Enterprise Group which was set up in 1999. Muirkirk Enterprise Group (MEG was set up in 1999 with the aim of regenerating Muirkirk which was at one time labelled the most socially deprived village in Scotland
Former inhabitants of Muirkirk include
- John Lapraik, poet and friend of Robert Burns
- John Loudon McAdam, who developed his system of road laying in Muirkirk
- Isobel Pagan (Tibby) - poetess reputed to have written the original version of "Ca' the Yowes"
External links
Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796 (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire John Loudon McAdam ( September 21 1756 – November 26 1836) was a Scottish Engineer and Road -builder Isabel Pagan (ca 1740 &ndash 1821 was a Scottish Poet of the Romantic Era.Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic