Kanturk (Irish: Ceann Toirc = Boer's Head, also the town's emblem) is a town west of Mallow, in County Cork, Ireland. The town is north of the N72 Mallow–Killarney road.

Kanturk and its Location

It is important to stress how well Kanturk is located within Duhallow and how well Duhallow is located within Munster. It is approx 30 miles from Cork City and a similar distance from Limerick City and is less than that from Killarney and about 25 miles from Blarney. Given a focal point such as Kanturk Castle there is a potential 500,000 people within a day's driving of the area. There are many attractions along the Duhallow trail, such as fishing, golfing and hill walking. Those interested in historical events will find plenty tangible sources to link them to the past. If you are a McAuliffe, an O'Keeffe or an O'Callaghan or McCarthy your roots may be here. Many other families also have their roots in Duhallow. Ireland was a land where wars and plantations moved people about. And there may be O'Neills or O'Donnells here since the Battle of Kinsale in 1601. And many others from these and other times.

Beyond all that a visitor may find the region just a quiet place to relax.

Significant Features

Kanturk is situated at the confluence of the rivers Allow and Dallow, streaming further on into the Blackwater. It is a 'market-town' which after many years with a static population has commenced to grow again.

The old town which dates back to 1600 has on its eastern end Kanturk Castle built around 1609. This is now in the hands of An Taisce, the Irish Heritage Body. It has a history and architecture of significance.

Many people of note had their origins in the area such as Dr. Pat O'Callaghan twice Olympic Gold Medal winner, Edel Quinn, misssionary worker declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1994 and D.D. Sheehan BL., a labour activist and a parlimentarian from the 1900 to the 1918 period.

See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland