KIRKCALDY

Kirkcaldy (IPA pronunciation: [k?r'k?di]) is the largest town in Fife, Scotland. The population of the town according to the 2001 Census stands at 46,912.[1]. Kirkcaldy is known as The Lang Toun (Long Town) in Scots. This name derived from the original expansion of the town in a thin strip parallel to the sea front. The town has since developed further up and down the coast, encompassing formerly separate communities, but also extensively inland, so the term "The Lang Toun" is now only a reference to its historical shape.The name Kirkcaldy is now generally believed to derive from the Brythonic words caer, meaning fort, and caled, meaning hard, and the Gaelic word dun, also meaning fort [2], hence the modern Gaelic Cathair Challdainn. Other theories involving the Scots word kirk meaning church and the Culdees are less favoured now.The town lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. The former burghs of Dysart, Linktown and Pathhead, and the villages of Sinclairtown and Gallatown are now incorporated into Kirkcaldy.Kirkcaldy's size reflects its historical importance as the largest east coast settlement between Edinburgh and Dundee. Its location in a relatively sheltered bay in the Firth of Forth enabled the growth of the port, which also supported a sizeable fishing fleet. Its hinterland includes good farmland and mineral wealth in coal. The last ship to enter the harbour was in 1991. Much of the quay area has since been built up with flats. The Harbour Master's Office had to be demolished following a fire in 2004. It was a small but prominent building with a slate roof. A housing development firm wishes to recreate the former house.[3].Between 16-28 July 2007 an experimental hovercraft service (marketed as Forthfast) was operated between Kirkcaldy and Portobello, Edinburgh. Stagecoach operated the trial service and are considering establishing this link on a permanent basis.Kirkcaldy was famous throughout much of the 19th and 20th Centuries for linoleum manufacturing, notably Nairns, linked with Dundee jute imports; linen produced from local flax; and for its annual week-long Links Market - Europe's longest street fairs - that celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2004. The town still has one of the longest developed sea-fronts in Europe, overlooking the Firth of Forth. In the 17th century it boasted one of the earliest Latvian consulates, reflecting centuries of trade with Scandinavia, the Baltic States and The Netherlands. VIDEOS TAKEN IN KIRKCALDY, ABOUT KIRKCALDY OR KIRKCALDY FOLK! MyGen Profile Generator HOVERCRAFT TRAVEL FROM KIRKCALDY-EDINBURGH A BIG POSSIBILITY!ST JUDES INFIRMARY, THEIR SINGLE GOODBYE JACK VETTRIANO, GRANT, LESLEY AND EMMA JANE ARE ALL FROM KIRKCALDY KIRKCALDY LINKS MARKET 2007 PICTURESQUE DYSARTTHIS VIDEO MAKES ME SMILE, CHEERS ME UP NO END!:-)