Kilmarnock, Scotland
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Kilmarnock is a burgh in the county of Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 40,000. It is roughly between Glasgow and Ayr.
The name comes from the gaelic kil meaning church and Saint Marnoch or Mernoc who is also remembered in the name of Portmarnock in Ireland. It is believed said by some that the Saint founded a church there in 322.
Its traditional industries were carpets (manufactured by BMK) and other textiles, as well as making locomotives (Thomas Barclay and Sons) and valves (Glenfield and Kennedy). The carpets manufactured in Kilmarnock were internationally known for their quality and intricacy. Many locations around the world chose to install BMK carpets. RMS Titanic was carpeted using carpets manufactured by BMK. Primarily due to a move by UK consumers towards laminated and hard-wood flooring, carpet-making finally ceased in Kilmarnock in early 2005, but locomotives are still made by Hunslett-Barclay and Glenfield and Kennedy is still in operation. It has a prison, HM Prison Kilmarnock, and a football club named Kilmarnock F.C., the oldest professional club in Scotland. It is also home to Johnnie Walker's Scotch whisky.
The first collection of work by Scottish poet Robert Burns, Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect was published here in 1786. This edition of his work is known as the Kilmarnock Edition. Another master of the written word, and from Kilmarnock, is William McIlvanney. He was born in 1936 in Kilmarnock. [[1] (http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5019)]
In the Castle of Kilmarnock, Dean Castle [2] (http://freespace.virgin.net/kilmarnock.org.uk/dean.html), there is a famous exhibition of ancient music instruments.