Irvine, North Ayrshire

Irvine ( UR-vin; Scots: Irvin [ˈɪrvɪn]; Scottish Gaelic: Irbhinn [ˈiɾʲivɪɲ]) is a town and former Royal Burgh on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The 2011 Census recorded the town's population at 33,698 inhabitants, making it the largest settlement in North Ayrshire, and 22nd largest settlement in Scotland. Irvine was designated as the fifth and final Scottish new town in November 1966. Irvine is the administrative centre and the seat of the North Ayrshire Council administration which has its headquarters based at Cunninghame House. Irvine was the site of Scotland's 12th century military capital and former headquarters of the Lord High Constable of Scotland, Hugh de Morville. It also served as the capital of Cunninghame and was, at the time of David I, Robert II and Robert III, one of the earliest capitals of Scotland. Despite being classed as a new town, Irvine has had a long history stretching back many centuries and was classed as a royal burgh. There are also conflicting rumours that Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed briefly at Seagate Castle. There is still a yearly festival, called Marymass, held in the town. Marymass refers to Mary Queen of Scots and is celebrated for around a week starting from the 15th of August, and was therefore Mary's Mass hence, Marymass. The town became a haunt of Robert Burns, after he briefly worked a flax-dresser in a heckling shop near the Glasgow Vennel. Two streets in the town are named after him: Burns Street and Burns Crescent.