Irkay

Irkay (also known as Irkey, Erki, Erkay) is a small town located in the South of Lebanon (Al Janub) between the major cities of Sidon and Sur. With a population of approximately 5000 people, it isn’t one of the largest towns in the Southern district, but it is one of the most welcoming.

Geography

Irkay is situated in the Al-Janub (Southern) governorate, southeast from the capital, Beirut, and borders two small towns, ‘Izzah in the east and Khzaz in the west. It is only 36 miles (58km) from Beirut and only 9 miles (15km) from Sidon, one of the main ports in Lebanon. Irkay is well-known for producing wheat this is due to the white, fertile soil which also helps to grow flavorful figs and olives. The major river in the South, Al Zahrani, flows through Irkay and further helps to promote the crop growth and also provides a source of leisure for the residents.The town is situated on the Jabal ‘Aamel mountain range which begins from Sidon and stretches throughout the South, making the town’s average altitude 1243 feet (378m) above sea-level. The low population of 4850 people and the vast area of the town resulted in a small population density and hence many houses are scattered at different altitudes within the town region.

Climate

Irkay is known to have a moderate Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons. Temperatures range from 8°C (46°F) in the winter to 35°C (95°F) in the summer. The humidity is usually high in the summer and low in the winter. Snow occurs very rarely, nearly once every ten years. This excellent weather makes Irkay an attractive place for visitors. People come and enjoy most of their summer vacation here if they don’t want to travel outside of the country .

History

In the North of the town, at the cliff of the mountain, lie many mysterious caves which have been deserted for hundreds of years. It is believed that deep within the caves are ancient artifacts, like pottery and old ruins dating back to the Romans and the Phoenicians. No-one has ever explored these caves because of their remote location; however the ruins are believed to exist, because over 7000 years ago ancient civilizations inhabited the Levant area (including Lebanon) so that discovery wouldn’t be a surprise.

When Irkay was first emerging over 50 years ago, there were severe tensions between the three major families Chakroun, Nasser and Makki. Every night there used to be brutal brawls leading to many injuries and police investigations for the assailants. At one time, the army had to arrest a large number of people from different families for a month to stop the clashes and to cool down the tension. This incident is still remembered by the people until now. Possible reasons for the clashes among the different families were jealousy between the families and possibly because of the different political beliefs.The people in Irkay survived a major starving episode 75 years ago. Food was limited, so nearly 20% of the population died from hunger. People started planting their own food in order to survive. The episode was caused by an infestation of rats which flooded the entire country. Food became contaminated so a lot of people caught diseases. Everyone during that time said that this was the worst experience of their lives.

Irkay has also survived through many wars and battles such as the Civil War in 1975 and the Israeli invasion in 1978 and 1982. Both wars lasted until the end of the 20th century. During that time Irkay was occupied by Israeli soldiers, when Israel was in control of the South, and also Irkay was home to many Lebanese militias during the Civil War. In recent history, two years ago on July 2006, when the July War began, Irkay was nearly hit by 4 bombs dropped down by Israeli fighter jets and 2 of which landed on ‘Izzah, nearly 1.5 miles (2 km) away from Irkay. The explosion was definitely felt by the residents in Irkay but no harm was done. Recently the mayor proposed raising taxes in order to pay for the maintenance of the roads and the creation of more social activities. Most people protested against this because they said that the roads were fine just the way they were and, even though they wanted more social activities, they just weren’t prepared to pay that much. In the end the government decided to fund all of this as gratitude for the people.

Culture

The people in Irkay are known for their continuous cultural activities. Some of these activities include, going down to the river every 3rd week in august and have a picnic where all the residents eat, drink and dance the traditional Lebanese folklore. Irkay has its own mayor, elected by the public every four years. His job is to oversee the government projects such as, maintenance, schools, and clinics, he also communicates with the government, on behalf of the people, to tell them about their concerns and needs. Furthermore there is a reward given by Irkay to the students, in each grade, who achieve the highest marks at the end of each year.

Traditionally all the houses are built from red bricks and white stone. They also each have a garden where many residents grow their own vegetables and fruits.

ports

The people of Irkay enjoy many sports, such as soccer, basketball and volleyball. Every august a soccer tournament is arranged where teams from different villages are invited to participate. Sometimes even players from the Lebanese National team are invited to attend this tournament. The winning team is awarded a trophy and a cash prize. This tournament is a major source of entertainment to the residents of the South.

Sources

*Chakroun, Walid, Telephone Interview, 8 Sept. 2008.
*Egger, Per. "Irkay, Lebanon Page." Directory of Cities and Towns in Mohafazat Liban-Sud, Lebanon. 1996-2004. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. 5 Sept. 2008 [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/LE/2/Irkay.html]