Cork South & Kerry Circuit

The Cork South & Kerry Circuit, in the south west of Ireland is the largest geographical circuit in Irish Methodism.  The biggest church is in Cork, but the minister, based in Cork also has responsibility for Kenmare (90km to the south west), Killarney (80km to the west), Kinsale (25km to the south) and Youghal (50km to the east).

The Cork South & Kerry Circuit was named as such during the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church which was held at Ardfallen in Cork in June 2007.

Prior to this the circuit was known as the Cork Circuit although 2 of the churches on the circuit were in Co. Kerry; these being Killarney and Kenmare.  Killarney had been part of the Tralee and Killarney circuit but the church in Tralee closed in the1960's and for a number of years services were only held in Killarney during the summer months as there was no regular congregation to sustain all year round worship.  There is now a strong congregation in Killarney which necessitates 2 services on a Sunday morning.  In January 2007 a new society was formed in Kenmare with weekly Sunday morning services and an active Sunday School in a rented local premises.

Kinsale had been part of the West Cork Circuit but in 2003 it was transferred to the Cork Circuit.
Youghal had been part of the Youghal & Dungarvan Circuit but when the church in Dungarvan closed, Youghal was then added to the Cork Circuit.

The work in Cork City itself has seen a remarkable transformation in recent years as in the mid 1980's the old church in Patrick Street was closed and a new church complex was developed at Ardfallen, about 2 km to the south of the city centre.