A Warm Welcome to Birkirkara: A Message from the Mayor

Dear Visitor,

It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome you to Birkirkara, one of Malta’s oldest and most historically rich towns. As you explore our streets and landmarks, I invite you to discover the fascinating layers of history, faith, and culture that define our community and continue to inspire its people.

According to various scholars, the name Birkirkara means “running water”, from the phrase il-bir fejn l-ilma jkarkar, referring to cold or flowing water. The origins of our town date back to the Megalithic period, with archaeological discoveries including catacombs, human remains, and pottery fragments. The people of Birkirkara, known as the Karkariżi, are believed to have migrated from tal-Għargħar (today in San Ġwann), meaning “top of the hill” or “juniper tree.” Seeking safety from corsair attacks, they settled in this more central location, bringing with them their enduring devotion to Saint Helen the Empress, who remains the Patron Saint of Birkirkara to this day.

Historical evidence confirms that Birkirkara already had a parish church by 1402, and it was recognized as one of the ten parishes listed in the De Mello Report of 1436. The Collegiate Chapter of Birkirkara was later established in December 1630 by Papal Bull Sacri Apostolatus Ministerio issued by Pope Urban VIII. The benefactor, Rev. Dun Filippo Borg, became the first Provost of the Collegiate Church, which began functioning in 1635 after prolonged legal disputes. Thus, the Mensa Capitolare and Mensa Filippina were founded.

Birkirkara’s original parochial limits once included a vast area covering Ħ’Attard, Ħal Balzan, Ħal Lija, Sliema, Msida, Swatar, Saint Julian’s, Gżira, Ta’ Xbiex, Swieqi, Paceville, Saint Andrew’s/Madliena, Pietà, and parts of Ħamrun, Ħal Kaprat, Saint Venera, and Imrieħel. Over the centuries, these communities gradually became independent parishes, the first being Ħ’Attard in 1575, and the most recent being Swatar in 2006.

The construction of the new parish church, designed by Capo Mastro Salvatore Borg of Siġġiewi, began in 1726. The Collegiate Chapter moved to the new building in 1745, and it was consecrated in 1782 by Bishop Vincenzo Labini under the patronage of Saint Helen. In 1771, Canon Perino Borg established the Mensa Pierina, which was affirmed in 1787. Among Birkirkara’s greatest benefactors was Vincenzo Borg, known as Brared, who played a pivotal role in liberating Malta from French occupation with the aid of his fellow countrymen and foreign allies. Borg also donated the statue of Saint Helen, sculpted in pine wood by Salvatore Psaila of Bormla. The annual procession in her honour is held on the first Sunday after 18 August at 8:00 AM, followed by another feast on 3 May, the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross.

Birkirkara is also home to the largest bell in Malta, housed in the belfry of the Collegiate Church of Saint Helen. Cast by the Funderia Barigozzi of Milan, it was installed in January 1931 amid great celebration. The church was later elevated to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Inside, one can admire remarkable works of art by Francesco Zahra, Gio Nicola Buhagiar, Giuseppe Cali, and others, alongside stunning frescoes by the Roman artist Virginio Monti. In 2023, a new museum was opened, displaying precious artifacts related to the church and its history.

Culturally, Birkirkara takes pride in its three band clubs; the Duke of Connaught Band Club (A.D. 1865), known as tal-Għama; the Saint Helen Band Club (A.D. 1919), known as tal-Bagri; and the Saint Anthony Band Club (A.D. 1983). Over the years, these institutions have been led by renowned bandmasters such as Mro Tommaso Galea, Mro Raffaele Ricci, Mro Giuseppe Busuttil, Mro Ferdinando Camilleri, Mro Joseph Sammut, Mro Andrew Coleiro, and Mro Anthony Aquilina (Maġġur). Each club continues to provide free music lessons and serves as a cultural pillar within our community.

The Veneranda Società Don Filippo Borgia, founded in 1936 by Cleric Salvatore Borg Olivier, is another distinguished institution. It was created to safeguard the rights of both the Collegiate Chapter and the people of Birkirkara, and it received official recognition directly from the Vatican.

Football has long been at the heart of the Karkariżi spirit. Though the sport traces back locally to 1916, the Birkirkara Football Club was formally established in 1950. Under the presidency of Victor Zammit, the club celebrated its first major victory in 2000, winning the Premier League Cup and marking the beginning of a proud legacy. Today, Birkirkara FC is among Malta’s most successful clubs, boasting four Premier League titles, six FA Trophies, and six Super Cups, as well as a historic qualification to the third round of the Europa League in 2016.

Birkirkara also played a pioneering role in fireworks craftsmanship, tracing its roots to the Order of Saint John. The Għaqda tan-Nar Sant’ Elena was founded in 1927 by Rosario Micallef and further developed by Costantino Mifsud (Is-Sur Mifsud), who introduced innovations such as coloured smoke bombs and mortars in the 1950s. Despite the tragic accident of June 2007, the community’s passion endures. Efforts continue to relocate and rebuild the fireworks factory, ensuring this proud tradition survives for future generations.

Our town was home to several charitable institutions, including the Conservatorio Bugeja, Cini Institute, and Conservatorio San Giuseppe. During the Second World War, Birkirkara provided refuge for those displaced from the Cottonera area. Notably, the statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Bormla was temporarily sheltered here before its joyful return in a 1944 procession. Birkirkara also became home to educational and religious institutions, including Saint Aloysius College, the Franciscan Convent, Discalced Carmelites, Missionary of Saint Paul, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus. The Tal-Ħerba Sanctuary, dedicated to Our Lady of Tal-Ħerba (formerly Our Lady of Grace), houses the largest ex-voto collection in Malta, tokens of gratitude for miracles received.

Among Birkirkara’s many distinguished residents were Commander Giovanni Alentorn and Basilico, ruler of Moldovia (1561–1563); Provost Filippo Borg; Canon Perin Borg; and Vincenzo Borg Brared. In modern times, we proudly count Prime Minister Francesco Buhagiar, Sir Anthony Mamo, Malta’s first President of the Republic, and Dr Edward Fenech Adami, Prime Minister and later President of Malta, among those who have called Birkirkara home.

It would be impossible to capture all of Birkirkara’s heritage in a single letter, but I hope this overview gives you a sense of the depth, pride, and vitality that define our community. As Mayor, I warmly invite you to explore our town, meet its people, and share in its living history.

With warm regards,
Dr Desirei Grech
Mayor of Birkirkara