Kirkby Ireleth in South Lakeland is a large rural parish which is slightly unusual to say the least.  Bisected by the Lake District National Park Boundary, the bulk of the population live in the southern half of the Parish. It is at the head of the Furness Peninsular bound by the Duddon Estuary looking out over Black Combe and the Irish Sea. With a 1200 strong population who live mainly in seven hamlets it has a strong sense of community spirit and a wealth of organisations.

The nearest towns are Ulverston (four miles) and Barrow-in-Furness (twelve miles) to which most of the working population commute. The only major employer in the village is the world renowned Burlington Slate Quarry which employs over one hundred people. The Village is a pleasant mix of farmland with low lying marsh heathland, and woodland, which along with the moorland and heath of Kirkby Moor and Woodland fells, make a very attractive landscape.

There is a strong sense of community spirit in the village with a Community Centre which has cricket and football pitches, a children's playground, tennis courts and a county standard bowling green. A wealth of organisations exist to suit all ages and interests. The Annual Gala/Sports Day and Garden Party provide entertainment and social enjoyment for all. The Vicar edits and produces the free monthly magazine "The Kirkby Caller". There is also an annual calendar. These two publications provide an excellent source of news and information that help everyone to keep in touch with events and happenings.

Kirkby is fortunate in having two garages, three public houses, four churches, a busy village shop, a post office, a railway station, and a modern health centre. The Burlington Church of England Primary school is thriving with upwards of seventy pupils. There are a few holiday homes but in the main these are owned by people with historic links with the village or those who have made a conscious effort to integrate into its life. A caravan site which has grown from one hundred and twenty to around two hundred caravans and chalets relieves pressure on the Central Lakes. Due to excellent screening its presence is hardly noticed in the village.

The Parish Council is very active and meets on the third Thursday of every month. In recent years it has successfully opposed a large scale development of housing but failed to gain village approval for a smaller development on another site that would have created some starter homes for young couples. It has finally, after many years of trying, persuaded North West Water to provide a modern Waste Water Treatment Plant. Recently it has campaigned for, and finally obtained, a reduction of the speed limits on the A595 within the Parish, from 60 mph to 40 mph and through the main part of the village to 30 mph. Further issues to be addressed are a barrage across the Duddon Estuary and improvements to the narrow parts of the A595 at Dove Ford.

Historically St. Cuthbert's Church dates from the twelfth century, whist two of the oldest manorial farmsteads date back to medieval times. Lands in the parish originally belonged to the monks Furness Abbey. The quarry goes back over four hundred years with the slate being shipped from Kirkby by flat bottomed barge. Evidence of this long gone activity can still be seen on the estuary at Sandside.