No vision for a rapidly changing Ireland

JupiterKid · 07-01-2019 01:28AM #1

Ireland is changing beyond all recognition.

Rural Ireland is slowly dying - this country is rapidly urbanising, particularly in and around Dublin - our City State (I have co-authored a number of papers on regional and urban trends in Ireland with another due out in May next).

Outside of the commuter belts of Dublin and Cork and the regional cities of Galway, Limerick and Waterford, rural Ireland is now in serious trouble. Analysis of census figures of smaller rural towns makes for unsettling reading.

Some coastal towns and a couple of tourist spots are holding up but so much of rural Ireland is in a very sad state of irreversible decline.

The Church is all but dead.

Local services are being closed down.

Pub culture is dying out.

The GAA is holding up, thankfully.

But IMO the current shower in Government simply don’t care about rural Ireland or the disadvantaged or by those trapped by the housing nightmare. They have no vision, no strategy. They are the ultimate career politicians. Utterly selfish.

DontThankMe · 07-01-2019 01:31AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

Ireland is changing beyond all recognition.

Rural Ireland is slowly dying - this country is rapidly urbanising, particularly in and around Dublin - our City State (I have co-authored a paper on the regional trends in Ireland due out in May next).

Outside of the commuter belts of Dublin and Cork and the regional cities of Galway, Limerick and Waterford, rural Ireland is now in serious trouble. Analysis of census figures of smaller rural towns makes for unsettling reading.

Some coastal towns and a couple of tourist spots are holding up but so much of rural Ireland is in a very sad state of irreversible decline.

The Church is all but dead.

Local services are being closed down.

Pub culture is dying out.

The GAA is holding up, thankfully.

But IMO the current shower in Government simply don’t care about rural Ireland or the disadvantaged or by those trapped by the housing nightmare. They have no vision, no strategy. They are the ultimate career politicians. Utterly selfish.

All I'm reading is problems and no solutions. How do you propose that the government could fix some of the problems that you have mentioned.

ballsymchugh · 07-01-2019 01:33AM

Mullinalaghta will sort it out.

Kidkinobe · 07-01-2019 01:34AM

Isn't that a good thing? People moan about traffic, population, congestion, riff raff on street corners, ra ra ra in the main cities due to development..So why not let rural Ireland remain the way it always was...

dxhound2005 · 07-01-2019 01:34AM

It's unlikely that a lot of rural towns suffered a decline in population. Because nearly every county had a population increase (Census 2011 to Census 2016).

Sardonicat · 07-01-2019 01:34AM

I don't see the decline of pub 'culture' as a loss TBH.

kneemos · 07-01-2019 01:37AM

Is there a housing crisis in rural Ireland?

JupiterKid · 07-01-2019 01:38AM

DontThankMe wrote: »

All I'm reading is problems and no solutions. How do you propose that the government could fix some of the problems that you have mentioned.

I have plenty of ideas, including developing towns in the 10k to 20k category outside of the commuter zones. But I’m not giving away the ideas I and my co-authors in our paper propose.

I’m suggesting that others here can contribute with ideas. I have quite a few.

One thing is for sure, the current govt do not care about those outside of their inner circle and have no coherent strategy or vision for this country. Oh yes, there IS the Ireland 2040 plan to add an extra million people here - where will they live, how will they live, how will they make a living?

dxhound2005 · 07-01-2019 01:41AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

I have plenty of ideas, including developing towns in the 10k to 20k category outside of the commuter zones. But I’m not giving away the ideas I and my co-authors in our paper propose.

I’m suggesting that others here can contribute with ideas. I have quite a few.

One thing is for sure, the current govt do not care about those outside of their inner circle and have no coherent strategy or vision for this country. Oh yes, there IS the Ireland 2040 plan to add an extra million people here - where will they live, how will they live, how will they make a living?

The population increased by about a million over a 20 year period recently. Where do they live, how do they live, how do they make a living?

Collie D · 07-01-2019 01:43AM

So you’ve got a solution but you won’t share it and want us to give you our ideas?

Are you looking for help with a thesis or something?

rossie1977 · 07-01-2019 01:44AM

Can only speak for this area but the towns of Castlebar, Roscommon, Carrick on-Shannon, Athlone, Longford have all seen growth over past 10-20 years.

Tuco88 · 07-01-2019 01:44AM

Sardonicat wrote: »

I don't see the decline of pub 'culture' as a loss TBH.

Id prefer to see people drinking in the pub with others than at home.

Sardonicat · 07-01-2019 01:46AM

Tuco88 wrote: »

Sardonicat wrote: »

I don't see the decline of pub 'culture' as a loss TBH.

Id prefer to see people drinking in the pub with others than at home.

Why? Do you think people who don't go to pubs are all at home swigging vino alone?

ligerdub · 07-01-2019 01:47AM

dxhound2005 wrote:

The population increased by about a million over a 20 year period recently. Where do they live, how do they live, how do they make a living?

To be fair housing is in an emergency situation in this country now. Everything is geared towards Dublin, aimed at large multinationals based in Dublin, where there is a severe gridlock every working day and where it's pretty much at an unaffordable cost of living. Dublin has become a poor place to live and work.

kneemos · 07-01-2019 01:50AM

ligerdub wrote: »

To be fair housing is in an emergency situation in this country now. Everything is geared towards Dublin, aimed at large multinationals based in Dublin, where there is a severe gridlock every working day and where it's pretty much at an unaffordable cost of living. Dublin has become a poor place to live and work.

Housing in Dublin. Yer man is on about rural Ireland.

dxhound2005 · 07-01-2019 01:51AM

ligerdub wrote: »

To be fair housing is in an emergency situation in this country now. Everything is geared towards Dublin, aimed at large multinationals based in Dublin, where there is a severe gridlock every working day and where it's pretty much at an unaffordable cost of living. Dublin has become a poor place to live and work.

Everyone except the rough sleepers are accommodated somewhere. It is no more of an emergency than other countries, just that our media reports it more. On the BBC today, they reported on young people looking for accommodation. In Wales the Council put one of them in a tent.

DontThankMe · 07-01-2019 02:00AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

I have plenty of ideas, including developing towns in the 10k to 20k category outside of the commuter zones. But I’m not giving away the ideas I and my co-authors in our paper propose.

I’m suggesting that others here can contribute with ideas. I have quite a few.

One thing is for sure, the current govt do not care about those outside of their inner circle and have no coherent strategy or vision for this country. Oh yes, there IS the Ireland 2040 plan to add an extra million people here - where will they live, how will they live, how will they make a living?

People are generally going to go where they can get the best opportunity for employment which is usually in urban areas. How can a government encourage people to stay in or move to a rural area if there are little to no employment opportunities that meet their expectations.

GAA Beo · 07-01-2019 02:00AM

Fine Gael put the nail in the coffin of Rural Ireland but all parties must share the blame as they let it happen and offered no alternative. Fine Gael still have support in rural Ireland also, I can't understand it but the alternatives thus far are grim in fairness.

GAA Beo · 07-01-2019 02:03AM

DontThankMe wrote: »

People are generally going to go where they can get the best opportunity for employment which is usually in urban areas. How can a government encourage people to stay in or move to a rural area if there are little to no employment opportunities that meet their expectations.

There should be opportunities outside Cork, Greater Dublin and Galway though. In most cases there isn't.

JupiterKid · 07-01-2019 02:03AM

Its two sides of the same coin.

A rural Ireland in decline. A Dublin and its environs losing its quality of living due to a severe housing crisis.

dxhound2005 · 07-01-2019 02:06AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

Its two sides of the same coin.

A rural Ireland in decline. A Dublin and its environs losing its quality of living due to a severe housing crisis.

Whatever the nature of the decline it has not stopped the population increasing in rural Ireland. Is it a decline in life expectancy, a decline in employment, a decline in living standards or something else?

GAA Beo · 07-01-2019 02:08AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

Its two sides of the same coin.

A rural Ireland in decline. A Dublin and its environs losing its quality of living due to a severe housing crisis.

My current situation is unemployed University graduate in my home county. No opportunities locally and I have tried. Can't afford to go to Dublin now due to housing crisis /rental market and cost of living. It's looking like I will try Belfast in the next few months. It's no Dublin job wise but the alternative is sit on the dole or emigrate.

GoneHome · 07-01-2019 02:09AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

Ireland is changing beyond all recognition.

Rural Ireland is slowly dying

Outside of the commuter belts of Dublin and Cork and the regional cities of Galway, Limerick and Waterford, rural Ireland is now in serious trouble. Analysis of census figures of smaller rural towns makes for unsettling reading.

Can you give us some back up data on this, I live in a rural area in County Limerick, there are three villages withing 3 to 4 miles of me in different directions, all are holding their own in terms of employment/schools/GAA clubs/village shop/pubs, alot of new houses being built again after it became non-existent during the down-turn in the economy, the majority of the young people who emigrated during that time have now returned.

kneemos · 07-01-2019 02:11AM

GoneHome wrote: »

Can you give us some back up data on this, I live in a rural area in County Limerick, there are three villages withing 3 to 4 miles of me in different directions, all are holding their own in terms of employment/schools/GAA clubs/village shop/pubs, alot of new houses being built again after it became non-existent during the down-turn in the economy, the majority of the young people who emigrated during that time have now returned.

I think he's one of those that think nothing exists outside the M50.

Tell me how · 07-01-2019 02:14AM

30% of the population resides within 1.3% of the land area.
I largely agree with the sentiment of the OP but I don't know how it is going to change. That 30% of the population is demanding attention to their needs.

Very frustrating to see an airport like Shannon underutilised and a 2nd runway going in to Dublin while people travel from the west to Dublin to access a lot of flights. It's also frustrating to see towns/villages with empty houses and commercial/industrial units while there is a housing crisis in Dublin.

GAA Beo · 07-01-2019 02:22AM

You mention GAA, I could see Dublin winning 10 in a row. People will probably get fed up and just watch club football! Most counties haven't a hope anyway.

Tuco88 · 07-01-2019 02:23AM

Sardonicat wrote: »

Why? Do you think people who don't go to pubs are all at home swigging vino alone?

They are not the pub culture?

Id take the point is mostly towards rural folk who enjoy a few drinks and the social scene of it. Its clearly suffering a big hit with the driving and decline in population and other factors.

To answer the question yes.ðŸ˜

And you dont have to drink to be in the pub culture.

4068ac1elhodqr · 07-01-2019 02:29AM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

The population increased by about a million over a 20 year period recently. Where do they live, how do they live, how do they make a living?

And more importantly, what about the next +1 million (and what are they going to actually do) due between now and 2050. Worth noting that even by 2030 automation may take away nearly half of all current job roles.

By 2050 ai-robotics will likely overtake humans for all, every and any task you can think of. Guess there's always Mars, plenty of space up there.

orourkeda1977 · 07-01-2019 02:33AM

Sardonicat wrote: »

Why? Do you think people who don't go to pubs are all at home swigging vino alone?

Yes. Theyre also **** and sobbing whilst curled up in the foetal position in the corner having just finished a doner kebab

GoneHome · 07-01-2019 02:40AM

Tuco88 wrote: »

They are not the pub culture?

Id take the point is mostly towards rural folk who enjoy a few drinks and the social scene of it. Its clearly suffering a big hit with the driving and decline in population and other factors.

To answer the question yes.ðŸ˜

And you dont have to drink to be in the pub culture.

One of the local pubs to me in a rural village is run by a couple in their 50s and their son of about 25, I was there a few times over Christmas and the place was packed every night, why? because while the wife and son serve the bar the husband is on hand to drive people home at whatever time they so wish. They do the same every night of the week and that's why they're getting the people in, no such thing as a taxi in the area, if more rural pubs were to offer the same service I'm sure they too would reep the benefits. Granted they only open at 5 p.m. during week and then all day Saturday and Sunday but that too makes sense as why would they bother opening at 10.30 a.m. on a weekday to have maybe one alcoholic old lad as their only customer for the day!

rainbowtrout · 07-01-2019 02:45AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

Oh yes, there IS the Ireland 2040 plan to add an extra million people here - where will they live, how will they live, how will they make a living?

More people means more houses, an increase in the use of services in an area such as schools and shops. If those shops have an increase of customers they can expand and take on more employees.

Not everyone will choose to live/work in Dublin.

ligerdub wrote: »

To be fair housing is in an emergency situation in this country now. Everything is geared towards Dublin, aimed at large multinationals based in Dublin, where there is a severe gridlock every working day and where it's pretty much at an unaffordable cost of living. Dublin has become a poor place to live and work.

There is a housing emergency in Dublin. Everywhere else is largely doing fine.
If the government expect nearly a third of the population to live in Dublin, then they will have to consider plans for high density housing/ high rise apartments blocks and forget about the low rise city skyline.

I live in Roscommon and there were houses built in my town during the boom and the billboards were advertising them as perfect for commuting to Dublin.... 110 miles away.

GAA Beo wrote: »

My current situation is unemployed University graduate in my home county. No opportunities locally and I have tried. Can't afford to go to Dublin now due to housing crisis /rental market and cost of living. It's looking like I will try Belfast in the next few months. It's no Dublin job wise but the alternative is sit on the dole or emigrate.

So nothing in your home county, so Dublin is the only alternative? Why not try Galway, Cork, Limerick or Waterford?

No vision for a rapidly changing Ireland

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