Areas of low population density in western Ireland have seen declining populations as young people move to larger cities for university, work, and opportunities. Population statistics show decreases in rural districts like Clifden and parts of County Clare as young adults leave for urban areas like Dublin, Galway, and Cork. Their departure leads to issues such as low marriage and birth rates, abandoned farmland as less people want to work the farms, and economic isolation as businesses do not want to operate in areas with few potential customers or workers.

2. Population Change in IrelandPopulation Change in Ireland

4. Use the fill-in sheet withUse the fill-in sheet with
the following slides tothe following slides to
investigate the reasons forinvestigate the reasons for
low population density inlow population density in
the west of Ireland.the west of Ireland.

6. Where did people go?Where did people go?
Can you think of any reasons?Can you think of any reasons?
CLUE 1: Population Change: Clifden Rural District andCLUE 1: Population Change: Clifden Rural District and
GalwayGalway

7. Clue 2…Clue 2…

8. Does this help?

9. Clue 2 ctd…the Dublin RegionClue 2 ctd…the Dublin Region
This will definitely
help…

10. Clue 3…Meanwhile in west ClareClue 3…Meanwhile in west Clare
What has happened?
Why?

11. What is the
problem
here?
Does it link
to clue 3?

12. What is the problem here?
Does it link to any of the other bits of
evidence?

13. Areas of low population density have few people living in them.Areas of low population density have few people living in them.
In Ireland they are usually isolated rural areas or islands.In Ireland they are usually isolated rural areas or islands.
Young people leave these areas when they go to university or for work.Young people leave these areas when they go to university or for work.
They go to the big cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway.They go to the big cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
This can lead to many problems such as;This can lead to many problems such as;
-- Low marriage ratesLow marriage rates – few young people remain to start families.– few young people remain to start families.
-- Abandoning farmlandAbandoning farmland – young people don– young people don’’t want to work on the farm.t want to work on the farm.
-- Economic isolationEconomic isolation – Businesses won– Businesses won’’t set up there because there aret set up there because there are
few workers or customers.few workers or customers.
Low Population DensityLow Population Density