A news and analysis blog about rural Ireland, politics, rural development, Irish politics, agriculture, environment, and other related topics
The ending of peat harvesting by Bord na Mona as part of Ireland’s just transition creates an opportunity to restore the lost raised bog habitat through schemes re wetting the … Continue Reading Irish Horticulture Sector to be entirely reliant on imported peat
Few issues in recent years have been as contentious in rural Ireland as government forestry policy. Depending on who you ask aforestation has created ecologically harmful monocultures, pushed people out … Continue Reading The Forestry Appeals bill and rural Irelands Fute
For the majority organic and local food is linked with the idea of a farmers market, and a limited niche market with a limited customer base. Far from the serious … Continue Reading Irelands emerging alternative food systems
The story that one of Ireland’s largest fruit growers, Keelings, flew in almost 200 workers from bulgaria despite the Covid 19 lockdown has caused many people to ask why is … Continue Reading The Keelings Controversy: what would fair supply chains look like.
Covid 19 has created an unprecedented challenge as countries struggle to tackle the crisis. In Ireland as well as putting immense pressure on our already stretched health service the crisis … Continue Reading Covid 19 & Irish agriculture
Increased environmental consciousness and concerns with pollution caused by industrial agriculture has become more widespread in recent years, movements opposing animal agriculture have used this increased awareness to attempt to … Continue Reading Animal rights activists threaten Irish farms
With Brexit on the horizon and no clear agreement of what will happen when the UK leaves the common fisheries policy and Irish boats continued access to the fishing grounds … Continue Reading Irish Fisheries face an uncertain future
The revelations that the EU and Irish government plan on making the 100 million euro beef fund conditional to a number of measures including possible reductions in production or restructuring … Continue Reading Beef fund is bad for farmers and the planet
In the first of a series of articles looking at the upcoming European Elections we’re looking at the contesting voices claiming to be best placed to represent rural communities interests … Continue Reading Rural voices in the European Parliament
While policies to address climate change become increasingly important, the need for a just transition becomes more pressing to ensure that decarbonisation provides a positive impact for both the environment and the communities most affected by job losses
Tuesdays budget will contain cuts to both USC and income tax, measures which will of course play to Fine Gaels key support base, however the government’s plan of a balanced … Continue Reading Budget 2019 and rural Ireland
Most analysis of the repeal referendum has commented on the polarisation that has marked the campaign, the yes sides’ message of trusting women and facing the reality of abortion in … Continue Reading Rural Repealers
The latest figures released by the government show that over 10 percent of the land in Ireland is under forestry. Over half of the forested area is devoted to conifer … Continue Reading Ireland’s forestry problem
The debate around the eight amendment has been a constant issue in Irish politics for the past few years and with the referendum on repealing the 8th to be … Continue Reading Rural Irelands anti-choice Independents
Gombeen is a word used and abused in Irish politics, often in a navel gazing fashion by political commentators pouring scorn on a rural electorate they don’t understand or … Continue Reading The shadow of the Gombeen man.
Apple are a company much talked about in Ireland, the ongoing tax scandal and the governments refusal to collect tax money owed has caused justifiable anger as many people question … Continue Reading Athenry for Apple. Apple for Ireland?
