A news and analysis blog about rural Ireland, politics, rural development, Irish politics, agriculture, environment, and other related topics
Vulture funds who have bought up large amounts of distressed loans are targeting Irish mortgages particularly farmers who borrowed to buy land during the Celtic Tiger with the … Continue Reading Vultures target Irish farms
Irish farming enjoys a reputation for pasture based, grass fed livestock systems. The marketing power of this image is something Irish food producers and retailers are acutely aware of. Meat … Continue Reading Factory Farms on the increase in Ireland
by Breandán Ó Conchúir The recent occupation of the department of agriculture by the IFA is an interesting example of the power dynamics that shape the states responses to protests … Continue Reading Protest Power and the IFA
The 2016 census showed an overall increase in the Irish population, however in several rural areas the population declined or remained the same, most notably Donegal which experienced a population decline of nearly 7,000. While OECD research in 2015 showed that 17% of people born in Ireland live abroad.
The Governments recent announcement of a 60 million euro plan for rural Ireland has been cautiously welcomed by rural interest groups. The current political turmoil and the extent of the … Continue Reading Rural Ireland for sale
A light has been shone on Ireland’s fishing industry over the past few months following the release of Risteard O Domhnaill’s documentary The Atlantic, and the controversy surrounding Super trawlers … Continue Reading Ireland and the common fisheries policy
In recent years farmers across Europe have felt the pressure of reduced farm gate prices paid by supermarkets.There has been various national responses to this such as … Continue Reading The European response to supermarket prices
As budget 2017 looms on the horizon different groups from opposition parties, to trade unions, to charities have launched their pre-budget submissions. While the government hints at planned tax cuts … Continue Reading budget 2017 what it means for rural ireland
In the second half of our two part examination of Rural Ireland’s relationship with nature we look at how the future of rural communities depends on our ability to work with … Continue Reading rural Ireland: a future with nature?
In the first of a two part series examining rural Irelands relation with the environment we look at the relationship between rural communities and the environment and the various ways … Continue Reading Rural Irelands problem with nature
The 2015 National field vegetable census will reveal the extent of the contraction in Irish horticulture, with an expected decline of up to 50% in the number of commercial growers … Continue Reading the end of Irish veg?
The Irish government has recently announced its intention to privatise the nations broadband infrastructure, meaning that the millions of tax payers money invested in the roll out of broadband nation … Continue Reading Broadband the new electricity
