A news and analysis blog about rural Ireland, politics, rural development, Irish politics, agriculture, environment, and other related topics
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.
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
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.
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.
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
