A peripheral region of Ireland
This peripheral region of Ireland includes the counties of Galway,
Mayo and Roscommon.
The largest urban centre is Galway City with a population of 78414.
This area comprises almost 20% of the total land area of the state
and has just under 10% of the total population.
The population density is about half of the national average.
The West of Ireland Region (also known as the West Regional
Authority) is a peripheral region due to the following factors:
• The area is classified as _______________ with approx 20-25 people
per km2
• There is a high ______________________________economic activities
• The transport and communication infrastructure is
____________________________
• There are ________________ employment levels in services
• A high amount of people in this region are classified as
_____________________________.
• The larger multinational industries employ a high amount of
______________________________
• The area suffers from __________________________________
The West of Ireland Region (also known as the West Regional
Authority) is a peripheral region due to the following factors:
• The area is classified as rural with approx 20-25 people per km2
• There is a high dependency on primary economic activities
• The transport and communication infrastructure is
underdeveloped
• There are low employment levels in services
• A high amount of people in this region are classified as Rural Poor.
• The larger multinational industries employ a high amount of
unskilled workers
• The area suffers from out-migration
Climate: The cool temperate oceanic climate dominates Ireland
and this region. However, the presence of the Atlantic ocean to
the west influences the climate.
Temperatures range from 5.7◦C (winter) to 14◦C (summer) with
1150mm average rainfall received per year.
Temperatures and rainfall vary from the extreme west of Mayo
and Galway to the east of Roscommon due to the influence of the
mountains of this region. Relief rain sees higher rainfall amounts in
Mayo than the other two counties.
Relief: The main mountains of this region include:
Nephin Beg range in Co. Mayo. (including Croagh Patrick).
The Maamturk Mountains, the Mweelrea range and Twelve
Bens in Galway.
Drainage: The main rivers and lakes of this region include:
The River Moy in Mayo.
The Corrib and Clare in Galway
The Suck and Shannon in Roscommon.
Lough Corrib and Mask in Galway.
Lough Conn in Mayo.
Soils of the region:
There is a wide variety of soils in the
West of Ireland region and are of a
poorer quality than those in the
GDA.
The main soils of this region are:
1. Grey brown podzols/
2. Blanket peat
3. Mountain peat
4. Lowland gleys
5. Acidic brown earths
While there are areas of fertile
brown earth soils, these tend to be
acidic and confined to lowland
valleys where there are pockets of
settlement.
West of Ireland: here the difficult physical
environment (mountainous terrain, infertile soils
and high rainfall levels) hamper agricultural
development. This peripheral region has many
small pastoral farms, where average family
income levels are less than the average for the
country. Approximately half of all farmers in the
West are over 55 years of age and are very
conservative in their farming methodstherefore, there is little chance that things will
improve greatly in the near future.
West of Ireland: here the difficult physical
environment (mountainous terrain, infertile
soils and high rainfall levels) hamper
agricultural development. This peripheral
region has many small pastoral farms, where
average family income levels are less than the
average for the country. Approximately half of
all farmers in the West are over 55 years of
age and are very conservative in their farming
methods-therefore, there is little chance that
things will improve greatly in the near future.
Agriculture in the West of Ireland region is heavily influenced by the
climate, relief, soil types and drainage of this peripheral region.
The cool temperate oceanic climate brings rainfall amounts of up to
1150mm with temperatures ranging from 4 to 14 degrees on average.
Combine this with the peaty soils and podzol soils and agriculture is
more difficult. In addition the region is dominated by mountains,
rivers and lakes such as the Nephin Beg range, the river Corrib and
Lough Mask.
As a result the region is classified as Disadvantaged by the EU.
Farm sizes are smaller in the West region with 50% of the
farmers over 50 years of age. This poses extra challenges. The
farm sizes are not producing enough produce to make a profit
and the older farmers are unable or unwilling to change their
farming methods or machinery. Many cannot afford to do so.
Pastoral farming is the most common type of farming. This
involves cattle and sheep grazing on lowland valley areas and
sheep grazing up the mountainous slopes. Dairying is limited to
lowland areas of Mayo and Roscommon with milk, cheese and
butter the main produce.
Many of the cattle reared for meat have to be sent to the GDA
for fattening before going to market.
Farm sizes are smaller in the West region with 50% of the
farmers over 50 years of age. This poses extra challenges.
The farm sizes are not producing enough produce to make
a profit and the older farmers are unable or unwilling to
change their farming methods or machinery. Many cannot
afford to do so.
Pastoral farming is the most common type of farming. This
involves cattle and sheep grazing on lowland valley areas
and sheep grazing up the mountainous slopes. Dairying is
limited to lowland areas of Mayo and Roscommon with milk,
cheese and butter the main produce.
Many of the cattle reared for meat have to be sent to the GDA
for fattening before going to market.
Approx 10% of Ireland is covered in forest.
The climate and relief of this region means that many farmers
are part-time foresters also. The mountains slopes of the
region are unsuitable for most types of farming so used for
tree growth instead. This land is called ‘marginal land’.
Galway and Mayo are the most forested areas of this
peripheral region with coniferous trees such as Pine most
suitable to the acidic soils of the area.
Coillte (Irish semi-state company) planted 30,000 hectares of
conifers in the West especially in areas around Lough Mask,
Conn and Corrib.
The West of Ireland region has many advantages for this
type of activity:
1. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west
2. The North Atlantic Drift Current brings warm water and fish
close to the coast
3. The waters off the coast are shallow with a rich supply of
plankton on the continental shelf.
4. The coastline has many harbours due to the wests indented
coastline.
Primary Activity: Fishing
The West of Ireland region is isolated from the larger markets of
the east and those of Europe so with an indented coastline and
many off-shore islands, fishing is a local source of employment.
This activity employs more than 2000 people in the West.
Aquaculture (the artificial growing/producing of fish such as
salmon and shellfish) is increasingly important in this region
especially in Mayo. The Clew Bay and Killary areas sees
several hundred people employed in this area. Sea trout is
farmed in the Clew Bay area. In Killary Harbour mussels are
cultivated close to the shore.
Primary Activity: Fishing
The West of Ireland region is isolated from the larger markets of
the east of Ireland with Dublin on the east coast over three
hundred kilometres away. The West is also isolated from
markets in Europe such as London and Paris. With an
indented coastline and many off-shore islands (such as the
Aran Islands), this region has favourable fishing conditions.
Fishing employs more than 2000 people in the West.
Aquaculture is the artificial growing/producing of fish in fish
farms and tanks. The main produce in the West are fish such
as salmon and shellfish. The Clew Bay and Killary areas
sees several hundred people employed in this area.
Sea trout is farmed in the Clew Bay area. In Killary Harbour
mussels are cultivated close to the shore.
Board Iascaigh Mara provides funding and training for the
aquaculture area. This board set up by the Government
develops skills and education in processing and catching fish
stock. The major fishing ports of this peripheral region are
Galway, Rossaveal and Bellmullet. Rossaveal in Galway is the
largest fishing port in this region.
The shellfish cultivated in this area include:
Clew Bay (Mayo):
Abalone, Scallops and Clams
Galway:
Abalone, Sea Urchins, Scallops
Industry in this region is hindered by a number of factors:
• Poorly developed transport infrastructure
• Small urban populations
• The location of the region on the west side of Ireland and
extreme west of Europe
• Lack of power supplies for industry
• Low population density
Galway city (pop. 75515) is the main centre of industry.
Manufacturing industries in this region are less developed than those
in the GDA. In the past the Irish Government placed taxes on
imported goods to protect Irish industries from foreign competition.
This protection helped traditional industries such as food processing in
Castlebar and the textile industries in Foxford (Foxford Woolen Mills).
However, when Ireland joined the EEC in 1973 this changed.
Traditional industries faced stiff competition from cheaper goods from
Europe and many closed.
Information based industries replaced traditional ones. Most of these
industries were foreign multinational companies such as Medical
Technologies (US company).
Galway city is the exception in this peripheral region. Galway
has attracted many electrical and optical equipment industries
and pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. Boston
Scientific is one such example. This company was established
in 1994 and employs over 2500 people. Galway city is attractive
to MNC’s (Multi National Companies) because of the size and
quality of the labour force, research developments in third level
institutions and improvements to the telecommunications
network.
The Irish Government set up two agencies to promote industry in
the West region:
Udaras na Gaeltachta : to attract industry to gaeltacht areas
IDA: Industrial Development Agency : responsible for industrial
development.
Transport links in the West of Ireland region are limited and
underdeveloped. There are only a few national primary roads.
One of the finest roads is the M6 which links Galway to Dublin.
In 2005 Galway only received 1/5 of the money allocated to
Dublin for transport development.
The main shipping port in this region is Galway port. However
its portal activities are limited as it cannot cater for large
containers or international passenger travel.
The low population density of this region (25 per km2) has made
it difficult to upgrade public transport links in this region.
In 2006 it was discovered that the Irish Government did NOT
spend over €500 million of the NDP (National Development
Plan) on infrastructure in the West and surrounding counties!!
Under Transport 21 (transport plan) the Government plans to
spend this money on the Atlantic Corridor which will link Donegal
to Waterford making it easier to access this region from the north
and south.
The undeveloped rail link needs further development and linking
it to Knock airport in Mayo would increase accessibility in this
region.
Fishing attracts up to 20,000 national and international tourists to this region.
Lough Corrib is the prime location for brown trout and best lake in Europe for
this fish. Largest trout caught in the Lough Corrib was 21lb.
Additional fish caught here include Pike, Atlantic Salmon, Eel, Roach and
Bream.
The River Corrib flows from Lough Corrib through Galway to Galway Bay. The
river is among the shortest in Europe, with only a length of six kilometres from
the lough to the Atlantic. It is popular with local whitewater kayakers and is the
training ground of NUI, Galway Kayak club, as well as several rowing clubs.
Ballina, Co. Mayo is home to the Salmon Festival held on the second week in
July. Ballina is hailed as the ‘Salmon capital of Ireland’ and attracts 200000
visitors to the region.
Galway Races……spin off effect important for the city of Galway and
surrounding areas including the retail and hospitality trades.
This race festival attracts over 250,000 visitors to the region and was 2011
second-largest festival in the region.
The Race festival also includes a wide program of events from Irish talent in
the form of music, theatre, art exhibitions, dance and talks.
This is Irelands most popular race event and has the longest race card of all
others.
The Gaeltacht regions attract thousands of Irish speakers each year from
school students to adults…..Colaiste Ciaran……Connemara…..Aran
Islands…..
Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the
grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The
abbey was founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
Sport…..
Mountain climbing/abseiling/treking…..Nephin Beg, Twelve Pins, etc…….
Traditional crafts….Aran Islands, birth place to the Aran Jumper…..variety of
stitches each unique to a family/area……
€350 million in Galway economy since 2004 thanks to crafts and festivals
selling such…..
Knock Airport, Mayo, award winning international airport……
Irelands fourth international airport
Passenger volumes increased in past five years??????
Heavily promoted in Uk and abroad for link to Knock Shine…….
Mayo….13 blue flag beaches…..ideal for surfing and swimming??????
Boyle Abbey, Roscommon is an example of a 12th century Cistercian monastery.
The Abbey is now a national monument in state care and admission is currently free
while restoration work is being carried out.
Croagh Patrick, 764 metres (2,507 ft) tall mountain and an important site of
pilgrimage in County Mayo. On "Reek Sunday", the last Sunday in July every year,
over 15,000 pilgrims climb it.
The Clifden Show in Ireland is the largest horse show in the world which showcases
the Connemara pony breed.