THE DUBLIN REGION
Core Irish Region
The Dublin Region
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Learning Intention
Understand how the physical characteristics
of the Dublin region can affect the area and its
people, both economically and socially.
Analyse the interaction between physical,
economic and human processes in the region.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of
the Dublin region and the West of Ireland.
Today’s Learning.....
Identify the region on a map of Ireland.
 Draw an outline sketch map of Ireland.
 Show the boundary of the Dublin region on this
sketch map.
 Identify a number of features in the region.
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Map
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Draw an outline sketch map
of Ireland.
Mark and identify the
Dublin region.
Locate and mark in;
 A river in the region
 A mountain range
 A main
Communication link
 The main urban centre
Exam Question
Todays Learning Intention
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Review some general characteristics of the Dublin
region
Examine the Dublin region’s physical processes
 Climate
 Soil
 Relief
 Drainage
Core Region
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It is a focal point/nodal point of the main road and rail
networks (with two sea ports and an international port).
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It is the financial and administrative capital (with the seat of
government).
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Well-drained lowland area with fertile soils and sheltered
harbours.
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High population density – 1 million people
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In-migration.
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Attracts industry due to young, educated workforce.
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It is a quickly growing region.
Physical Processes
Climate
Soil
Relief
Drainage
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Climate
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Cool temperate oceanic/maritime
Warmer and drier than the Western
Region
Temperatures: 16 ˚C in the summer and
average 5.5˚C in the winter
Rainfall: 800 mm of rainfall annually
Rainfall is lower than elsewhere in
country
Rain shadow effect: most precipitation
is lost before the Atlantic depressions
reach the Dublin region
Rain-bearing south-westerly winds
have less impact in this region
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Daylight: the region receives 4 hrs
sunshine per day
Growing season: is approximately
270 days
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Coastal location: less frost in spring
Crops planted in the Dublin region
ripen earlier than crops elsewhere
Soil
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Brown earths
Deep fertile soil - easily cultivated
High humus content - deciduous forests covered the region
Alluvial deposits- local rivers
Blanket bogs- Dublin Mountains
Market Gardening
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North Dublin
Marine, light, sandy soils
Free draining
Ideal for market gardening/horticulture
 Growing
salad crops in green houses for a nearby
urban market
Soils in the Dublin Region
Relief & Drainage
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Mainly lowland
Undulating towards the north and west
Good drainage
Main rock type-limestone
Permeable sedimentary rock -allows water to
drain freely
Well-drained; River Liffey, Tolka and Dodder
Pair-share....
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Climate type?
Hours of Sunshine?
Temperature range?
Days in the growing season?
Annual rainfall?
Less frost..why?
Main soil type?
Main rock type?
3 rivers?
Comparison Table
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Physical Characteristics
West of Ireland
Climate
Soil
Relief
Drainage
Dublin Region
Dublin Region
Primary Economic Activities
Agriculture
Dublin Region
Agriculture
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Dublin region is highly productive and commercial
Area only has about 1,500 farms,1% of the national total
Highly urbanised
Farm incomes 40% higher than the national average
Lowland
Highly mechanised and
intensive
 E.g. -region produces
11% of the national wheat
crop and 15% of the
national potato crop
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Deep, fertile soils
High yields of tillage crops e.g. wheat and barley
Malting barley is used for the brewing and
distilling industry
Protein-rich barley is used for animal feed
Farming output is high due to
demands of a nearby large and
wealthy urban market
Due to close proximity to Dublin
city transport costs are low
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Age profile of farmers is lower than in the West
Farmers are well educated – use a market orientated and scientific
approach
Farmers specialise in market
gardening – migrant workers
from Dublin city are
used for labour
Cabbage & Onions main crops
Farms are constantly under
threat from urban sprawl –
encouraging farming to be intensive and
profitable
Fishing
Dublin Region
Fishing
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Main fishing port -Howth
Third largest port in Ireland
Value -€5 million
Dublin Bay prawns- 40% of total shellfish exported
Challenges...
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Fishing declining
Overfishing-1960s
35% of fish landed in Ireland-caught in Dublin ports
3 % in 2000
Aquaculture limited
Irish Sea more polluted than Atlantic Ocean
Exam Question
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Describe and explain any two physical factors that
have influenced the development of agriculture in
an Irish region studied by you. (30m)
Comparison Table
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Primary Economic Activities
West of Ireland
Agriculture
Fishing
Dublin
Dublin Region
Secondary Economic Activities
Secondary Economic Activities
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25% Ireland’s manufacturing industries
40% of people employed in the manufacturing
sector are in this region
Nodal point: a focus of routeways, rail and air
networks
EU and worldwide markets
Direct governmental involvement during the
1990s resulted in 60% of all new industry
developed in Dublin region
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Low rate of corporate tax of 12.5% for new
industries
Modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art
telecommunication links and easily accessible
industrial estates
Abundant well-educated workforce
80% of Ireland’s colleges are located in the
region
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Low age profile- 45% of population under 25
years of age
Industrial output per worker is higher
Manufacturing wages 10% higher than the
national average
People of the Dublin region are generally
wealthier, this attracts producers of luxury-based
goods
Location of the largest financial services sector in
the country is in the IFSC in Dublin: businesses can
avail of its financial management and business
development advice services
Location of Industry
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Traditional brewing and distilling, e.g. Guinness, and
printing, e.g. Irish Independent
Modern growth industries of internet technology, e.g.
Google, and pharmaceutical, e.g. Pfizer
Traditionally located within the city limits because of close
proximity to the port and a good supply of local manual
labour
Newer industries have tended to locate on the outskirts of
Dublin city in close proximity to the M50 & Port Tunnel as it
is easily accessible
Close to a large labour pool in the satellite towns
More spacious sites available
Case Study
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Wyeth/Pfizer
Biopharmaceutical in
Clondalkin
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95 %of people employed in
the plant have third level
qualifications
Employs over 1,000 people
Just off the M50
Major contributor to scientific
research in Ireland
Invested over €640 million in
Science Foundation Ireland
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Manufacturing is also now widely dispersed
5 of the world’s top 10 software companies
located here (Microsoft/Google)
Dublin region is highly dependent on foreign
investment with over 800 of its companies from
overseas and 350 of those US-based companies
Dependence on foreign investment is an issue that
can worry the Irish government
However….
Irish Times; Sat
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rd
23
Feb 2013
Since the beginning of this year, some 27 overseas companies
have announced new investments in Dublin involving the
creation of more than 2,500 jobs across a variant of
knowledge intensive sectors. Among these are household names
such as PayPal, LinkedIn, Dell, Symantec, Allianz, Pfizer,
Google and Accenture.
“Dublin is the engine of growth for foreign direct investment in
Ireland,” says IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary.
“Internationally, the city continues to become increasingly
attractive to overseas investors, with a highly flexible talent
pool offering and a strong cluster of world leading companies
growing their presence.”
Exam Question
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Describe and explain the development of secondary
economic activities in an Irish region you have studied.
(30m)
Explain two factors which influence either agriculture
or industry in one Irish region studied by you. (30m)
Dublin Region
Tertiary Economic Activities
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Tourism
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The region is the main point of entry for visitors to the
country
Benefited from the removal of Shannon as a stopover point
27 per cent of Irish visitors stay in region
Tourism earns €1 billion for the region annually
In 2008 over 4 million tourists visited Dublin
90 per cent of all scheduled air flights to Ireland land at
Dublin airport
A year round business
Main Tourist Attractions
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Trinity College- Book of Kells
Christchurch Cathedral
Dublin Castle
Four Courts
Guinness Storehouse
Museums
Croke Park
Transport
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Most efficient transport system in the country
Governmental investment under the NDP
Dublin port processes 50% of Irish trade
Dublin airport is the largest in the country and
a major employer; it handled 20.9 million
passengers in 2009
Well developed public transport system with
Dublin Bus, DART
(Dublin Area Rapid Transit) and the LUAS light
rail system
Suffers badly from traffic congestion
Transport
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90% of all commercial transport is by road
In 1997 during peak times traffic speed had
been reduced in the city to 14 km per hour
Introduced the Transport 21 scheme
In 2006 construction of Dublin Port Tunnel
Upgrade the M50
Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport opened in 2010
Future Planning…
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Expansion of the DART lines to double its
capacity
Expansion of QBCs
New Luas lines
Metro system
A fivefold increase in taxi numbers
Government need to introduce a policy of
higher density
housing along public transport routes
This is in line with the European model of cities
Urban infill (inner city renewal & regeneration)
is also a policy that could be investigated
Exam Question
Examine the development of
tertiary economic activities in an
Irish region that you have studied.
(30m)
Revision Quiz... Round 1
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1.Climate type?
2. Hours of Sunshine?
3. Temperature range?
4. Days in the growing season?
5. Annual rainfall?
6. Less frost..why?
7. Main soil type?
8. Main rock type?
9. 3 rivers?
10. Number of farms?
Revision Quiz...Round 2
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1. Length of growing season?
2. Main market gardening crops?
3. Main fishing port?
4. Brewing company?
5. Number employed in Wyeth/Pfizer
6. % in Wyeth/Pfizer with 3rd level qualifications?
7. % of flights landing in Dublin?
8. Book of Kells stored here?
9. Dublin’s light rail system?
10. Year that airport T2 opened?
Dublin Region
Human Processes
Population Dynamics
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Textbook page 267
Note 6 SRP’s
Urban – Rural Development /
The Growth of Dublin
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‘The boundaries of a city have
expanded over time.’ Discuss.
Textbook page 268 - 270
Exam Questions
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Examine the development of one urban area in any
Irish region studied by you. (30m)
Regions can be defined by many factors including;
 Economic
 Human
 Physical
Explain how any one of the above factors has defined an
Irish region studied by you. (30m)