Irish Regions- The Greater Dublin Area Flashcards
What counties are in the GDA?
Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow
List some reasons why the GDA is a focal point?
- Focal point (main + rail networks)
- Financial and government capital
- Well drained low land area +soils+ sheltered harbours
- High population density
- Young educated workforce
- Fast growing region
What climate dominates Ireland + GDA?
Cool Temperature Oceanic
How much rainfall does the GDA receive each year?
750mm per year
Higher in Wicklow mountains- relief rainfall
What is the average temperatures of the GDA?
5-15 degrees
What is the relief like in the GDA?
Low lying, gently sloping (Meath, Kildare, Dublin)
However, Dublin/Wickow mountains hinder further development in
Describe the drainage of the GDA?
- Liffey dominates much of Dublin and Kildare.
- Other rivers include the Boyne, Nanny, Blackwater and Dargle
Describe the GDA’s soils?
- Fertile brown earth soils
- Mixed with glacial blouder
- Rivers provide rich alluvium each year- land perfect for agriculture
What primary economic activities take place in the GDA?
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Fishing
How many people work in agriculture in the GDA?
Only 3% of the population of the GDA is employed in agriculture
Describe agriculture in the GDA.
- Highly productive and specialised
- Those in sector earn incomes 40% higher than national average
- Commercial and intensive- high yields + maximum output
What physical factors affect agriculture in the GDA?
- Climate
- Relief
- Soils
Describe how climate affects agriculture in the GDA.
- Summer 16 degrees, 2 hours more sunshine than West
- Warmer temperatures + low levels of rainfall- means longer growing season (280 days)
- Rare frosts- reduces damage to crops
Describe how relief affects agriculture in the GDA.
- Lowlands are not exposed to high winds and the soil temperatures are warmer
- Exception Dublin/Wicklow mountains
Describe how soils affect agriculture in the GDA.
- Highly fertile brown earth soils for intensive farming of arable crops
- Soils are stone less and easily worked, less labour intensive
What human factors affect agriculture in the GDA?
- Commercial nature, no abandonment of farms/ outdated methods
- Well educated farmers in GDA
- Younger, average 37
- Larger farms, more mechanised
- Food processing larger scale
- Large market, Dublin City
Describe forestry in the GDA.
Wicklow has more land under forestry than Kildare, Meath and Dublin combined.
-Wicklow Mts. have thin acidic soil, unable to support crops
Describe fishing in the GDA.
- Once important, now declined
- 2% of Ireland’s catch is landed in GDA, down from 35% in 1960
- Irish sea is more polluted than Atlantic
- Shellfish farming not as production, concern as 40% of Ireland’s exported prawns come from the Dublin Bay Area
What is manufacturing like in the GDA?
- Highly developed
- 25% of manufacturing plants are in GDA, employ 40% of Ireland’s industrial workforce
What factors affect manufacturing?
- Strong agriculture sector
- Developed transport links
- Distribution of industry
- Educated workforce
Describe how the strong agricultural sector affects manufacturing in the GDA?
- Highly intensive- large food processing industry
- Barley grown in region is used for brewing and distilling industry
How many people does the Kepak Group employ?
900 people in the production of beef, lamb and pork.
How many tonnes of barley is delivered to Guinness each day?
300 tonnes.
Describe how developed transport links affect manufacturing in the GDA?
- GDA major transport hub
- All major networks radiate out from GDA
- Dublin port allows import of heavy raw materials and to export goods
- Dublin Airport has hundreds of connections to international markets- footloose and light industry
