Population change in the Western Region

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

The Western Region is a peripheral socio economic region of Ireland.
It consists of the Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
The population of the Western region has changed greatly over time.

Question 2

Pre famine

Answer 2

In 1841, before the famine, there were 1 million people living in the western region.
Most of these people were rural dwellers and farmers who grew potatoes at their only food source.

Question 3

Effect of famine

Answer 3

The great famine, 1845-49, led to a rapid decline in Irelands Population but it affected The Western Regions population the most.
Mass emigration during and during the Famine caused people to move away and sought after a better standard of living in the USA or Britain.
In 1971, the population of the Wester Region fell from over half a million to 312,000.

Question 4

Eu effects of population

Answer 4

Ireland joined the EU in 1973 when it was known as the EEC.
This led to a population increase for the first time since the Famine.
Population decreases again however after a global Recession and 260,000 people left the country.

Question 5

Celtic tiger - 2016

Answer 5

The Celtic Tiger recovered Irelands Economy and therefore recovered the Western Regions Population.
In 2016, the Consensus showed that the regions population had grown to 430,000.
However the regions population is vulnerable to outward migration due to a lack of education and employment opportunities