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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Ruth McAreaveyORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This paper examines aspects of population change in small villages of Ireland through analysis of residents’ perceptions of social, economic, and environmental dimensions of rural sustainability. In addition, given the relevance to identity and well-being, it aligns these into value affinities/aversions (ruralphilia/ruralphobia) and affective bonds to places. While the paper draws on documental work and key indicators from the CSO to develop a context for the study, it is mainly based on empirical data, focusing on small villages of Cavan and Leitrim, where semi-structured interviews with various informants were conducted. Thus, this paper gives voice both to rural immigrants and to locally born inhabitants. Our research identified how some residents articulated feelings related to ruralphilia/ruralphobia and others showed how everyday challenges reveal the entanglements of social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. For instance, prejudice or xenophobia are more clearly linked to the social dimension of sustainability (but can have an impact on the ability to attract foreign workers). Meanwhile, access to credit and support for rural business development are more clearly linked to the economic dimension (but have a social impact due to the scarcity/lack of jobs available or the low-quality jobs on offer), and environmental education, recycling and waste management are more clearly linked to the environmental dimension (but there will be new job opportunities if more waste management policies are implemented).. Meanwhile, access to credit and support for rural business devels aspects of population chabe new job opportunities if more waste management policies are implemented)
Author(s): Morén-Alegret R, Milazzo J, McAreavey R, Keaveney K
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Irish Geography
Year: 2024
Volume: 56
Issue: 2
Pages: 91-122
Print publication date: 01/11/2024
Online publication date: 10/09/2024
Acceptance date: 30/06/2024
Date deposited: 25/09/2024
ISSN (print): 0075-0778
ISSN (electronic): 1939-4055
Publisher: Geographical Society of Ireland
URL: https://doi.org/10.55650/igj.2023.1485
DOI: 10.55650/igj.2023.1485
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