GEO DICTIONARY


Student-to-teacher ratio: the number of students for every teacher in a school


ACTIVE LEARNING


1. What is meant by the term ‘human processes’?


2. Explain how the Great Famine has impacted on the human processes of the West.


3. Describe how physical factors have impacted on human processes in the West.


4. Discuss how the economy has impacted on migration patterns in the West.


Population Density and Distribution


The population distribution of the West region is not even, as areas such as the Connemara Mountains and West Mayo are sparsely populated. Urban areas such as Galway City, Ballina and Castlebar are more densely populated. The rough terrain of Connemara and other parts of the West means that many areas are unsuitable to build on, while poor peat and gley soils have contributed to farmland being abandoned. This has led to a population density of less than half that of the national average (25 per km2


compared to 66 per km2 ).


Rural depopulation has been an issue for the West since the Famine, with population densities now as low as 3 per km2


in parts of Connemara. As


younger people (18–30) are more likely to migrate from the region, the West is robbed of its future generations. This contributes to low marriage and birth rates, as well as a lack of skills and talents. This fact is proven by a number of statistics from the last census:


• Some 20.3% of all houses in the West are vacant. • Almost one in ten (9.8%) people in the West live alone. • Some 26% of the West’s population is over the age of 65.


• The West has the lowest number of primary schools but also has the lowest average student-to-teacher ratio.


Despite ongoing rural depopulation, urban areas in the West have shown strong growth, e.g. Galway City, Westport and Ballina. This is mainly due to foreign direct investment, which has created employment, and improved access to the region.


EDUCATE YOURSELF Human Processes


Population change


Changed greatly over time, before Great Famine 850 000 living in the West region, rural dwellers, subsistence farming, Famine – rapid decline in population, mass emigration continued after Famine, 1971 decline of over half a million, joined EU in 1973, population increase, 1980s – global recession, 206 000 emigrated, Celtic Tiger era, population grew quickly, 2011 census – 445 356, still susceptible to recession, rural-urban migration, 25% vacancy rate of houses


Population density


Population not even, Connemara Mountains and west Mayo sparsely populated, urban areas more densely populated, rough terrain unsuitable to build on, poor peat and gley soils, farmland abandoned, population density – less than half national, rural depopulation, density as low as 3 per km2


in parts of Connemara, younger people (18–30) more likely to migrate, low marriage and birth


rates, 20.3% of houses vacant, 9.8% live alone, 26% over the age of 65, lowest number of primary schools, lowest average student-to-teacher ratio, urban areas shown strong growth, e.g. Galway City, foreign direct investment, improved access to the region


Galway City earned its nickname ‘City of the Tribes’ from Oliver Cromwell, who found that the city was being ruled by 14 different families.


388 EARTH Urban Development


Some 54.2% of the West’s population are rural dwellers, while nearly 65% of all houses in the West are detached. With the exception of Galway City, urban regions are small. Outside of Galway, only Ballina and Castlebar have populations of more than 10 000, while Loughrea and Ballinasloe have populations of 5000.


A


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