Farming numbers decline

IRELAND’S farming population continues to fall, despite new population census figures showing rural growth in large counties such as Cork and Limerick.

This growth is largely due to new residential housing estates in rural areas, an urban sprawl rather than a resurgence in farming.

For example, the Census showed an increase of 8,500 in the population of Co Limerick over the past six years. Despite this, the population of the farming community in Rockhill, near Bruree, fell by 18.4%. This could be attributed to a 90% fall in the number of milk suppliers to Bruree.

Co Clare’s farming community is also dwindling. The entire Kilrush rural area has suffered a population decline of more than 3%.

Some 20 of the 28 electoral areas in the area showed either no growth or a drop in population.