Signs of hope in industry, tourism

THE problem of rural isolation has been greatly exacerbated by the downturn in the economy.

A tightening of the jobs market means that most of the available employment is in big population centres. This leads to a migration from the countryside to the larger towns and cities.

Emigration is even more prevalent in the current economic climate. While the age-old scourge drains all communities, the absence of a large cohort of young people is felt keenest in rural areas.