Current population 4.7 millionunevenly distributed
Prior to Famine: Over 6 millionRural Areas: High Population Densities
1845-1848 The Great FamineDeath and High Levels of EmigrationDramatic reduction of population densities in rural areas.
Early 20th CenturyInternal MigrationRural to Core Regions e.g. DublinKey Stat: between 1926 and 2002 Dublin 122% increase in population, Mayo 23% decrease
Rural DepopulationRural to Urban (West to East)Employment, Access to Services, Better way of life.
1970s Counter UrbanisationSmaller Urban Areas (Athlone and Mullingar)Space and low density of housingImproved infrastructure improved development
UrbanisationCork, Limerick, Galway increased populationsDublin grew even strongerGrowth of Leinster and urbanisation (2nd half of 20th Century) dominated population distribution.