A rural resettlement initiative is hoping to halt depopulation in a Kerry Gaeltacht area.
Through a range of support measures, families and individuals are being encouraged to relocate to the Uíbh Ráthach peninsula in south Kerry.
Tascfhórsa Uíbh Ráthaigh, the community organisation behind the effort, will assist interested individuals in finding suitable employment and accommodation, while also ensuring the new arrivals will integrate quickly in to the local community.
The initiative is aimed at enticing natives who have left the area to return, but it is also targeting people who have no previous connection with the peninsula, but who would like to experience rural living.
Those leading the project believe the current pandemic and the general shift towards remote working has generated a lot of interest in the initiative.
"We've had over 30 enquiries to date, both from families and individuals, all interested in making a new life here in Uíbh Ráthach. It’s obviously a big step for people when they decide to relocate, so we must do our best to assist them in that transition." said project co-ordinator, Caitlín Breathnach.
"Many of our young people go away to college, find work in the cities and settle down. During Christmas they return to visit their parents and relatives and now we are asking them to maybe consider a permanent move home."
The Uíbh Ráthach peninsula has been devastated by emigration and population decline in recent decades.
A study carried out by Mary Immaculate College revealed a 41% drop in the Gaeltacht area’s population since 1956. Over one third of townlands in the Gaeltacht are now uninhabited.
Tascfhórsa Uíbh Ráthaigh aims to increase the current Gaeltacht population by 3%, the equivalent of 50 people or 10-15 families. The initiative is funded by the Government's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Caitlín Breathnach says the community is entering a critical period.
"We have already lost many services. Post offices have closed and shops have closed. Without a viable community our remaining schools will end up closing and without schools a community cannot survive. We need young people to return and breathe new life in to and sustain our rural parishes." she said.
"Of course, we have wild and wonderful scenery, but in terms of employment, we have some very successful small businesses and cottage industries here and the roll-out of fibre broadband has brought huge opportunities for home enterprises. We now have hot-desk offices available in the community and support for start-up business through Údarás na Gaeltachta," she added.
The Ó Loingsigh family made the big decision to leave their teaching jobs in Kildare and relocate to Uíbh Ráthach two years ago. Cristíona is originally from the area and her husband is from Kildare, but with family connections in south Kerry.
"When our son Iarfhlaith was born we had a good long chat about it and we both felt it was the right thing to do. Thankfully we both managed to find good jobs here and it was the best decision we ever made. It’s nice to be able to raise our child amongst our relatives." said Cristíona.
Her husband, Cillian says the move to Uíbh Ráthach has been life-changing.
"It’s a beautiful place and we seem to have a lot more leisure time to enjoy it. The strand is on our doorstep here and it’s nice to be able to go for long walks together. The pace of life here is much slower and ultimately much more enriching." he said.
