Why So Few People Live On The West Coast Of Ireland

The Ireland of Ireland is home to approximately 7.2 million

people

spread between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but despite this political separation, both countries exhibit the same population trend. Each major population center hugs the east

coast

, leaving the central region and

west

coast

of the island. I feel quite empty, so why don't more Irish

people

live

in the

west

ern parts of the island? Welcome to Geography by Jeff, today we are going to explore the island of Ireland and why it developed the unique way he did and what we are about. What we're going to find is a unique confluence of historical decisions and of course geographical reasons for this, but first, today's podcast episode is a little different given that she has a new album coming out.

Hunter and I decided to follow Taylor Swift around the world to see what her geographic footprint looks like you can watch that episode right now on YouTube or whatever app she uses to listen to podcasts. All links are in the description below. People have been living on the island of Ireland for a long time, while recent evidence suggests human activity. on the island dates back to around 33,000 years ago, it is theorized that the first sustained settlements on the island existed approximately 9,000 years ago, probably arriving via land bridge from Scotland or by sea. These early settlers were Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and with the advent of the The Neolithic period in Ireland saw the arrival of agriculture, the construction of large stone monuments such as New Grange and the beginnings of a structured society.

The Bronze and Iron Ages heralded new developments with the arrival of Celtic culture around 600 BC. C. that introduced a new language and a sophisticated culture. social system The Celts, better known locally as Wales, arrived from Galicia, in present-day Spain, and organized themselves into various tribes and kingdoms. These early civilizations left a lasting impact on the linguistic, cultural and even political landscape of Ireland. The first significant outside influence came with the arrival of Christianity. In the 4th century, brought by missionaries such as Saint Patrick, this transformed Irish society and led to the founding of monasteries which became centers of learning and culture not only in Ireland but throughout Europe.

During what was then known as the Middle Ages, they introduced the Viking raids of the 8th century. New dynamics led to the establishment of coastal cities such as Dublin, Waterford and Limmerick, although initially raiders, the Vikings eventually established trade and intermarried with the Welsh, but it would be the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 that marked the beginning of more than 800 years of English influence and eventual government initially invited to assist in a local conflict the Normans soon established their own territories building castles and fortifying cities despite their influence the Normans eventually became more Irish than the Irish themselves in some ways adopting local customs and marrying each other;

However, the guardian conquest of Ireland in the late 16th century, followed by the plantation policies of the 17th century, where English and Scottish settlers received land confiscated from Irish chiefs. SED the seeds for long-term conflict, penal laws intended to diminish the power of the Catholic majority, and even deeper-rooted divisions, all of which built up to the Great Famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1849, a disastrous event initially caused by a severe plague of the potato, but that was mainly due to the intentional inaction of England. This event led to the deaths of approximately 1 million Irish and the immigration of a million more.

The famine deeply affected Irish society and is a key factor in the population decline that continued for decades. It also intensified calls for land reform and increased nationalist sentiment which led to a series of movements seeking independence from Britain. The early 20th century was a tumultuous period for Ireland which culminated. In the Easter Rising of 1916, the War of Independence and the subsequent Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, this treaty established the Irish Free State as a dominion within the British Empire, but also divided the island creating Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom. sparked the Irish Civil War and the SED was the seat of future conflicts, particularly in Northern Ireland, where decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles would begin from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, today Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland and an independent country since 1949. and Northern Ireland, which is still part of the United Kingdom, both united by a single physical geography that will unite them forever, but before we get to the geography of Ireland, if you are enjoying this video, press the subscribe button.

There are more fun geography videos. Just a click away, the island of Ireland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is so well known for its greenery that, in fact, the entire island has been nicknamed the Emerald Isle and this is largely due to the position unique geographical area of ​​Ireland. It is located between 51 and 55° north latitude, Ireland is basically the first place in Europe affected by the weather and the winds that are carried by the Jetstream and gain speed over the Atlantic Ocean, which means that Ireland's climate is Classified as Oceanic marked by mild temperatures, consistent rainfall and generally the absence of temperature extremes, this climate is strongly influenced by the North Atlantic Drift, a continuation of the Gulf Stream that brings warm waters to the coasts of Ireland, Moderating temperature and of course rainfall is a defining characteristic of the Irish climate while the west coast receives the most rainfall thanks to the prevailing westerly winds the east coast sheltered by the central mountains tends to be drier and slightly warmer talking about mountains Ireland is not flat although it does not have high peaks its topography is characterized by a series of low mountains that surround a central plane creating a formation of bicycles, the highest peaks are found in the southwest with Karen in the county of Kerry, reaching 138 m above sea level.

Part of the Millik Reeks mountain range. These mountains are not only important for their height, but also for their geological composition with ancient sandstone and quartzite telling stories of Ireland's ancient past. Ireland's central plains, on the other hand, are a mix of Pete Bogs lakes and fertile agricultural land. This area is the heart of Ireland's agricultural prowess thanks to its rich lomy. Bog soils, such as Allen Bog, are important automobile sinks and contain records of Ireland's environmental history preserved in Pete Ireland layers. Rivers also play a crucial role in its geography, with the River Shannon standing out as the longest river between Ireland and Great Britain.

Stretching over 360 km, it drains the central plains. Winding through several lakes, including the LD and Iri, before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at its lowest point, the Shannon, along with rivers such as the Bo, the Blackwater and the Barrow, has been vital for inland navigation, trade and settlement patterns throughout Irish history. Finally, as it is an island, Ireland has an extensive and rugged coastline with a length of approximately 7,500 km. It is famous for its spectacular cliffs, such as Moore's Cliffs, which rise more than 12 m above the Atlantic Ocean. The coast is marked by numerous bays and inlets.

Peninsulas such as the Ivag Peninsula, home to the Ring of Carry and the Dingle Peninsula, these features are the result of glacial activity during the last ice age which sculpted Ireland's landscape leaving behind fjords such as Cer Harbor and the drumlins that dot the northern landscape. The geography of Ireland paints quite a dramatic picture and if you've been keeping up to date you can begin to understand why so many Irish

live

on the east coast and not the west coast. Ireland's population is not evenly divided and despite existing in two separate countries, a notable pattern has emerged across the entire island, most of the major population centers are located on the east coast, making The Midwest and West Coast sit pretty empty and the reasons for this are both geographical and historical.

The historical aspect of English colonization plays a fundamental role in understanding this demographic pattern. The colonization of Ireland by England began in the 11th century and intensified under the tutor monarchs. The eastern part of Ireland, physically closest to England, was the first to be colonized and the most strongly influenced by English settlement policies, particularly during the plantation periods of the 16th century. and in the 17th centuries Dublin, located on the east coast, emerged as the epicenter of English administration and military power in Ireland; It was the seat of English administration around which economic activities flourished, attracting settlers, merchants and, later, a larger population, both from within Ireland and external immigration.

The desire for proximity to England further cemented the prominence of the East. Being closer to England meant easier access to the administrative and economic heart of the British Empire, facilitating trade communication and military reinforcement. Ports on the east coast, such as Dublin, Cork and Belast, became bustling centers of trade. and trade not only with England but also with the rest of the world, this economic advantage stimulated urban development and population growth in these areas, in contrast to the West, which remained more isolated from direct English influence on major global trade routes. , Ireland's physical geography also contributed to the population disparity between East and West.

The western part of Ireland is characterized by more rugged terrain with numerous mountain ranges. Rocky landscapes and a deeply indented coast. These features, while incredibly beautiful, pose challenges for agricultural transportation and urban development. The Western Regions. They receive greater rainfall and are more exposed to the Atlantic winds, which makes the climate harsher compared to the more protected and fertile East. In contrast, the eastern part of Ireland has relatively flatter lands, especially in the central plains that extend eastwards, these areas have more fertile soils. and were more suitable for agriculture and settlement, meanwhile, the general topography of the East facilitated the development of roads and later railways, further enhancing its attractiveness for settlement and urban development over centuries of development, These factors combined to create a self-reinforcing cycle of economic and administrative opportunities.

Prominence attracted more people to the east, which led to greater development of infrastructure and services, which in turn attracted even more settlers, while the west remained more rural with smaller towns and less industrial development. This trend is seen in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. the similarities of the two countries in development and population, raising the question as to whether these two are so similar, could they ever be reunited into a single unified Irish country? The potential for a United Ireland merging the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland into a single country has long been the subject of political, social and cultural discourse and this idea has gained renewed momentum in the wake of the UK's departure of the European Union, a seismic event that has changed national priorities within Northern Ireland and altered the dynamics of relations between Ireland and Great Britain and at the heart of all this is the Good Friday agreement, a cornerstone of peace and the framework within which a United Ireland could be achieved.

The Good Friday agreement signed in 1998 was a monumental achievement in the peace process that ended decades of conflict known as the Troubles and laid the foundations. To share power in Northern Ireland, one of its key provisions allows a referendum on Irish unification if a majority of Northern Ireland appears likely to support it for years. The prospect of such a referendum remained a distant possibility, but Brexit has raised the question once. Once again we see that Northern Ireland, which voted to remain in the EU, is at the center of complex negotiations and agreements to maintain an open border with the Republic of Ireland, a member of the European Union, this open border is Crucial not only for economic reasons but also for the social and political fabric that has been carefully maintained since the Good Friday agreement, the prospect of any hardening of the border raises concerns about a return to a less peaceful era that undermines the spirit of cooperation that has prevailed between the two countries in thepath towards a However, United Ireland remains fraught with complexities: it requires not only a majority in favor in Northern Ireland, but also a consideration of the Republic of Ireland's willingness to integrate an additional population into its own systems.

There are significant questions about the economic viability, the social integration of communities with deep cultural divisions and the political adjustments required to accommodate unionist identity within a United Ireland. For its part, the European Union STS on a possible United Ireland has been notable. The EU has indicated that, as is the case with East and West Germany, Northern Ireland. would automatically be part of the EU if it unified with the Republic of Ireland, this stance adds an extra layer to the unification calculus, offering a potential path back to the EU for residents of Northern Ireland. Will that ever happen, just the north though?

The Irish can say with certainty that Ireland is a beautiful island, but a unique confluence of historical and geographical reasons keeps the majority of Irish hugging the east coast and because of the closeness the two countries continue to have with the United Kingdom and the European Union, that is not likely to change anything. Anytime, hey, today's episode was about Ireland and you can join me there in person later this year. Early bird tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Hotel dining guides and transportation around Ireland are included. I will be with you all the time, so sign up today.

All links are in the description below. I hope you enjoyed learning all about Ireland.if you did please subscribe to my channel if you want to see more videos click here thanks for watching until next time