This is an account of Ireland in the twenty first century and the remarkable economic and social transformations that have occurred since the late 1980s.
The 'Celtic Tiger' phenomenon made Ireland the focus of much attention in recent years. Other countries have openly declared that they want to follow the Irish economic and social model. Yet there is no book that gives a comprehensive, spatially informed analysis of the Irish experience.

This book fills that gap. Divided into four parts - planning and development, the economy, the political landscape, and population and social issues - the book explains a particular aspect of Ireland and Irish life. The authors reveal how the transformations that have occurred are uneven and unequal in their effects across the country and highlight the challenges now facing Irish society and policy-makers.

About the Contributors

Acknowledgements

1. Ireland in the Twenty First Century by Rob Kitchin and Brendan Bartley

Part One: Planning and Development

Section introduction

2. Planning in Ireland by Brendan Bartley

3. Regional development: trends, policies and strategies by James A. Walsh

4. Recent development of the Irish urban systems by Des McCafferty

5. Urban property development by Andrew MacLaran and Sinead Kelly

6. Rural development - retrospect and prospect by John McDonagh

7. Transport by James Killen

8. Strategic spatial planning in Northern Ireland by Michael Murray and Brendan Murtagh

Part Two: Economy

Section introduction

9.The manufacturing sector by Chris Van Egeraat and Proinnsias Breathnach

10. The services sector by Proinnsias Breathnach

11. Agriculture in transition by James A. Walsh

12. Tourism and heritage by Catherine Kelly

Part Three: Political landscape

Section introduction

13. Political landscape of the Republic of Ireland by Adrian Kavanagh

14. Transformations in governance by Joe Larragy and Brendan Bartley

15. Green Ireland? The governance of waste by Honor Fagan and Michael Murray

16. The meaning of Northern Ireland by Brian Graham

Part Four: Population and social issues

Section introduction

17. Immigration: Labour migrants and asylum seekers and refugees by Piaras MacÉinrí

18. Transformations in housing by Mary Corcoran, Patrick Duffy and Karen Keaveney

19. Deprivation and its spatial articulation by Trutz Haase

20. Health and disease by Frank Houghton and Dennis Pringle

21. 'For the way we live today': consumption, lifestyle and place in Ireland by Denis Linehan

Conclusion

22. Ireland now and in the future by Rob Kitchin and Brendan Bartley

Notes

References

Index