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The Future Dreams of Ireland’s Youth: Possibilities for Rural Regeneration and Generational Renewal

Author

Listed:
  • Aisling Murtagh

    (Rural Studies Centre, Discipline of Geography, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland)

  • Maura Farrell

    (Rural Studies Centre, Discipline of Geography, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland)

  • Tuomas Kuhmonen

    (Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland)

  • Louise Weir

    (Rural Studies Centre, Discipline of Geography, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland)

  • Marie Mahon

    (Rural Studies Centre, Discipline of Geography, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland)

Abstract

The renewal of younger generations in farming and rural areas is a key European policy concern and rural sustainability issue. European literature discusses what drives young people from rural areas while identifying diverse and often interlinked factors as responsible. This study uses a future foresight approach to understand what would facilitate young people to remain in or return to rural areas. Targeting youth aged 18 to 30 and examining their personal dream futures in 2035, this paper presents the ideal lifestyle and livelihoods young people envision for themselves in rural Ireland. However, future approaches to alleviate rural decline, support regeneration, and the wider issue of generational renewal must consider the wider impact on rural sustainability. Generational renewal is just one challenging part of rural decline, including wider social, environmental, economic, and cultural issues. Driven by this wider concern, this paper also explores the implications of the youth’s future dreams for rural regeneration and generational renewal from a broad rural resilience perspective. The results identify a range of issues. However, rural jobs emerge as a key issue, and the paper outlines how policy attention is particularly needed here for improved resilient rural regeneration and generational renewal.

Suggested Citation

  • Aisling Murtagh & Maura Farrell & Tuomas Kuhmonen & Louise Weir & Marie Mahon, 2023. "The Future Dreams of Ireland’s Youth: Possibilities for Rural Regeneration and Generational Renewal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9528-:d:1170519
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ron Boschma, 2015. "Towards an Evolutionary Perspective on Regional Resilience," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(5), pages 733-751, May.
    2. Nicole R. Bernsen & Mindy S. Crandall & Jessica E. Leahy & Jesse B. Abrams & Chris R. Colocousis, 2022. "Do rural youth want to stay rural? Influences on residential aspirations of youth in forest-located communities," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(5), pages 566-584, October.
    3. Francisco Simões & Antonella Rocca & Rui Rocha & Carlos Mateus & Elena Marta & Jale Tosun, 2021. "Time to Get Emotional: Determinants of University Students’ Intention to Return to Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Roy Huijsmans & Nicola Ansell & Peggy Froerer, 2021. "Introduction: Development, Young People, and the Social Production of Aspirations," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(1), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Julia Weiss & Livio Ferrante & Mariano Soler-Porta, 2021. "There Is No Place like Home! How Willing Are Young Adults to Move to Find a Job?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-20, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Piras & Antonio Pulina & Pierluigi Milone, 2024. "The Different Strategies of the Italian Regions within the 2023 2027 Rural Development Programme," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Benedetta Coluccia & Vittoria Tunno & Giulio Paolo Agnusdei, 2025. "The Agricultural Regeneration of Salento (Apulia, Italy) After the Xylella fastidiosa Crisis: Managing the Shocks Through Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-21, October.

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