ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the relationships between rural population replacement and rural enterprise development. It presents a context by summarizing population census data to show that out-migration in the indigenous population masks a secondary but dynamic process of population replacement through in-migration. The chapter also presents returns from a survey of small and medium enterprises (SME) in the three counties, and illustrates the significance of in-comers in the formation of new rural-based businesses. These three countries are: Mayo, Galway and Clare. The chapter is concerned with the relationships between the formation and development of SMEs as a state-sponsored rural development strategy and the way in which rural restructuring on this basis is related to demographic processes. It describes the survey analysis in assessing the impact of the new businesses on local economic and demographic structures. The chapter summarizes the global-local relationships emerging from the analysis.
