An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Sruth > Volume 2 > No. 94, 29 October 1970

FOUR
SRUTH, Di-ardaoin, 29mh latha de’n Damhar 1970
Survey of West Donegal
Some depressing facts
emerge from the Agricultural
Institute’s survey of the re¬
sources of West Donegal.
With 83 out of every 100
holdings amounting to less
than 50 acres the average
farm income in 1965/66 was
£138. It was only on farms
of more than 100 acres that
the income went above f.100.
The survey says that the
number of people depending
on farming in the area will
have to be reduced by nearly
two-thirds if those who
remain are to make a living
out of it.
Many people in the area
are old and there are not
enough in the younger age
groups between 15 and 45.
Most of the farmers have not
gone further than primary
school and very few of the
young people are entering
farming.
The land is poor. The re¬
port thinks that four out of
every five acres would be
better withdrawn from agri¬
culture altogether and used
for wild life reserves, tourist
recreation or other amenities.
As regards the possibility
for crops the area has several
disadvantages. Nor can horti
culture be carried on econo¬
mically on a big sca'e be¬
cause of limited and scattered
acreages of suitable soils,
poor drainage, small fields
which make mechanisation
difficult, high production and
transport costs and the high
cost of modem glasslhouses
along with remoteness from
markets.
Not even forestry is be¬
lieved to have much chance
in the area. The present
5,000 acres of state forest is
unlikely to be extended be¬
cause whatever land is good
enough for it would have to
be used for other agricultural
purposes.
There is intensive farming
in some of the small holdings.
The majority of small hold¬
ings consist of about 20 acres
beside the dwelling house
and sub-divided into two or
three fields.
The potato patch is rotated.
The fields and meadows are
used to graze two or three
cows and a few smaller cattle.
Sheep are confined mainly to
the hills and bogs- Survival
rate among lambs is low and
there are very few pigs be¬
cause of the high cost of feed¬
ing stuffs.
The survey touches a
brighter note when it says
that there is a promising
future for the fishing industry,
especially in salmon and lob¬
ster.
Therefore although the ag¬
ricultural possibilities for the
area are not very good the
survey believes that west
Donegal may have other pos¬
sibilities which will enable
the people to stay there, sup¬
plementing their incomes out¬
side agriculture.
Like so many other parts
of the West of Ireland there
has been a heavy rate of emi¬
gration from the area. 69 out
of every 100 females and 66
out of every 100 males have
left by the time they reach
their thirties.
The unemployment rate at
present is as high as 9.7 per
cent and for every 100 wor¬
kers there are 197 others.
About 60 of every 100 wor¬
kers are in agriculture where
the incomes are so low. In
the not-very-distant future,
as workers become older and
incapacitated, many holdings
will become derelict or will
become part of larger units.
In housing and domestic
amenities, the area compares
favourably with other parts
of the country and there has
been a spectacular increase in
attendance at secondary and
vocational schools despite
the drop in population.
High numbers of school
leavers are still emigrating
and very few are going into
farmings The report says that
a lot could be done to bring
more tourists to West Done¬
gal, but facilities would have
to be improved to cater for
visitors.
Having made this depress
ing survey the report says
that 45 out of every 100 acres
should be kept under agricul¬
ture while other areas nvght
be still used for sheen pro¬
duction. This farming area
would have 250 farms in an
intensive system of produc¬
tion. These farms would pro¬
vide full-time employment
for about 1,000 people com¬
pared with the 3,000 farms at
present in the area.
This reduction would en¬
able each farm family to have
an income of £1,000 a year.
“ We agree with those who
wish to maintain the rural
population. We do not think
that this necessarily means
keeping the present numbers
engaged in farming,” says the
report, pointing out that for
many the future ’ey not in
agriculture but in develop¬
ment of the area through in¬
dustry, tourism, forests, fish¬
eries, etc. If these reorgansa-
tions are to take place the
area will have to receive
special help:
(a) a very substantial sum of
capital per farm—about
£7,000 over and above
£5,000 from state grants.
(b) a high level of technical
and managerial ability on
the part of the farmer.
(c) a reform of the pattern of
land-holding to permit the
development of units
large enough to give a
farm output of £1,500 to
£2,000 per unit.
“ We are convinced that
unless radical measures are
adopted, the agriculture of
west Donegal will continue to
decline. As living standards
in the rest of the community
rise further, the present sub¬
sistence level of farm incomes
will become increasingly un¬
acceptable, especially to the
younger members of the
farming community.”
The Principality of
liechtenstein
by Iain G. MacNair
JHE existence of this little
state of 16,000 natives plus
about 4,000 or 5,000 foreigners
proves that independence is
possible whenever historical,
geographic or other factors
intervene.
From one end to the other,
Schanwald on the Austrian
frontier to Bulzers (Swiss
frontier), there is only 75
kilometres. On the west, Lich¬
tenstein is separated from
Switzerland by the Rhine.
The traveller enters the coun¬
try either from Bucks, just
across the river by bus, or by
single track train, or else by
Feldkrek, just beyond Schoon.
There is no railway station
at the capital, Vaduz, but
Schoon is practically united
with Vaduz. There is only one
big road that forks off at
Schoon to Bledes and Feld-
kinch and goes through
Vaduz to Balzess, while there
is a side valley and road lead¬
ing behind the Princes castle
to Triesenberg and Mallein.
Wooden barns, hayricks
hanging up mingle with more
modem buildings all in the
centre of the capital — the
older houses are of wood, at
least the upper stairs, with
wide balconies.
Liechtenstein is well able vo
stand on its own economically
to the extent of having about
4,000 workers from other
countries employed, chiefly
Italians. They work in forms
for building, roadmaking, and
factories, all with the most
up-to-date equipment.
Before the war, Liechten¬
stein had a customs union
with Austria but since then
has had more relation with
Switzerland. The only coun¬
tries that appear to have con¬
sulates in the Principality are
Austria and Italy.
The castle residence of the
ruling prince is of course not
open to the public (thus sav¬
ing the tourist the “work” of
visiting a museum and can
have a real holiday).
If you enter the frontier at
the southern end the traveller
may have the impression of
entering a fairy kingdom
when the ancient castle of
Gutenberg above Balzen the
Princes leave their Royal bal¬
cony in the Vaduz church,
but all appear intent on the
ceremonies on Sundays.
G AIRH
PUBLICATIONS
incorporating
ALEX. MACLAREN & SONS
Gaelic Publishers
29 WATERLOO STREET
GLASGOW 0.2.
Tel. 041-221-1971
We have pleasure in announcing that we have
taken over the Gaelic Publishing business of
Alex. MacLaren and Sons, and that we now
offer an unrivalled service to Gaelic readers
and Gaelic learners.
Come and see our Gaelic titles and song
publications in our new showroom at 29
Waterloo Street, or send for our book-list.
Published by Gairm Publications in October
1970:—
Na Lochlannaich, a short illustrated book
on the Vikings •••
Luach na Saorsa, 1914-18 War Diary and
other writings by the late Murdo
Murray
An Rathad Cian, a new collection of
poems by Derick Thomson •••
Dorcha tro Ghlainne, an anthology of
20th century short stories, with a
fascinating Introduction by Donald
John MacLeod
Selected Titles from MacLaren’s list:—
Gaelic Self-Taught (with key) ...
MacLaren’s Collection of Songs (Sheets
1-73)
Coisir a’ Mhoid, Books 1-5 •••
Orain a’ Mhoid, Books 1 - 17 ...
Grain nam Beann
Clarsach a’ Ghlinne
Songs of the Western Isles (with piano
arrangement) ...
The National Dances of Scotland
Na Baird Thirisdeach
Buchanan the Sacred Bard
Dain spioradail le Dughall Bochanan
Bean Torra Dhamh
Gaelic Hymn Book
lain Beag Fhionnlaigh, Anns an Tighearna
Mackenzie, History of the Highland
Clearances ...
Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn •••
The Legend of Kilchurn
An Rosarnach, Leabhar4
Litrichean Alasdair Mhoir
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