Regional Geography

A Region is an area on the earths surface that displays shared boundaries or characteristics.
Types of Regions
Climate e.g. cool Oceanic climate
Physical: e.g. The Alps
Administrative: e.g. E.U
Language and Cultural: e.g. Gaeltacht
Religious: e.g. Northern Ireland, Islamic World
Urban: Dublin Area
Core: Important Areas e.g. Dublin
Peripheral: Isolated Areas e.g. West of Ireland
Regions of Industrial decline: e.g. Cork

Administrative Regions
Ireland
Single Tier system
Dates back to the Normans C12
th

Orginially 4 cultural Provinces
Mid C13
th
: 8 counties
1606 1994: 26counties in the republic and 6 counties in Northern Ireland
1994: Dublin subdivided into 3 South Dublin, Dunlaoighre and Fingal
Many County boundaries distinguished by physical boundaries
Urban Based Administrative Region
City councils: 5 of them: Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Galway, Limerick
Suburbs have grown so much that they spread into Neighbouring counties
Borough and Town Councils: The medium 5 sized town below the city, 75 town councils
France
Multi tier system
Central Government 22 regional Governments 96 Dpartements + 5 overseas
Dpartements and Regional Govs
Dates back to French Revolution
There to promoted culture
Responsible for a number of function social services, planning
Prfect is administrative officer
1 main town is the focus for each department
1955: Regional centres were formed
1970: Policy of decentralisation to give them more power


Regional Geography
Language Regions
Gealtacht
1.6 mill people claim to speak Irish
Only used every day in Fior Gaeltacht
1925: Broken into Fior and Breac Gaeltachts
Gaeltacht regions decreasing in size:
1. Emigration
2. Education
3. Language of Business is English
Government system of positive discrimination in Gaeltacht regions
What has the Government done?
Irish become states national language
Made Irish compulsory in schools
Ability to speak Irish for all public sector jobs
Irish Language Act 2003: All documents printed in Irish and English
Application for E.U status approved in 2005
Gaelscoileanna becoming very popular
Belgium
Flanders:
Flemish Speaking: Culturally linked to Netherlands
Historically Poor: Prospered since 1940s attracting growth in industry
Captial of Belgium: Located here but is Bilingual

Wallonia:
Mainly French speaking
During 1800s became prosperous due to Sombre Muse Valley (Coal and Steel)
Collapse in 1950s led to a massive decline ( Maladjusted region) and migration
German Enclave: Territory received from Germany after WW1
Tensions caused by Difference in Belgium
Flanders: Has received much investment but still feels under threat by the more dominated
French Language
Possible break up of Belgium have been averted many times
Led to fundamental government reforms and the creation of a Federal Government
Flemish display a defensive attitude over the spread of French and have created a pro Flemish
political government. (Very strong views)




Regional Geography
Language Regions
Northern Ireland
Conflict stems from Ulster Plantation 1609
Native Irish forced from their land
Tensions rose in C20
th
after Government of Ireland Act
Some autonomy but goverened from London
The Divide
Divide between Protestants and Catholics
Protestants: Unionists who want to be part of Britain
Loyalists: Extreme Unionists ( U.V.F and Red Hand Defenders)
Catholics: Nationalists who want a united Ireland
Nationalists: I.R.A ( Real and Continuity)
1960s The Troubles
Began as a civil rights campaign
Turned violent as both sides clashed over religious and political views
Over 30 years: Shootings, beatings, ambushes, bombings, stand offs, marches
Culminated in the Omagh bombing of 1998 where 28 people were killed
Overall 3500 people died during the troubles
Mostly ended with the Good Friday Agreement with major discussions
Today
Developed Government with more autonomy
Stronger mix of Catholic and Protestant in public office
More integration in schools


Regional Geography
Western Region
Its a peripheral region including counties: Galway, Mayo and Roscommon
Largest Urban Centre: Galway City with a population of 78414
Compromises 20% of the land bur holds 10% of population

national average of population density (25 per km)

Classified as a rural area
High dependency on primary activities
Transport and communication infrastructure is underdeveloped
Low employment in services
High amount of people classified as rurally poor
Larger multinational companies employ unskilled workers
Area suffers from outward migration
Climate
Relief includes:
1. Nephin Beg mountain range
2. Maamtuk Mts., Mweelra Mts., Twelve Pins Mts.
Drainage includes:
River Moy in Mayo
Rivers Corrib and Clare in Galway
Rivers Suck and Shannon in Roscommon
Lough Corrib and Mask in Galway
Physical Climate
Cool temperate Oceanic Climate in the region
Temperate Range Winter: 5.7 C
Temperature range Summer: 16C
Rainfall: 1400 2000mm per year
High levels of cloud cover: 3.3 hrs of sunshine a day
Temperature adn rainfall varies from extreme West to more Eastern Areas
Relief rainfall sees higher amounts of rainfall in Mayo
Soil in the Western Region