Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review: stage 2 - Ireland case study

1. Introduction

This report is an interim output of the Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review. It forms part of Stage 2 of the review, which includes four international case studies on Canada, England, Finland, and Ireland. The case studies have been undertaken by country-based experts in each country and compiled by the project research team which is led by researchers at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College). Learning from this case study will help to inform the findings and recommendations in the final report which will be published in early 2026.

The authors of this case study are Professor Mary O’Shaughnessy and Ms. Flora Seddon. Dr. Mary O’Shaughnessy is Professor at University College Cork & Visiting Professor at Roskilde University, Denmark. She is a subject matter expert in sustainable regional and rural development and social enterprise and is an editorial board member of the Journal of Rural Studies. Flora Seddon has expertise in sustainable rural development, social enterprises, and forestry. A former scholar at University College Cork funded by FDC (Farm Development Coop) Group on the MSc in Co-operatives, Agrifood and Sustainable Development. She has multifaceted professional experience, which includes research support at the University of Oxford.

Further information about the review can be found on the project webpage: Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review.

This report is an interim output of the Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review. Further information about the review can be found on the project webpage: Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review.

The views expressed in this report do not necessarily represent those of the Scottish Government or Scottish Ministers.