FIRST CENSUS FIGURES HINT AT MASS EMIGRATION

KERRY’S POPULATION GREW SLIGHTLY IN YEARS BETWEEN CENSUS COUNTS

results from this year’s census show Kerry’s population grew slightly in the last five years however the results suggest massive levels of emigration from Kerry in the last five years.

According to the preliminary census report published by the Central Statistics Office Kerry’s population is now 147,554.

That represents an increase of 2,052 people – or 1.4 per cent – on the county’s population at the 2011 census.

According to the CSO the majority of this, modest, jump in population is accounted for by ‘natural increases’ by which the statisticians refer to the number of births minus the number of deaths in the county.

Previously published figures show that there are typically around 1,700 births and 1,100 deaths per year Kerry.

A comparison of the new results with previous censuses suggests that there were huge levels of outward migration from Kerry since 2011.

The biggest indication comes from basic population growth figures. Between the 2002 and 2006 censuses Kerry’s population increased by 7,089 and in the five years between the 2006 census and the 2011 census the population jumped by 5,213.

These population increases are significantly higher than that seen in the last five years.

This would strongly suggest that - once births and deaths are discounted – there has been massive emigration since 2011 with possibly up to 4,000 people leaving the county.

Much of the population increase stems from the Killarney and Kenmare urban and rural areas. Killarney town’s population has jumped by 10 percent to just over 14,000 people.

Tralee remains Kerry’s largest urban area, with just under 21,000 people in the town – an increase of 0.5 percent.

Sneem’s population has jumped by over 40 percent, from 557 people to 786. This is the largest increase recorded by any electoral division in the county in terms of percentage.

The populations of Killorglin and Milltown also increased significantly. Clochán in west Kerry has experienced the biggest drop in population in terms of percentage. The area’s population has fallen to 231, having been at nearly 300 in 2011 – a fall of over 22 percent.

The population of Tralee’s rural area fell by 369, while Listowel’s fell by 308. Large, decreases were also seen in Clogherbrien, and Caher.