Economic well-being in the Ballymote rural area: myth and reality

Despite the many negative indicators such as falling population and high emigration which are characteristic of the Northwest, the town of Ballymote appears to be booming. In explaining this apparent contradiction, three questions suggested themselves; (a what influences at the EU, national or local levels have enabled the town to survive (b given the apparent failure of traditional socioeconomic indicators to reflect the underlying reality, what new indicators would accurately reflect the economic well-being of the area; and (c given that Ballymote had survived, and indeed thrived against the odds, what lessons could be applied to stimulate economic growth in other areas