Labour immigration and Demographic Transformation: Lithuanian and Polish Nationals in Rural Ireland

There is increased evidence internationally of immigrant labour moving to small towns and rural locations. This chapter addresses this phenomenon in Ireland (the Republic of Ireland) through study of two of the largest recent immigrant groups, Polish and Lithuanian nationals, between 2006 and 2016. Its aims are: (i) to establish the spatial distribution of Lithuanian and Polish migrant workers at a range of geographical scales and (ii) to identify the implications for ethnic diversification in rural Ireland. The research followed broadly an approach used by Barcus and Simmons involving mapping, measurement of concentration and dissimilarity, and clustering. The results illustrate that, although concentrated primarily in large cities and towns, the immigrants moved to small towns and rural areas from the beginning to meet particular labour needs. Local ethnic composition is being transformed, although on a relatively limited scale in most instances.