Listen Back: Tourism sector helping locals fight back against rural decline | NorthernSound

Local people are tacking rural decline in Killeshandra and not only are they stopping the drop off in rural living but in fact making the locality prosper.Appro...

Local people are tacking rural decline in Killeshandra and not only are they stopping the drop off in rural living but in fact making the locality prosper.

Approximately 37% of Ireland's population live in a rural area, classified as a settlement of fewer than 1,500 people.

According to the 2022 census there were 248 people living in Killeshandra, a marked decrease compared to 364 back in 2011 and then a hundred years previous in 1911 were there was 566 people living in the small town.

Locals in Killeshandra are tacking rural decline by showcasing the area on a national and international stage.

The people that hail from here know how unique the area is but by developing it and unlocking the locality for the tourism sector, it’s in turn helping the area blossom.

Killeshandra is described by many as the "gateway" to the UNESCO Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark region.

Austin Masterson and his daughter Fiona set up Aeroheaven Glamping in their back garden. An Adults only glamping site situated on a lake shore in the heart of killeshandra within 5 minutes walk from town

The Killeshandra natives are bringing people from all over Ireland and beyond to the rural town and their business offers the oppurtuinty for many to expeiernce what the area has to offer.