EMIGRATION IS sucking the life out of a remote west Clare village, with new figures showing at least 87 people have emigrated in the past two years.
The survey of all the homes in the Kilmihil area was carried out by members of the local community, and it shows the majority of the 87 emigrants are aged between 20 and 30, with about half emigrating to Australia.
Community leader Gerry Johnston conducted the survey with the assistance of others after witnessing the dwindling number of players in Kilmihil GAA club, which has lost eight of its senior championship footballers from the 2010 and 2011 seasons to emigration.
Commenting on the findings, Mr Johnston said: “Kilmihil is missing a generation.
“The life has gone out of the village. The life has been sucked out of the place. These were the people with disposable income, and shops and pubs will tell you what impact the young people leaving has had.”
He said there were so many people from Kilmihil in Australia that they were going to form a Kilmihil GAA club out there.
“They are going to form a sub-committee of Kilmihil GAA and help with things financially back here, because medical expenses, lights for the field have to be paid for.
“They love to hear stories from home. They all want to be here, but unfortunately they will only be coming home for holidays, weddings and funerals.”
