Ethnic and temporal dimensions of regional residential preferences : A northern ireland example

Abstract

This paper examines the preferences, over a nine year period 1969–77, of first‐year geography students at Queen's University, Belfast, for twenty‐three regions within the British Isles. When the students were allocated to one of two ethnic categories (Protestant or Catholic), important differences emerged between the categories, in particular a marked Catholic preference for certain areas in the Irish Republic, and a Protestant orientation towards Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. When the regional preferences of Catholics and Protestants are compared as they emerged over the nine year period of the study it becomes evident that preferences for the areas composing Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic show marked change over time. In addition, up to 1973 Protestant and Catholic preferences diverge, with a convergence observable from 1974 to 1977. This pattern can be related to the evolving level and nature of ethnic conflict in Northern Ireland.