Some concerns of regional geography: With illustrations from Northern Ireland

Abstract

Paradoxically the recent tendencies in geographical research and teaching have assured the decline of regional geography, at a time when the need for this branch of the subject was never greater. Many of the difficulties and problems that arise in regional enquiry are first discussed, in the light of the author's experiences in the field and in the classroom. Some general observations upon information‐gathering are then provided, since professional geographers continue to avoid discussions of the proven ways and means by which they gather information. The final part of the paper seeks to demonstrate how a geographer's viewpoint on Northern Ireland can offer a sane check to TV sensationalism or tribal group emotionalism, as well as a constructive basis for thoughts on future development.