Transhumance and the Making of Ireland's Uplands, 1550-1900

This book is the first comprehensive study of transhumance in Ireland from the sixteenth century to the early twentieth century. It demonstrates that uplands were valuable resources that allowed tenant households to maintain larger herds of livestock and adapt to global economic trends. It also shows that transhumance required highly organized systems of common grazing and that the care of dairy cows amounted to a rite of passage for young women in many rural communities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 05 March 2024
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

From the sixteenth century to the early twentieth century, Ireland experienced a significant shift in the practice of transhumance, which involved the seasonal movement of livestock to hill and mountain pastures. While this practice was once widespread across rural households, it gradually declined in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, becoming primarily associated with Alpine and Mediterranean landscapes. This book, the first comprehensive interdisciplinary study of transhumance in a northern European context, explores the diversity and decline of this practice in Ireland from c.1550 to 1900.

The author argues that uplands were valuable resources for tenant households, enabling them to maintain larger herds of livestock and adapt to global economic trends. The book also places transhumance in a social context, highlighting the highly organized systems of common grazing and the care of dairy cows as a rite of passage for young women in many rural communities.

The practice of transhumance involved a complex web of relationships between tenant households, landholders, and local communities. Tenant households would lease land from landholders and move their livestock to upland pastures during the summer months, returning to their lowland homes in the winter. This practice not only provided a source of income for tenant households but also helped to maintain the ecological balance of the uplands by reducing overgrazing and promoting the growth of vegetation.

However, the decline of transhumance in Ireland was influenced by a range of factors, including the Industrial Revolution, which led to the mechanization of agriculture and the development of more intensive farming practices. The introduction of improved transportation networks, such as the railways and highways, also made it easier for farmers to move their livestock to more distant pastures, reducing the need for transhumance.

In addition, the rise of urbanization and the development of modern dairy farming practices also contributed to the decline of transhumance. With the advent of refrigeration and other technologies, it became possible to produce milk and dairy products year-round, making it less necessary to rely on seasonal upland pastures.

Despite the decline of transhumance, the practice has left a lasting legacy in Irish culture and history. The uplands, which were once the domain of tenant households, have become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, who enjoy the stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage associated with this region.

In conclusion, this book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the diversity and decline of transhumance in a northern European context. By exploring the social, economic, and ecological factors that influenced this practice, the author sheds light on the complex relationships between tenant households, landholders, and local communities and the ways in which they adapted to changing economic and environmental conditions.

Weight: 422g
Dimension: 171 x 239 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837651474