Ireland is experiencing one of the highest periods of emigration in its history. The current study collected demographic and psychological data on 203 Irish men and women in Ireland and in Northern Ireland, including measures of self-esteem, depression, attitudes toward immigration, and expectancies of emigration. Analysis indicated that approximately 81% of this Irish sample are considering emigration; however, the prospect of emigration is psychologically experienced differently by men and women. While there were no significant differences over-all in scores on self-esteem between Irish men and women, men who contemplated emigration reported higher self-esteem scores, and women contemplating emigration reported lower self-esteem scores (relative to those who had no plans to emigrate). In addition, women who contemplated emigration had higher depression scores than women who did not contemplate emigration. This pattern was not evident for men. These results indicate that psychologically women view the prospect of emigration less positively than men.

The Irish Travellers are a nomadic culture living on the fringes of organized Irish society. Unlike Gypsies found in many countries, Irish Travellers are indigenous and share the nationality, race, language and religion of the majority settled Irish society. Travellers are frequently the victims of prejudice and discrimination in Ireland. They have been educated in either segregated Traveller only schools or inte grated into the settled Irish schools. The history of the education of Travellers, the current educational system and conflicting educational values are reviewed.

In Western Europe, Ireland has emerged as one of the countries most severely affected by unemployment. In the United States and Great Britain, research has shown a significant correlation between higher unemployment rates and poorer psychological health. Joblessness is also associated with higher rates of psychiatric morbidity in Ireland. Working class populations suffer from longer periods of unemployment with more severe consequences for psychological health. Young Irish women are affected psychologically by unemployment. Some youth are particularily vulnerable to the powerful psychological consequences of unemployment. Anger and alienation can lead youth into drug and alcohol abuse, which increases the risk of crime involvement. Ireland’s high youth unemployment appears to have contributed to a spectacular increase in drug and crime problems. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, high unemployment adds to the frustrations embedded in the political conflict.