A Shifting Island Landscape: Changes in Land Use and Daily Life in the 19th and 20th Century Village of Inishark, Co. Galway, Ireland

This thesis investigates changes to village spatial arrangement and land use patterns in the nineteenth and twentieth century village of Inishark, Co. Galway, Ireland. To understand how spatial changes within the historic village were shaped by interactions between villagers and outside groups, including landlords and government agencies, a landscape approach was utilized. An examination of historic maps, valuation documents, and Irish Census documents, combined with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey and archaeological excavation, were used to understand how historical pressures impacted island life. Inishark\u27s geographic isolation creates a unique case study to understand the impact of historical pressures on rural Irish communities during this period. Historical pressures examined were landlord and tenant relationships, the imposition of British ideals, and the shifts in economic activity and movement of people. Villagers\u27 responses to these outside forces impacted the movement of people and their economic activities, shaping the cultural landscape of the island