South Of Ireland Research Articles

Evaluating community-based research: Hearing the views of student research partners

Despite the increasing popularity in the academy of collaborative approaches to research, evaluating the impacts of Students-as-Partners (SaP) initiatives has thus far received less systematic attention. This paper presents an evaluation of a participatory community-based research project where academics partnered with 15 mature students in a socio-economically disadvantaged estate in the south of Ireland to co-construct a household survey and conduct field research to gather the views of fellow residents on the regeneration of their area. The paper reports the findings of a subsequent qualitative, participatory evaluation of the student’s experience of this partnership with academics and its impacts. The findings illuminate some of the benefits and challenges of community-based staff-student research partnerships and points to the imperatives of aligning institutional, funder, and community participants’ capacities and objectives throughout the research cycle and the importance of evaluation to inform good practice in community-based research.

The stratigraphy of latest Devonian and earliest Carboniferous rocks in Ireland

Thick successions of latest Devonian and early Carboniferous siliciclastic rocks of fluviatile and shallow marine origin are well exposed in numerous coastal sections in the south of Ireland. Correlations based on palynostratigraphy demonstrate that an overall northward transgression, in detail consisting of several fluctuations of relative sea level, resulted in the replacement of fluvial coastal plain environments by shallow marine conditions. The most conspicuous lithological record of transgression occurred at or close to the base of the Carboniferous, when a regionally distributed mudstone deposited in a shallow sea, replaced the generally sandy strata that had prevailed in the latest Devonian. There is no evidence for very large glacioeustatic changes of sea level related to the coeval western Gondwanan glaciation. Of the three horizons for a new GSSP for the base of the Carboniferous currently under review, the base of the Protognathodus kuehni Zone/basal Siphonodella sulcata Zone and coastal plant extinction is the most easily applied in Ireland and can be identified using palynology and corresponds to an easily recognised, extensively developed lithological change in the south of the country.

Measuring the effectiveness of an automated text messaging active surveillance system for COVID-19 in the south of Ireland, March to April 2020.

We report the effectiveness of automated text messaging for active surveillance of asymptomatic close contacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Cork/Kerry region of Ireland. In the first 7 weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak, 1,336 close contacts received 12,421 automated texts. Overall, 120 contacts (9.0%) reported symptoms which required referral for testing and 35 (2.6%) tested positive for COVID-19. Non-response was high (n = 2,121; 17.1%) and this required substantial clinical and administrative resources for follow-up.

Determination of the presence of pathogens and anthelmintic drugs in raw milk and raw milk cheeses from small scale producers in Ireland

This aim of this study was to assess the microbiological and anthelmintic drug residue risks associated with raw milk used for cheesemaking and raw milk cheese, over an 18-month period. Samples of raw milk, milk filters, curd and cheese from nine raw milk artisan cheese producers in the south of Ireland were tested. Numbers of presumptive Bacillus cereus group, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes were determined. The determination of anthelmintic drug residues, including benzimidazoles, flukicides, macrocyclic lactone (avermectin and milbemycins), levamisole and morantel was also performed. Neither L. monocytogenes, nor Salmonella spp. were detected in any of the samples tested and no anthelmintic drug residues were detected. Only one of the samples did not conform with regulatory numbers for other bacteria. This survey has shown a good microbiological and residue quality (and low risk) of the raw milk cheese and raw milk used for raw milk cheese produced in Ireland. Moreover, it has shown the importance of frequent assessment of raw milk used for cheesemaking and for raw milk cheese, as it allows the identification of potential problems facilitating resolution of these issues before they cause any public health threat.

135 The Impact of an Early Mobilisation Initiative Evidence from an Acute Care Setting

Abstract Background Unnecessary bed rest results in a loss of mobility and an increased length of hospital stay. Despite mobilising regularly being acknowledged as an important preventative measure for deconditioning, inpatient functional decline continues to pose a significant challenge in hospital settings. Hospital-based mobility initiatives offer the potential to address issues of functional decline, improve patient outcomes and hospital length of stay. The aim of this research is to examine the impact of an early mobilisation initiative called “End PJ Paralysis”. Methods The research design comprises of three elements: (i) an examination of a period that promoted mobility to all patients on one acute unit (ii) an analysis of the reported number of falls during the study period and (iii) an exploration of perceptions and attitudes of nurses, nurse managers, and patients involved with the initiative. Results Our study demonstrates that following a 10-week promotion of the initiative from April 17th-June 26th 2018 in an acute care setting in south of Ireland, an increase of 15% of patients were mobilising and a decrease in the number of reported falls. In addition, staff participation was found to increase and self-reported patient satisfaction improved. Factors identified as influencing the impact of the initiative included patient and staff behavior, nurse management leadership, and effective communication. Conclusion The study provides evidence to suggest that early mobilisation initiatives can prevent deconditioning and improve patient outcomes. Each day a patient spends in hospital should contribute towards their recovery and discharge and mobilising patients while in hospital has a profound impact on their functional status.

74 GPs Knowledge of and Attitudes Towards the Management of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: a Descriptive Cross Sectional Study

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that the current management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in general practice is sub-optimal. Non-pharmacological strategies are recommended first-line but uptake of these strategies is low. Despite their adverse effects and minimal effectiveness antipsychotics are frequently employed to manage BPSD. The aim of this study was to explore general practitioners (GPs) knowledge of and attitudes towards the management of BPSD with a view to informing future interventions. Methods A questionnaire was adapted from existing study. Additional questions were included, informed by the findings of a qualitative study previously conducted by the authors. The questionnaire was piloted with 3 GPs and was posted to a census sample of all GPs in county Cork and county Kerry in the south of Ireland. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results Of the 456 questionnaires sent 168 completed questionnaires were returned (36.8% response rate). The sample was representative of GPs nationally in terms of years of practice (p<0.0001). 62.5 % (105/168) of respondents had a nursing home commitment. The majority of GPs (60.7%) agreed that they required more training to improve their management of BPSD. ‘Lack of resources in the primary care team’ was cited as the main barrier to GPs recommending non-pharmacological strategies in the community. Nursing staff were identified as the group of people that most influenced the GPs prescribing of antipsychotic medications in a nursing home setting. The majority of respondents (84/168) did not monitor their prescribing of antipsychotics to people with dementia. 63.1% (106/168) of GPs were concerned that withdrawing these medications would negatively impact on the quality of life of the person with dementia. Conclusion This study identified several factors that influenced the management of BPSD in general practice. These findings will be used to guide future interventions in this area.

The Effectiveness of Two Interventions on Fundamental Movement Skill Proficiency Among a Cohort of Irish Primary School Children

This study examined the effectiveness of a physical activity (Year 1) and a multicomponent fundamental movement skill (FMS) (Year 2) intervention on primary school children’s FMS proficiency. Data were collected from 6- and 10-year-old cohorts from two intervention schools and age-matched groups from one control school, in south Ireland. In Year 1 (N = 187), intervention (n = 96) and control (n = 91) groups were children from senior infant (6-year-old cohort) and 4th class (10-year-old cohort). In Year 2 (N = 357), intervention (n = 195) and control (n = 162) groups were children from senior infant and 1st class (6-year-old cohort) and 4th and 5th classes (10-year-old cohort). FMS assessment was conducted across both academic years, using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the effectiveness of each intervention, adjusting for age group. Following Year 1, the intervention group significantly improved locomotor proficiency (p < .05), with no changes in object-control or overall proficiency. No group-time interactions were found. Following Year 2, the intervention group significantly improved locomotor, object-control, and overall proficiency (p < .001). Group-time interaction effects were found for both subsets and overall FMS in favor of the intervention group (p < .001). FMS proficiency among primary school children was significantly greater following the multicomponent FMS intervention.

Effect of using internal teat sealant with or without antibiotic therapy at dry-off on subsequent somatic cell count and milk production

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of treating cows with teat sealant only compared with antibiotic plus teat sealant at drying off on weekly somatic cell count, potential intramammary infection, and milk production across the entire subsequent lactation. In 3 research herds in the south of Ireland, cows with SCC that did not exceed 200,000 cells/mL in the previous lactation (LowSCC) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments at drying off: internal teat sealant alone (ITS) or antibiotic plus teat sealant (AB+ITS). Cows with SCC that exceeded 200,000 cells/mL in the previous lactation were treated with AB+ITS and included in the analyses as a separate group (HighSCC). Weekly individual animal composite SCC records were available for 654 cow lactations and were transformed to somatic cell scores (SCS) for the purpose of analysis. Data were divided into 3 data sets to represent records obtained (1) up to 35 DIM, (2) up to 120 DIM, and (3) across the lactation. Foremilk secretions were taken from all quarters at drying off, at calving, 2 wk after calving, and in mid-lactation and were cultured to detect the presence of bacteria. The LowSCC cows treated with ITS alone had higher daily milk yield (0.67 kg/d) across lactation compared with LowSCC cows treated with AB+ITS. The LowSCC cows treated with ITS alone had higher SCS in early, up to mid, and across lactation compared with LowSCC cows treated with AB+ITS. We detected no difference in weekly SCS of LowSCC cows treated with ITS alone and SCS of HighSCC cows. The least squares means back-transformed SCC across lactation of the LowSCC cows treated with ITS alone, LowSCC cows treated with AB+ITS, and HighSCC cows were 41,523, 34,001, and 38,939 cells/mL respectively. The odds of LowSCC cows treated with ITS alone having bacteria present in their foremilk across lactation was 2.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.91 to 3.85) and 1.6 (1.22 to 2.03) times the odds of LowSCC cows treated with AB+ITS and of HighSCC cows treated with AB+ITS, respectively. In this study, Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent pathogen isolated from the population. Recategorizing the threshold for LowSCC cows as ≤150,000 cells/mL or ≤100,000 cells/mL in the previous lactation had no effect on the results. The results indicate that herds with good mastitis control programs may use ITS alone at dry-off in cows with SCC <200,000 cells/mL across lactation with only a small effect on herd SCC.

Effect of parity weighting on milk production forecast models

The objectives of this study were to compare the prediction accuracy of two milk prediction models at the individual cow level and to develop, compare and evaluate six input data preprocessing treatments designed to factor parity information into the milk prediction model configuration process. The two models were a nonlinear auto-regressive model with exogenous input and a polynomial curve fitting model. These were tested using six different parity data input treatments. Different combinations of static parity weight, dynamic parity weight and removal of the first lactation data were selected as input treatments. Lactation data from 39 individual cows were extracted from a sample herd of pasture-based Holstein-Friesian cattle located in the south of Ireland and situated in close proximity. The models were trained using three years of historical milk production data and were employed for the prediction of the total daily milk yield of the fourth lactation for each individual cow using a 305-day forecast horizon. The nonlinear auto-regressive model with exogenous input was found to provide higher prediction accuracy than the polynomial curve fitting model for individual cows using each input treatment. An improvement in forecast accuracy was observed in 62% of test cows (24 of 39). However, on average across the entire population, only part of the treatments delivered an increase in accuracy and the success rate varied between test groups. Prediction performance was strongly influenced by the cows' historical milk production relative to parity and also the prediction year. These results highlighted the importance of examining the accuracy of milk prediction models and model training strategies across multiple time horizons. Removal of the first lactation and applying static parity weight were shown to be the two most successful input treatments. The results showed that historical parity weighting trends had a substantial effect on the success rate of the treatments for both milk production forecast models.

The effect of land use change from grassland to bioenergy crops Miscanthus and reed canary grass on nitrous oxide emissions

Bioenergy crop production can enhance greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, whilst producing feedstocks for energy generation. However, the GHG balance of these ecosystems is intimately linked to crop selection, previous and current land management and the effects of land conversion. This study aims to quantify nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from the early stage of land-use change (LUC) from perennial grassland to two perennial rhizomatous grasses in a temperate climate: Miscanthus and reed canary grass (RCG) in the south of Ireland. Emissions of N2O were measured during the first two years of RCG and Miscanthus establishment. Miscanthus stands emitted 7.7 ± 1.6 and 2.3 ± 0.2 kg N2O-N ha−1 yr−1 in the first and the second year, respectively, while RCG produced 1.1 ± 0.2 kg N2O-N ha−1 yr−1 in the first year following LUC. Temporal fluxes of N2O were generally low, however peak emissions observed in the first year contributed approximately 83% of annual N2O in the Miscanthus treatment. This peak occurred in wet (50 mm rainfall in the week preceding the peak) and warm (>18.5 °C in the top 5 cm of soil) weather conditions and was significantly affected (R2 = 0.77) by the soil moisture deficit. However large, annual N2O losses from Miscanthus and RCG found in this study are well within the range of those from grassland soils in temperate climate, drawing conclusions that any short-term increases in N2O production will soon be offset by the reduced future fertilisation, carbon sequestration and produced bioenergy feedstock.

Hindsight is 20/20 Vision: What International Students Wished They Had Known Before Coming to Live and Learn in Ireland

This article reports on a survey (n=573) of international students who were attending one of a group of five higher education institutes (HEIs) in the south of Ireland. This study sought to identify what knowledge these students had about their host country before coming to Ireland. In this study, we also attempted to identify what aspects of living and learning in Ireland these students wished they had known about before they left their home countries. Finally, we discuss the types of academic, socio-cultural and practical resources that both welcoming colleges and international students should consider prioritising before departure, so as to truly help the transition from a home to host country.

Culicoides species composition and abundance on Irish cattle farms: implications for arboviral disease transmission

BackgroundFollowing the emergence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Ireland in 2012, a sentinel herd surveillance program was established in the south of Ireland with the primary aim of investigating the species composition and abundance of Culicoides on livestock farms in the region.MethodsUltraviolet-light trapping for Culicoides was carried out on 10 sentinel farms. Each site was sampled fortnightly over 16 weeks (21st July to 5th November 2014). One Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute UV light trap was run overnight at each site and catches were transferred immediately into 70% ethanol. Culicoides were morphologically identified to species level. Collection site habitats were characterised using the Phase 1 habitat survey technique (Joint Nature Conservation Committee).ResultsA total of 23,929 individual Culicoides from 20 species was identified, including one species identified in Ireland for the first time, Culicoides cameroni. The most abundant species identified were Culicoides obsoletus/Culicoides scoticus (38%), Culicoides dewulfi (36%), Culicoides pulicaris (9%), Culicoides chiopterus (5%) and Culicoides punctatus (5%), comprising 93% of all Culicoides specimens identified. Collection site habitats were dominated by improved grassland and a combination of broadleaf woodland and native woodland species.ConclusionsThe most abundant species of Culicoides identified were the putative vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) and SBV in northern Europe. Their presence and abundance demonstrates the potential for future transmission of arboviruses among livestock in this region.

Innovations in Practice: Dialectical behaviour therapy - skills training for emotional problem solving for adolescents (DBT STEPS-A): evaluation of a pilot implementation in Irish post-primary schools.

Whole school approaches to mental health are recommended where schools and community partners work together to support positive mental health for young people. Universal interventions which adopt this approach are limited however. This study evaluates the pilot implementation of DBT STEPS-A, a social-emotional learning programme for adolescents, in Ireland. Data were collected at the beginning and end of the academic year from students who participated in DBT STEPS-A and a control group. Amatched comparison was conducted where a subset of the data was analysed consisting of 72 adolescents aged 15-16years from two schools in the south of Ireland. Outcomes included emotion symptoms, dysfunctional coping and DBT skill use. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the treatment effect (intervention vs. control). A statistically significant treatment effect was observed on two of four outcome measures (emotion symptom index: p=0.011; internalising problems: p=0.012). The effect sizes were large (Cohen's F squared=0.65 and 0.83 respectively). Significant reductions on measures which assess constructs including depression, anxiety and social stress were found for the intervention group. The results suggest that DBT STEPS-A may yield positive effects for adolescents who complete the intervention. Feedback from adolescents and teachers suggests that refinement of content, structure and implementation may make the programme more accessible to an adolescent population.

Into the Woods: Revealing Ireland’s Iron Age Woodlands Through Archaeological Charcoal Analysis

ABSTRACTThe Iron Age in Ireland (700 BC-AD 400) has long been considered an enigmatic period, with a lack of archaeological evidence for everyday settlements. Given the recent explosion of archaeological excavations in Ireland due to the boom period of the Celtic Tiger years, it has now become possible to examine many aspects of daily life during this time. Woodlands were an integral resource during prehistory and one environmental method which has been under utilised in the study of Irish woodlands is archaeological charcoal analysis. In this study, charcoal is used to reconstruct past woodland environments from the Late Bronze and Iron Age in the south of Ireland. It potentially demonstrates a shift to wetter conditions during the Developed Iron Age. The first use model for fuel during the Iron Age is produced, indicating selection of species for certain activities such as smelting, construction and cremation, while trees were not specifically selected for domestic fires. Charcoal data indicates an increase in large tree cover, mainly oak, during the ‘Late Iron Age Lull’.

A Gift of Lace: Queen Mary’s Coronation Train, 1911

This paper is concerned with the context of the commissioning and the making of a Youghal lace coronation train, its ‘artistic beauty’, as well as the confusion about where it was worn and its ‘associations’ which, when it was made, displayed and worn, were diverse and complicated. The lace train began its material life in the Presentation Convent in Youghal in the south of Ireland, but had been commissioned then gifted to Queen Mary by the unionist ‘ladies’ of Belfast. Once made, it was exhibited in Belfast and London before its delivery to Buckingham Palace in time for the queen’s departure for India where, according to a number of published accounts, it was to be worn by Queen Mary in the ceremonies surrounding the Delhi Durbar; it was, in fact, worn in Calcutta. Considered one of the most magnificent examples of Irish needlepoint lace ever made, it expressed the loyalty of unionist women, but in its crafting it alluded to the space of nationalist women. The object highlights the workings of the Youghal Lace Cooperative that functioned in much the same way as do today’s fair trade networks (securing markets, returning profits to artisans), while at the same time the object speaks of social relationships, contested spaces, political tensions and agency.

Information culture in the convent and the industrial school: a case study of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland

This article explores the information culture that existed in the convents and industrial schools of one Irish religious congregation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The research identifies the religious and official frameworks which guided the creation of records in the convents and in the residential schools run by the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. The paper explores evidence for whether these frameworks were put into practice with reference to the surviving archives of a convent and a school in various parts of the south of Ireland. The research presents preliminary findings, which point towards the existence of an information culture in both the convent and school contexts. The study highlights the need for further research to explore the record creating discourse and information culture of these religious communities and institutions.

“You Don’t Feel”: The Experience of Youth Benzodiazepine Misuse in Ireland

ABSTRACTThere are negative effects to inappropriate use of benzodiazepines, yet the percentage of young people in Ireland experimenting with benzodiazepines has increased. There is a paucity of research about why Irish young people misuse benzodiazepines. In this study, people between 18 and 25 years attending substance misuse services in the south of Ireland (N = 13) were interviewed in a semi-structured style between June 2012 and April 2013. Content analysis was performed. The main motivations for benzodiazepine misuse were to self-regulate negative emotions and to induce dissociation from their environment. Interviewees also described the consequences of benzodiazepine misuse, such as disengagement from family relationships and other protective environments such as school and sports clubs. The consequences of chronic misuse were discussed, such as the compulsion to take more benzodiazepines despite experiencing severe side-effects. The incidence of paradoxical aggression on benzodiazepines is also explored. Education about benzodiazepines and their risks to young people, families, and the public may reduce benzodiazepine misuse. Future research on the role of trauma and mental health in young people’s substance misuse is needed.

Age and Sex Differences in Fundamental Movement Skills Among a Cohort of Irish School Children

The purpose of this study was to assess the fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency of Irish primary school children relative to age and sex. Data collected were baseline measures forProject Spraoi, a physical activity (PA) and nutrition-based intervention. Participants (N = 203) were senior infant (n = 102,Mage: 6.0 ± 0.4 years) and fourth class (n = 101,Mage: 9.9 ± 0.4 years) children from three primary schools in the south of Ireland. FMS testing was conducted using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), assessing six locomotor and six object-control skills. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess age and sex related differences in FMS proficiency. Older children scored significantly higher than younger children in both locomotor (p &lt; .05) and object-control score (p &lt; .05). Boys scored significantly higher than girls in object-control score (p &lt; .05), while girls scored significantly higher in locomotor score (p &lt; .05). FMS levels among Irish primary school children are similar to children worldwide, with age and sex differences evident. Early interventions, aimed at improving FMS, are warranted among Irish primary school aged children as greater proficiency is related to greater PA participation and numerous health benefits.

Student English teachers: participatory learning and developing identities-in-practice

PurposeThis paper looks at how participation in a community of learners can be a resource for learning and identity making (Wenger, 1998). The paper is an interpretation of the selected pedagogical scripts (learning journals) of three student teachers in an English Pedagogics module over a 13-week period in one university context in the south of Ireland. The paper highlights how participation is both a personal experience and a social process, and how the mind is a distributed force in meaning making and a socially mediated phenomenon. The paper draws attention to how sociocultural theory and the concept of participation can extend and support our understanding of learning.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is deductive and interpreted through an existing literature frame. In contrast to “indigenous concepts” inducted from the data the author draws on Patton’s (2002) notion of “sensitizing concepts” which have their origins in social research theory and the research literature: “Sensitizing concepts give the analyst ‘[…] a general sense of reference’ and provide ‘direction along where to look’ (Blumer,1996: 148). Using sensitizing concepts involves examining how the concept is manifested and given meaning in a particular setting or among a particular group of people” (p. 456). Connecting the theoretical sensitizing concepts of “participatory learning” and “identities-in-practice” to the data set of learning journals, three emblematic themes emerge: “Using cultural artefacts to generate teacher identities”, “Participation as learning” and “Challenges of participatory learning”.FindingsThe narrated excerpts from student English teachers’ learning journals, read in the light of sociocultural theory, highlight the process of rendering an identity in participation. Student teachers have worked towards conceptual reach, emotional awareness, experiential understanding and understanding scaffolded learning practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe reading of student teachers’ written work in this paper is both particular and partial and aims to illuminate understandings of the practices and processes of participatory learning rather than make generalizable and validity claims. The student cohort is small and is not representative of larger classes.Practical implicationsWenger (1998) writes that it is the experience of meaning that counts in our human endeavours and in this study the author focuses on student teachers’ meaning making as they develop a professional identity through participation. Dam and Blom (2006) stress that the acquisition metaphor for knowledge is not adequate in preparing student teachers and he makes the case for a balanced coexistence with the participation metaphor. In this paper, the author focuses on the practice of participation for learning.Social implicationsHall et al. (2014) explain that sociocultural theory has significant explanatory power for understanding and supporting learning. They claim that, particularly in Western societies, learning is often seen as individual, decontextualized and focused on discrete bodies of knowledge. They welcome the sociocultural perspective which does not divorce the individual from their context and highlight how participating with others has a powerful impact cognitively and emotionally.Originality/valueThere has been a dearth of empirical studies focusing on the process of participation in rendering an identity. In this paper, the author has theorised and explicated the process of participation and participatory learning. Participation in the practices of teaching, enriched with reflection and inquiry (Cremin, 2009), has the potential to change the pointing rituals (Sumara, 1996) of teaching and deepen the learning. Furthermore, through such activity, desired behavioural gestalts can be embodied, and the perennial theory practice divide in initial teacher education has the potential for more integration.

Brexit Impacts on Irish Agri‐food Exports to the UK

SummaryThe Irish agri‐food sector is particularly exposed to the consequences of the UK's departure from the EU given that the UK is the destination for 37 per cent of its exports. This article discusses the main channels whereby Brexit may impact this trade. They include the impact of possible further depreciation of sterling and the loss of the protected market status that Irish exporters currently enjoy on their sales on the UK market. There is the possibility that tariffs may be imposed on trade flows between the two countries as well as higher trade costs when either exporting to or importing from the UK. There would also be potential disruption of supply chains on the island of Ireland and the particular difficulties of policing the land border between the North and South of Ireland. Solutions to address some of these problems are available, but will take time to negotiate. Even if the worst outcomes can be avoided, Brexit is likely to have significant structural implications for Irish agriculture. The erosion of the value of privileged access to the UK market will require structural adjustments both in terms of market diversification as well as farm‐level production.