The scheme to resettle people living in urban areas wishing to uproot themselves and try a new life in the countryside was the subject of a recent Southern Report. Out of it came a contact from a Terenure family in Dublin bent on just such an experiment.
Rural Resettlement Ireland (RRI), started in Co Clare in 1990, has a vision of urban dwellers moving to new locations - to bring new life, new blood to regions where depopulation is causing serious concern.
As has already been explained, RRI was founded because of concern at the manner in which rural Ireland was being diminished by the flight to the towns.
This is a serious question - one which will yet take up the time of our demographers. But Mr John Miller from Terenure, in Dublin, is enthused.
He has been thinking about it and he wants to go. In particular, he wants to move his family to Sherkin Island, off the south-west coast - a project on which RRI has embarked.
Mr Miller had been thinking about making the move for the past 12 years while he was living in America, but the idea had lapsed somewhat until the recent column renewed his interest. His thinking now is to leave urban life and to give it a go elsewhere.
But of course, it's not as simple as that. Mr Miller is 43 years old. His wife, Anna, is 32 and his baby girl, Lisa, has just celebrated her first birthday. He has always worked on his own as a painter and decorator. Before he makes the move, he has to establish that he can provide for his family. He has already been in touch with the organisers of the resettlement scheme and is in the process of filling in the required questionnaire. As much as he would like to relocate to Sherkin, doubts have arisen as to whether he could sustain his business in this part of the world. "This is a big question and I'll have to find the answer before I go any further," he says.
Mr Miller's mother came from Goleen in west Cork. He is determined that if he can't move to the island, then he will go to some other part of the southwest. But his sights are set firmly on leaving the big smoke.
It will be interesting to see the progress of this family.
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