facilities" in first place.  In addition to the overall ranked score, sixty of the women surveyed stated that this issue was "Very important to me", the highest rating available.  Interestingly, the issue of "Isolation/loneliness" (Q.9k) recorded a "Very important to me" rating from only 18 g from only 18 respondents and with a total score of 156, was the least (bar one: "Hard to find an eligible partner") perceived disadvantage to living in Inishowen. 

Other disadvantages mentioned are recorded in Section 3.11 - these ranged from the wet weather to the distance from Dublin and from the inadequacy of the Gardai and local tradesmen to the absence of like-minded people.  The lack of home care for the elderly, no third level education and few outreach programmes for rural communities were some of the other disadvantages that were mentioned to the researchers.

3.10 Case Study 1: Disadvantages to living in Rural Inishowen

Mother, early thirties:
This woman informed the researcher about life in a rural area of Inishowen, with all of its hidden difficulties: "You now have to leave your wheelie bin down at the bottom of the lane because the bin man won't come up the back roads".  She has to put the wheelie bin in the back of her car to get it to the pick-up point - about a quarter of a mile from her home.  "It is a necessity to be able to drive, I couldn't manage if I didn't have the car - even the 'local' shop is ½ a mile away".
She went on to talk about her children and the difficulties in transporting them to play school. "The play school is four miles away, but it is the only one in the area and it takes in about a six mile radius, so it is sometimes hard to get your kids into [it]".  She used to work on a part-time basis but, as it didn't pay enough in her circumstances, she was forced to give it up.
Asked if there was anything else that came up in the questionnaire, she said: "The biggest mistake I ever made was to leave school early. I would like to go back to education but I would be quite nervous going into a class or a group - I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Maybe when the kids are at school".

3.11 Women have their say: On the lack of facilities for young people

Married, with 1 child:
"[For the] 13-17 age group, nothing exists"

Separated, 31-40 age group:
"Young children-ok, teenagers- nothing but the pub"

3.12 Women have their say: On disadvantages to living in Inishowen

Single woman, under 30:
"There is no third level education here"

Woman, aged 61-70:
"Not meeting like minded people [here in Inishowen]"

Separated Mother:
"The weather, it's always raining"

Mother of four:
"Unless you drink, there's no other places [to go] for social entertainment - no cinema, gym bowling alley or leisure centre"

Married woman, aged 21-30:
"More home care needed for the elderly, especially [in relation] to hygiene needs and meals-on-wheels"

Woman, aged 41-50:
"The government have to recognise outreach - [in] small villages, nothing ever happens"

Single woman:
"Very bad street lighting and traffic too speedy in small towns. [Also] bad public services and poor tradesmen"