Rural living: Decline as schools close and GAA clubs merge

"The only thing that's growing in many rural communities…are the graveyards." That's the stark assessment of one rural primary school governor. Jim Lennon is chair of the board of governors at the 33-pupil St Joseph's Primary in Caledon, which is earmarked for closure in 2027. The school is described as the "heartbeat" of the 500-person village. It is set to become one of the more than 40 small primary schools in County Tyrone to have closed their doors over the last 25 years. The education minister has warned that with a 13% decline expected in enrolments, further closures across Northern Ireland are inevitable. The birth rate is falling and people are moving away from rural areas. But those campaigning to save small schools say they are an essential ingredient to the life of a rural community. "Any viable community needs access to education provision," Lennon said. "The minute you take that out, you're saying to the population, we don't have a place for young families with children." Lennon said rural communities felt let down by Stormont's NI Executive. "It has a range of policies that have good objectives in themselves,"he said. "But if you restrict planning because of either a