Introduction
In a region which has experienced waves of emigration over hundreds of years and multiple generations, our diaspora remain central to many of our families lives, to our culture, our sense of place and our social and economic history over time. When we talk about our diaspora, we mean all those with a connection to the West of Ireland, whether they left last month, last year, or several decades ago. It includes people who were born here and have since made their lives abroad, those with family roots or ancestors from the region, and anyone who feels a genuine connection to this place and its communities. Different groups may use different terms for this connection, but we are interested in hearing from everyone who helps to maintain and strengthen those links.
We know that many individuals, groups and organisations already run diaspora-related initiatives, often independently and with limited resources. The results of this survey will help us build a much better picture of that activity.
We also believe there is significant further potential that can be unlocked through closer coordination, shared learning, and better collaboration across groups. We really want to be able to do something special with this research and we want to hear from the people on the ground, engaging our diaspora, to make sure we prioritise the support that would be most useful for you.
Who we are
This work is being funded by the Western Development Commission (WDC). We commissioned this research to determine how we can best support the individuals, groups and organisations in the region who are engaging our diaspora.
QMP Consulting and NMCG Consulting are supporting the WDC Policy Unit on this research. They bring specialist expertise in research, strategy and community engagement and were commissioned by WDC to assist with delivery.
What do we need from you?
Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey and then share this survey with anyone you know who might be interested in diaspora engagement. Whether you are engaging our diaspora as part of your main job or as a volunteer, we want to hear from you. Your views really matter.
Please note: this survey closes at 11.59pm on the 22nd December 2025.
How Your Responses Will Be Used
Any personal data you choose to provide will be used only for this research project. Your responses will help WDC better understand current diaspora activity across the Western Region and identify how we can best support future engagement.
Your responses will be stored securely. Before analysis and reporting, all data will be anonymised, and findings will be presented in aggregate form so that individual responses cannot be identified. No information will be shared in a way that could reasonably identify you.
At the end of this survey, you may also choose to give us permission to contact you for further clarification. This is entirely optional and depends on your explicit consent.
