Dublin’s spatial narrative: the transition from essentially mono-cultural places to poly-cultural spaces

Vital data accessed from the ERHA pertaining to asylum seekers living in Dublin in 2002 was analysed and formatted for use with GIS. The result was the production o f a micro-spatial map showing the distribution of asylum seekers by Electoral Division [ED]. A series of maps was produced at different scales showing various demographic, ethnic and racial variables. Locating the EDs for use with GIS required the researcher to walk throughout the dataset areas whilst observing, reading and photographing these evolving textual landscapes and also interviewing different individuals and community groups. The theoretical lens for this research examined the cultural geography and sociology of space in Dublin using an interdisciplinary approach. It considered in-depth the theories regarding the politics of scale and power associated with space and place. Based on this quantitative analysis and field observation, two central hypotheses were posited and examined: firstly, that ethnic and racial clustering is occurring within clearly identifiable EDs and secondly, that three sub-cultural groups or populations, namely asylum seeking, indigenous and gentrified, whilst inhabiting the same geographical places arguably live in different mental spaces. This social and cultural morphology has resulted in the transition of what were once essentially mono-cultural places into poly-cultural spaces. Two possible models of future spatial development in Dublin were examined. The research explored existing models o f community development in Dublin, arguing that the inclusion of asylum seekers and other immigrant groupings into such potential models could aid social integration and spatial planning