The development of new rural credit unions in Ireland within a context of service rationalization in rural areas

Credit unions play an important role in Irish community development by providing essential local financial services and by contributing resources to local development initiatives. General accounts of their development tend to focus on the longer established credit unions formed in the 1960s and 1970s. This paper tells the story of credit unions formed since 1990, focusing on those designed to serve the needs of rural Irish communities. We conclude that the majority of these new credit unions have become well established, are steadily growing, and are providing a valuable contribution to local development during a time of consistent rural rationalization.