Carlow and Offaly are economically the weakest towns in the country according to a new study by Teagasc.
They’ve carried out an index of rural towns which shows that women and young people are more likely to leave such areas in favour of places of higher economic strength.
It also found that Unemployment is 25 per cent higher in the weakest towns which are mainly in the midlands, south east and west,.
The South West and West have the strongest towns.
