Most of Meath's newest migrants are not Poles - they're Dubs!

THREE out of five Meath residents were born elsewhere and 27,831 of them were born outside the State, making up 17.5 per cent of its total population, according to the latest Census 2006 figures published by the CSO.

These show that 7,395 were born in England and Wales; 2,241 in Lithuania, 1,902 in Africa, 1,883 in Northern Ireland, 1,882 in Poland, 2,234 in other EU countries, 1,181 in Asia, 870 in the USA and 820 in other countries. Meath's own dispersed children number 79,238 throughout Leinster with 1,474 in Munster, 1,228 in Connacht and 2,003 in the three southern Ulster counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

The county's rate of net migration between 2002-2006 came to 21,385, second only to Fingal countrywide. Between 2005/06 alone, 4,073 immigrants arrived from outside the state, of which the 1,044 was the largest single group. Most of the county's newest migrants, however, came from Dublin city or county - these formed 5,502 of the 7,741 increase. The speed of incoming population is underlined in Navan alone, where 3,064 arrived within that year, 1,306 from elsewhere in Meath and 989 from outside the State. Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington added 1,205 new residents of whom 187 came from abroad, while Ashbourne's 1,441 extra inhabitants included 394 from outside the State. Ratoath's 1,400 increase derived from 339 people living elsewhere in the county as well as 118 from abroad. Trim's extra 689 dwellers included 118 from outside the state, with Dunboyne's increase of 394 numbering 131 non-nationals. Kells increased by 733 of whom 315 were from elsewhere in Meath and 207 from outside the State.

Dunshaughlin's increase of 288 between 2005/06 included 113 Meath and 86 non-national residents. Duleek's rise of 449 was accounted mainly by 115 Meath and 60 non-national incomers. Stamullen's 322 extra souls derived in part from 50 Meath and 30 non-national newcomers, while Athboy's increase of 454 was half-accounted by migrants from elsewhere in the county and 78 non-nationals. The 484 increase in Enfield included 85 from elsewhere in Meath and 92 non-nationals.

The overwhelming majority of Meath migrants live in Dublin city and county but there are still ten Royals living in Leitrim and even 57 in the Kingdom of Kerry.  Currently, the county has 3,337 residents who were born outside the State, including 462 aged 1-14 years and 1,167 in the 25-34 age-group. A total of 7,741 people migrated to the county from other counties in the State between 2002-2006.

The most exclusive number of migrants, however, are from Luxembourg (just two) with just 11 from the new European Union country of Cyprus. The Census was prepared before Romania and Bulgaria were admitted into the EU, and these countries are expected to figure prominently in the next Census, set for 2011.