Abstract

Information surfaces are one aspect of the internal structuring of environmental information. Northern Ireland is an area where Protestant and Catholic young people share the same environment but often have contrasting identities and are educated at separate establishments at primary and secondary levels. Information surfaces of the UK and Republic of Ireland produced by 11-12 year old Protestants and Catholics are very different. It is postulated that this is a result of different mobility patterns. For 17-19 year olds, the information surfaces continue to show contrasts, but these have been reduced, particularly for Great Britain. Ethnic mobility patterns remain different and the growing similarity may be the result of similar spatial information through secondary sources, including schools.