We have the same sad scenario in many parts of rural Ireland. It's all about economics isn't it ? When I was a lad our village had a population approaching 250, even in winter. Now it is less than 130 of whom half are people living alone, for various reasons. Back in census 1911 the population was around 450. Of course the fine weekends and summer letting give us an enormous boost but most of those people are non-native and have only a secondary interest , after their first homes, in properties that are unoccupied for 90% of the time. There are also lots of derelict buildings whose owners have long gone and in which nobody shows a proprietory interest anymore.
When I look back in memory I can still see the house proud women scrubbing their limestone doorsteps.