Cork-Limerick-Galway corridor
Encyclopedia
The Cork-Limerick-Galway corridor links the Republic of Ireland
's second, third, fourth largest urban centres.
. Some of this network has been improved in recent years but much of the roadway remains single carriageway. A motorway is planned between Cork and Limerick. Similarly, The Galway-Limerick section is now mostly motorway. From the M18, the road enters the Limerick Tunnel
and emerges on the M20, also motorway, as far as Adare
.
The three cities are served by the Cork Suburban Rail
, Limerick Suburban Rail
and Galway Suburban Rail networks.
, Cork Airport, and Galway Airport
.
and the Economy of Limerick
.
in County Clare
is an industrial zone with over 150 companies employing over 7,500 people.
The National Technology Park (NTP), Ireland's first science/technology park (263 hectares), which is home to over 80 organisations employing over 4,000 people adjacent to the University of Limerick.
Cork is the home of Ireland's pharmaceutical industry with most of Ireland pharmaceutical companies located in the Little Island
area.
Limerick urban area: 110,000
Galway city: 70,000
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's second, third, fourth largest urban centres.
Transportation links
Limerick lies midway between Cork and Galway approximately 100km from both cities.Road
Galway and Limerick are linked by the N18. Limerick is linked to Cork by the N20N20 road
The N20 road is a national primary road in Ireland, connecting the cities of Cork and Limerick. Buttevant, Croom, Charleville, Mallow and Blarney are major towns along the route...
. Some of this network has been improved in recent years but much of the roadway remains single carriageway. A motorway is planned between Cork and Limerick. Similarly, The Galway-Limerick section is now mostly motorway. From the M18, the road enters the Limerick Tunnel
Limerick Tunnel
The Limerick Tunnel is a 675m long, twin-bore road tunnel underneath the River Shannon on the outskirts of Limerick City. The tunnel forms part of the N18 Limerick Southern Ring Road. The tunnel is tolled....
and emerges on the M20, also motorway, as far as Adare
Adare
-General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government...
.
Rail
The Western Rail Corridor links the three cities after recent major investment.The three cities are served by the Cork Suburban Rail
Cork Suburban Rail
The Cork Suburban Rail network serves the Metropolitan Cork area in County Cork, Munster, Ireland.There has been a suburban rail system in Cork since the middle of the 19th century however it suffered serious neglect and line closures in the 20th century...
, Limerick Suburban Rail
Limerick Suburban Rail
Limerick Suburban Rail is are a group of Iarnród Éireann commuter train services from Limerick Colbert to various other destinations on three different lines.* Limerick - Ennis calling at Sixmilebridge* Limerick - Nenagh calling at Castleconnell and Birdhill...
and Galway Suburban Rail networks.
Air
There are three international airports in the region: Shannon AirportShannon Airport
Shannon Airport, is one of the Republic of Ireland's three primary airports along with Dublin and Cork. In 2010 around 1,750,000 passengers passed through the airport, making it the third busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and Cork, and the fifth busiest airport on the island...
, Cork Airport, and Galway Airport
Galway Airport
Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, north of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland and is managed by Corrib Airport Limited.On 31 October 2011 the airport's sole remaining operator Aer Arann ceased commercial operations at the airport...
.
Economy
The main economic engines of the region are the Economy of CorkEconomy of Cork
-Statistics:County Cork and County Kerry as part of the South-West Region, Ireland with a population of 620,000 has a GVA of €25bn.The South-West region has a labour force of nearly 300,000....
and the Economy of Limerick
Economy of Limerick
-Statistics:County Clare, County Limerick and North Tipperary as part of the Mid-West region with a population of 360,000 has a GVA of €10.7bn....
.
Third level institutions
- University College Cork - 19,000
- National University of Ireland, GalwayNational University of Ireland, GalwayThe National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
- 17,000 - Cork Institute of TechnologyCork Institute of TechnologyCork Institute of Technology , formerly the Regional Technical College, Cork, is an Institute of Technology in Ireland, located in Cork, Ireland opened in 1973. The institute has 17,000 students in art, business, engineering, music and science disciplines...
- 17,000- Cork School of Music
- Crawford College of Art and Design
- National Maritime College of IrelandNational Maritime College of IrelandThe National Maritime College of Ireland NMCI is the first third level college in Ireland to be built under the Government’s Public-Private Partnership scheme. The partners include Cork Institute of Technology , the Irish Naval Service and Focus Education. The college offers both courses and...
- University of LimerickUniversity of LimerickThe University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
- 14,500 - Galway-Mayo Institute of TechnologyGalway-Mayo Institute of TechnologyGalway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a third level institute of education and is based at five locations in the west of Ireland.-Galway Campus:...
- 9,000 - Limerick Institute of TechnologyLimerick Institute of TechnologyLimerick Institute of Technology is an institution of higher education in Limerick, Ireland and is one of 13 institutes that are members of the Institutes of Technology Ireland . The Institute has four campuses in Limerick City, one in both Thurles and Clonmel in County Tipperary and a regional...
- 7000 - Mary Immaculate College, LimerickMary Immaculate College, LimerickMary Immaculate College , also known as Mary I or MIC, is a College of Education and Liberal Arts, founded in 1898. It became academically linked to the University of Limerick in 1991. The college has approximately 3,500 students and 300 staff...
- 3500
Industry
The Shannon Free ZoneShannon Free Zone
Shannon Free Zone is a , international business park adjacent to Shannon International Airport, County Clare, Ireland which is 18 km from Ennis and 20 km from Limerick city. Businesses based on the site enjoy a very attractive tax package on their profits. This has served to attract a...
in County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
is an industrial zone with over 150 companies employing over 7,500 people.
The National Technology Park (NTP), Ireland's first science/technology park (263 hectares), which is home to over 80 organisations employing over 4,000 people adjacent to the University of Limerick.
Cork is the home of Ireland's pharmaceutical industry with most of Ireland pharmaceutical companies located in the Little Island
Little Island, Cork
Little Island is mainly an industrial area to the east of Cork City, Ireland. It is no longer an island, since the northern channel separating it from the mainland has filled over. To the east and south is Cork Harbour; across a channel to the west is Fota Island.-Development:Many of Cork's...
area.
Population
Greater Cork: 480,000- CarrigalineCarrigalineCarrigaline is a single-street town in County Cork, Ireland. It is about 12 km from Cork City which can be reached by car in 25 minutes...
(16,850) - CóbhCobhCobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
(12,890) - MallowMallow, County CorkMallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
(11,000), - MidletonMidletonMidleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
(10,336) - YoughalYoughalYoughal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
(7,200) - FermoyFermoyFermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
(7,300) - Caherlag (6,000)
- BandonBandon, County CorkBandon is a town in County Cork, Ireland. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its...
(5,000) - Inishkenny (5,000)
- BlarneyBlarneyBlarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork...
(5,400) - MonkstownMonkstownMonkstown is a placename shared by more than one area in Ireland:*Monkstown, County Cork, a town in County Cork.*Monkstown, County Dublin, a town or suburb on the outskirts of Dublin city in County Dublin....
(5,000) - Passage WestPassage WestPassage West is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour. It is some 10 km from Cork city, separated by the green belt from the urban sprawl of Douglas and Rochestown. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets...
(5,000) - KinsaleKinsaleKinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
4,200 - MacroomMacroomMacroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census...
(3,000) - RingaskiddyRingaskiddyRingaskiddy is a village south of Cork city, in County Cork, Ireland. Located across Cork harbour south from Cóbh, and connected to Cork city by the N28 road the village is now a major ferry port Port of Cork with passenger ferry services to France & the United Kingdom.Ringaskiddy has seen huge...
Limerick urban area: 110,000
- EnnisEnnisEnnis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
- (25,000) - ShannonShannon, County ClareShannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis....
- (9,000) - NenaghNenaghNenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
- (9,000) - Newcastle WestNewcastle WestNewcastle West is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. The town is the largest town in the county, excluding Limerick city, and is sited on the River Arra which flows into the River Deel...
- (7,000) - TipperaryTipperaryTipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
- (5,000) - CastleconnellCastleconnellCastleconnell is a scenic village on the banks of the River Shannon, some from Limerick city and within a few minutes walk of the boundaries with counties Clare and Tipperary....
- (4,000)
Galway city: 70,000
- OughterardOughterardOughterard is a small town on the banks of the Owenriff River close to the western shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. The population of the town in 2006 was 1,305...
- 7,500 - Ballinasloe - 6,500
- AthenryAthenryAthenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
- 5,000 - OranmoreOranmoreOranmore is a village in County Galway on the outskirts of Galway city in Ireland. With its major housing developments, Oranmore is rapidly becoming a part of Galway's commuter or suburban belt...
- 3,500 - GortGortGort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
- 2,734
Statistics
| Region | Population | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Greater Cork) | (377,000) | ||
| County Cork County Cork County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county... |
480,000 | 7,499 km² | |
| (Limerick urban area) Limerick Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the... |
(110,000) | ||
| County Limerick County Limerick It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC... |
185,000 | 2,756 km² | |
| (Ennis Urban area) | (30,000) | ||
| County Clare County Clare -History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones... |
110,000 | 3,450 km² | |
| (Galway city) | (70,000) | ||
| County Galway County Galway County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county... |
230,000 | 6,149 km² | |
| Grand total | 1,005,000 | 19,854 km² |
City and county council areas
The city and county council areas covered by the corridor are:- Galway city - 70,000
- County GalwayCounty GalwayCounty Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
- 230,000 - County ClareCounty Clare-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
- 110,000 - County LimerickCounty LimerickIt is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
- 185,000 - Limerick city - 60,000
- County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
- 480,000 - Cork city - 200,000