InterCity (Iarnród Éireann)
Encyclopedia
InterCity is the brand name given to rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann
that run between Dublin and other major cities in the Republic of Ireland
.
- Heuston station is the terminus for services to the south and west of Ireland. Services from Heuston go to Cork
, Galway
, Waterford
, Tralee and Limerick
. - Connolly station is the terminus for services to the east and north-west of Ireland. Services from Connolly go to Sligo
and Rosslare Europort
. Dublin Connolly is also the terminus of the Dublin to Belfast main line
, with services to provided by Enterprise.
Although Dublin is the hub of InterCity services with all "radial routes" terminating there, there are other services which may be considered as InterCity including;
InterCity services are operated using a mixture of locomotive pulled coaching stock and DMUs. In 2006, deliveries began of 67 new Mark 4 coaches, specifically for the flagship Dublin-Cork route, in an order costing approximately €117 million. These are formed into 8 carriage trains, pulled by a 201 class
locomotive, and operate an hourly service between Cork and Dublin. The entry into service of the Mark 4 stock allowed the Mark 3 coaching stock to be cascaded to other routes, allowing in turn the withdrawal of the elderly "Cravens" and Mark 2 coaches. In 2007, the first of a planned 183 coaches of the new 22000 Class diesel multiple unit were delivered, of which 150 vehicles will be for InterCity, totalling approximately €400 million. These new trains, which will be in either three or six car formations, will replace the Mark 3 coaches currently in use on the routes between Dublin and Limerick, Galway and Waterford and the 2800 Class
and 2900 Class
DMUs on the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Rosslare services, and on the services that do not terminate in Dublin. The DMU rolling stock will then be transferred to the expanded Commuter services over the next few years. The first 22000 Class train entered service on December 18, 2007 on the service to Sligo. These DMUs now operate all Dublin-Sligo, Dublin-Tralee and Dublin-Limerick services, most Dublin-Westport services and some Dublin-Galway, Dublin-Waterford and Mallow/Cork-Tralee services. As of June 2010 all intercity, and most commuter, routes are operated with 22000 Class units, with the exclusion of the Cork/Belfast-Dublin Service.
In addition to the dedicated InterCity rolling stock, a number of Commuter
branded DMUs are used on rural routes that are classed as InterCity by Iarnród Éireann
project will see several hundred million euro invested by the Irish Government in improving the railway network. This will see connection of some of the radial lines out of Dublin, which will enable inter-regional services to be operated without travelling through the capital. A major part of this will be the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis and Claremorris, a route totalling 110 km/68.5 miles.
If stage 3 were completed, the Westport, Galway and Limerick lines from Dublin will be connected, allowing regional InterCity services to be run between these destinations without having to travel via Dublin.
Stage 1 of the project began on November 16, 2007, relaying track between Ennis and Athenry, a distance of approximately 60 km/36 miles.
The WRC project has been widely criticised as passenger numbers have been extremely low, with critics saying it would be cheaper for Irish Rail to put each passenger in a taxi
than running the train.
that links Connolly with Dublin Pearse is a two track route that is currently operating at the limit of its capacity, while Connolly is also utilised as the terminus for a number of InterCity and Commuter
services. The new Docklands
station was built as a means to ease the congestion at Connolly by providing an alternate terminus for Commuter services to Meath. IÉ's significant plan initially involved the rebuilding of Dublin Broadstone
to serve as a terminus for Commuter services to the west of the capital. However, in March 2008, the Government decided that the track bed leading from Liffey Junction
would be used for an extension to the Luas
rather than for heavy rail. To compensate, the transport minister announced that CIÉ
would be permitted to obtain planning permission to keep Docklands open permanently as the terminus for Maynooth, Navan and Mullingar services, as well as potential services from Galway. The construction of the Interconnector
will enable DART
services to be spread over two lines, rather than all of them being routed through Connolly. This will then free up slots at Connolly to allow improvements in the services provided by both InterCity and Enterprise.
that are part of the Republic of Ireland
, Donegal
, Cavan
and Monaghan
, are the only counties with no railway connection at all. The closest railway station to Donegal is Londonderry Waterside
in Northern Ireland
, while the closure of several of the cross-border lines by the Northern Ireland Government
led to Cavan and Monaghan losing their rail services in the 1960s. Iarnród Éireann
and the government have both been criticised for not considering a restoration of the railway to Donegal, with Donegal County Council
stating their commitment to bringing about a return of the rail network to the county by connecting Letterkenny
to both Sligo
and Derry
, to maximise the "Gateway Status" awarded to the three towns. In May 2008, Conor Murphy
, the Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Executive
, announced a study in conjunction with Donegal County Council into the effects of restoring railway services in the north-west, with a view to potentially returning the railway to Donegal. The idea of restoring the railways to the North-West of Ireland has been gathering momentum, with Monaghan County Council
deciding to investigate the idea in 2009, while Donegal has floated the idea of involving not only the three Ulster counties south of the border, but also Sligo, which formerly had extensive rail links to counties further north, and Fermanagh
and Tyrone
in Northern Ireland.
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
that run between Dublin and other major cities in the Republic of Ireland
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,...
.
Services
InterCity services from Dublin operate from two main stations:- Heuston station is the terminus for services to the south and west of Ireland. Services from Heuston go to Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Tralee and Limerick
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...
. - Connolly station is the terminus for services to the east and north-west of Ireland. Services from Connolly go to Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
and Rosslare Europort
Rosslare Europort
Rosslare Europort is a modern seaport located at Rosslare Harbour in County Wexford, Ireland, near the southeastern-most point of Ireland's coastline, handling passenger and freight ferries to and from Wales and France....
. Dublin Connolly is also the terminus of the Dublin to Belfast main line
Dublin-Belfast railway line
The Dublin-Belfast main line is a major railway route in Ireland that connects Dublin Connolly station in the Republic of Ireland and Belfast Central station in Northern Ireland.-History:The railway line was built by three separate companies...
, with services to provided by Enterprise.
Although Dublin is the hub of InterCity services with all "radial routes" terminating there, there are other services which may be considered as InterCity including;
- Cork-Tralee
- Limerick-Galway
Rolling stock
IE 201 Class
The Iarnród Éireann 201 Class locomotives are the newest and most powerful diesel locomotives operating in Ireland, and were built between 1994 and 1995 by General Motors. They are model type JT42HCW, fitted with an EMD 12-710G3B engine of 3200 hp, weigh 112 tonnes and have a maximum speed of...
locomotive, and operate an hourly service between Cork and Dublin. The entry into service of the Mark 4 stock allowed the Mark 3 coaching stock to be cascaded to other routes, allowing in turn the withdrawal of the elderly "Cravens" and Mark 2 coaches. In 2007, the first of a planned 183 coaches of the new 22000 Class diesel multiple unit were delivered, of which 150 vehicles will be for InterCity, totalling approximately €400 million. These new trains, which will be in either three or six car formations, will replace the Mark 3 coaches currently in use on the routes between Dublin and Limerick, Galway and Waterford and the 2800 Class
IE 2800 Class
The 2800 Class is a type of Diesel Multiple Unit operated on the Irish railway network by Iarnród Éireann, used mainly for short-haul Commuter services.-Description:...
and 2900 Class
IE 2900 Class
The 29000 Class is a type of four-car Diesel Multiple Unit operated by Iarnród Éireann. The units were built in Spain by CAF in two batches between 2002 and 2005.-Description:...
DMUs on the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Rosslare services, and on the services that do not terminate in Dublin. The DMU rolling stock will then be transferred to the expanded Commuter services over the next few years. The first 22000 Class train entered service on December 18, 2007 on the service to Sligo. These DMUs now operate all Dublin-Sligo, Dublin-Tralee and Dublin-Limerick services, most Dublin-Westport services and some Dublin-Galway, Dublin-Waterford and Mallow/Cork-Tralee services. As of June 2010 all intercity, and most commuter, routes are operated with 22000 Class units, with the exclusion of the Cork/Belfast-Dublin Service.
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| 201 Class IE 201 Class The Iarnród Éireann 201 Class locomotives are the newest and most powerful diesel locomotives operating in Ireland, and were built between 1994 and 1995 by General Motors. They are model type JT42HCW, fitted with an EMD 12-710G3B engine of 3200 hp, weigh 112 tonnes and have a maximum speed of... |
|
diesel locomotive Diesel locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel... |
100 | 160 | 32 | Dublin-Cork, Dublin-Belfast | 1994–1995 |
| 22000 Class IE 22000 Class The 22000 Class "InterCity Railcar" is a Diesel multiple unit type in service with Iarnród Éireann in Ireland.In a new departure for Iarnród Éireann they will be the first railcars to have been built specifically to serve on InterCity routes and are capable of up to 100 mph .-History:In 2005,... |
 |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
100 | 160 | 41 | Cork-Tralee, Dublin-Cork, Galway, Limerick, Rosslare, Sligo, Waterford, Westport | 2006–2009 |
| Mark 4 Mark 4 (Iarnród Éireann) The CAF Mark 4 are trains operated by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland on the InterCity service from Dublin to Cork. These trains have no connection to the BR Mk 4.-Description:... |
 |
Passenger coaches | 125 | 200 | 67 | Dublin-Cork. | 2006 - |
 |
Control Car | ||||||
In addition to the dedicated InterCity rolling stock, a number of Commuter
Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)
Commuter is the brand name given to the suburban rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland. These operate in and around the suburban rail networks of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, in contrast to the majority of services which are classed as InterCity...
branded DMUs are used on rural routes that are classed as InterCity by Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| 2600 Class IE 2600 Class The 2600 Class is a type of Diesel Multiple Unit operated on the Irish railway network by Iarnród Éireann, used mainly for short-haul Commuter services. At present the entire class is based in Cork, and is used on local services to Mallow, Midleton, Cobh and on token services to Tralee... |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
70 | 110 | 8 | Cork Commuter Routes | 1994 | |
| 2700 Class IE 2700 Class The 2700 and 2750 Classes are two related types of diesel multiple unit operated by Iarnród Éireann. The 2700 Class units are 2-car sets; 25 cars were built by GEC Alsthom in 1997 and 1998, and began entering service in December 1998... |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 12 | Limerick Regional Services | 1997–1998 | |
| 2750 Class IE 2700 Class The 2700 and 2750 Classes are two related types of diesel multiple unit operated by Iarnród Éireann. The 2700 Class units are 2-car sets; 25 cars were built by GEC Alsthom in 1997 and 1998, and began entering service in December 1998... |
 |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 2 | Limerick Regional Services | 1997–1998 |
| 2800 Class IE 2800 Class The 2800 Class is a type of Diesel Multiple Unit operated on the Irish railway network by Iarnród Éireann, used mainly for short-haul Commuter services.-Description:... |
 |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 10 | Dublin-Rosslare, Dublin Commuter | 2000 |
Western Rail corridor
The Transport 21Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
project will see several hundred million euro invested by the Irish Government in improving the railway network. This will see connection of some of the radial lines out of Dublin, which will enable inter-regional services to be operated without travelling through the capital. A major part of this will be the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis and Claremorris, a route totalling 110 km/68.5 miles.
- Stage 1 - 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 ....
to 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:...
- Completed - Stage 2 - 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:...
to TuamTuamTuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
- Shelved - Stage 3 - TuamTuamTuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
to ClaremorrisClaremorrisClaremorris , is a town in County Mayo in the west of Ireland, at the junction of the N17 and the N60 national routes. The population of Claremoris in the 2011 Census was 3,979....
- Shelved
If stage 3 were completed, the Westport, Galway and Limerick lines from Dublin will be connected, allowing regional InterCity services to be run between these destinations without having to travel via Dublin.
Stage 1 of the project began on November 16, 2007, relaying track between Ennis and Athenry, a distance of approximately 60 km/36 miles.
The WRC project has been widely criticised as passenger numbers have been extremely low, with critics saying it would be cheaper for Irish Rail to put each passenger in a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
than running the train.
Dublin-Cork
Iarnród Éireann also maintains an ambition to increase speeds on the Dublin-Cork line. The new Mark 4 coaches are capable speeds of up to 125 mph, but are limited to 100 mph, because of speed restrictions on the track. In order to achieve the desired higher speed, the infrastructure of the line would have to be upgraded.Dublin Congestion
CIÉ's ambition to increase both service speed and service frequency is limited by capacity issues at Dublin Connolly. The looplineLoopline Bridge
The Loopline Bridge is a railway bridge spanning the River Liffey and several streets in Dublin, Ireland. It joins rail services from south of Dublin to Connolly Station and lines north....
that links Connolly with Dublin Pearse is a two track route that is currently operating at the limit of its capacity, while Connolly is also utilised as the terminus for a number of InterCity and Commuter
Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)
Commuter is the brand name given to the suburban rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland. These operate in and around the suburban rail networks of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, in contrast to the majority of services which are classed as InterCity...
services. The new Docklands
Docklands railway station
Docklands Station is a new railway station serving the Dublin Docklands area in Ireland owned by Córas Iompair Éireann planned as part of the Government Transport 21 initiative....
station was built as a means to ease the congestion at Connolly by providing an alternate terminus for Commuter services to Meath. IÉ's significant plan initially involved the rebuilding of Dublin Broadstone
Broadstone (Dublin) railway station
Broadstone railway station, , the former Dublin terminus of the Midland Great Western Railway, is currently the headquarters of Bus Éireann, housing most of their administration and also one of their main garages...
to serve as a terminus for Commuter services to the west of the capital. However, in March 2008, the Government decided that the track bed leading from Liffey Junction
Liffey Junction
Liffey Junction is a former railway station and junction on the erstwhile Midland Great Western Railway in Dublin, Ireland.The station opened in 1864 upon the opening of the Liffey Line from this point to the River Liffey at the North Wall, Dublin...
would be used for an extension to the Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
rather than for heavy rail. To compensate, the transport minister announced that CIÉ
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
would be permitted to obtain planning permission to keep Docklands open permanently as the terminus for Maynooth, Navan and Mullingar services, as well as potential services from Galway. The construction of the Interconnector
Interconnector (rail tunnel)
DART Underground , previously known as the Interconnector, is a planned railway tunnel in Ireland, projected to run under the city centre of Dublin. The tunnel would allow for the expansion of the electrified DART and the Dublin Suburban Rail network, and connect Heuston Station with Pearse Station...
will enable DART
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit is part of the suburban railway network in Ireland, running mainly along the coastline of Dublin Bay on the Trans-Dublin route, from Greystones in County Wicklow, through Dublin to Howth and Malahide in County Dublin.Trains are powered via a 1500V DC overhead catenary...
services to be spread over two lines, rather than all of them being routed through Connolly. This will then free up slots at Connolly to allow improvements in the services provided by both InterCity and Enterprise.
Other services
The three counties in UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
that are part of the Republic of Ireland
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,...
, Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, are the only counties with no railway connection at all. The closest railway station to Donegal is Londonderry Waterside
Londonderry railway station
Londonderry/Derry Railway Station, known commonly as Waterside Railway Station, serves the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. The station is also used by residents of the west of County Londonderry, much of west Tyrone and County Donegal. It is operated by Northern Ireland Railways...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, while the closure of several of the cross-border lines by the Northern Ireland Government
Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972...
led to Cavan and Monaghan losing their rail services in the 1960s. Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
and the government have both been criticised for not considering a restoration of the railway to Donegal, with Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Donegal in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
stating their commitment to bringing about a return of the rail network to the county by connecting Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
to both Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, to maximise the "Gateway Status" awarded to the three towns. In May 2008, Conor Murphy
Conor Murphy
Conor Terence Murphy is an Irish republican Sinn Féin politician.According to An Phoblacht, Murphy first became involved with the Irish Republican Army during the 1981 hunger strikes...
, the Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
, announced a study in conjunction with Donegal County Council into the effects of restoring railway services in the north-west, with a view to potentially returning the railway to Donegal. The idea of restoring the railways to the North-West of Ireland has been gathering momentum, with Monaghan County Council
Monaghan County Council
Monaghan County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Monaghan in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The county seat is at Monaghan Council Offices...
deciding to investigate the idea in 2009, while Donegal has floated the idea of involving not only the three Ulster counties south of the border, but also Sligo, which formerly had extensive rail links to counties further north, and Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
and Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
in Northern Ireland.