Mid-West Region, Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Mid-West Region is a NUTS Level III region of the Republic of Ireland and is governed by the Mid-West Regional Authority
. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Clare
, Limerick
and North Tipperary
, along with Limerick City Council
. The Mid-West region spans 8,248 km², 11% of the total area of the state and has a population of 339,591. The regional capital is Limerick
city. Its NUTS code is IE023.
The region is located on the western seaboard of Ireland with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the River Shannon
also passes through the Mid-West forming a distinctive corridor and unifying force in the character of the area.
Like other Regional Authorities, the Mid-West Regional Authority is assisted in its duties by an Operational Committee and EU Operational Committee.
The population density of the region is 41.17 persons/square km.
Limerick city is the largest urban area in the region with a population of 54,023 (2002 census) within the city boundary area and has a population of about 100,000 people within the larger urban area including the city suburbs.
are major drivers of the regional economy with growth prospects in Biotechnology and medical technology, ICT, aerospace, tourism agribusiness and logistics.
The Dublin/Limerick corridor and the western corridor linking Galway/Limerick/Cork is of strategic importance to the region.
Regional GDP in 2002 was €8,234m with GDP per capita forming 86.2% of the state. The GDP per capita was 109.8% of EU25.
The workforce in the region was 160,400 in 2003 which was an employment rate of 96.7% of which 61.8% were employed in services, 29.8% in Industry and 8.3% employed in agriculture.
, continental Europe
and transatlantic flights to the USA.
The M7 is a high quality motorway connecting Dublin and Limerick
. The N18/M18
including the Limerick Tunnel
provides a complete bypass of Limerick
and improved access to Shannon
, Ennis
and Galway
. The N/M20 road/motorway provides access to Cork and Kerry.
Mid-West Regional Authority
The Mid-West Regional Authority is one eight statutory Regional Authorities in Ireland. The region comprises about 10% of the national land area and population of the country...
. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties 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...
, 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...
and North Tipperary
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
, along with Limerick City Council
Limerick City Council
Limerick City Council is the local authority which is responsible for the city of Limerick in Ireland. It is the responsible for local government, sanitation, motor vehicles tax, and social housing.-History:...
. The Mid-West region spans 8,248 km², 11% of the total area of the state and has a population of 339,591. The regional capital is 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...
city. Its NUTS code is IE023.
The region is located on the western seaboard of Ireland with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
also passes through the Mid-West forming a distinctive corridor and unifying force in the character of the area.
Mid-West Regional Authority
The Mid-West Region is administered by the Mid-West Regional Authority, which consists of 26 elected representatives including the region's representative on the EU Committee of the Regions. These representatives meet once a month and are nominated from the four administrative councils of the region:- Limerick City CouncilLimerick City CouncilLimerick City Council is the local authority which is responsible for the city of Limerick in Ireland. It is the responsible for local government, sanitation, motor vehicles tax, and social housing.-History:...
- Clare County CouncilClare County CouncilClare County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Clare in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment....
- Limerick County CouncilLimerick County CouncilLimerick County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Limerick 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...
- North Tipperary County CouncilNorth Tipperary County CouncilNorth Tipperary County Council is the local authority which is responsible for the county of North Tipperary 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 in Nenagh...
Like other Regional Authorities, the Mid-West Regional Authority is assisted in its duties by an Operational Committee and EU Operational Committee.
Demographics
The Mid-West region has a population of 339,591 which constitutes about 8.67% of Ireland's total population.The population density of the region is 41.17 persons/square km.
Limerick city is the largest urban area in the region with a population of 54,023 (2002 census) within the city boundary area and has a population of about 100,000 people within the larger urban area including the city suburbs.
Economy
The economy of the region is based mainly around the greater Limerick/Shannon region. The Shannon Free Zone, Shannon International Airport, Shannon Estuary Ports, National Technology Park Limerick and major educational institutions such as the University of LimerickUniversity of Limerick
The 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...
are major drivers of the regional economy with growth prospects in Biotechnology and medical technology, ICT, aerospace, tourism agribusiness and logistics.
The Dublin/Limerick corridor and the western corridor linking Galway/Limerick/Cork is of strategic importance to the region.
Regional GDP in 2002 was €8,234m with GDP per capita forming 86.2% of the state. The GDP per capita was 109.8% of EU25.
The workforce in the region was 160,400 in 2003 which was an employment rate of 96.7% of which 61.8% were employed in services, 29.8% in Industry and 8.3% employed in agriculture.
Transport
Shannon International Airport is the only airport in the region with a wide range of flights available to BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and transatlantic flights to the USA.
The M7 is a high quality motorway connecting Dublin 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...
. The N18/M18
M18 motorway (Ireland)
The M18 motorway is an inter-urban motorway in Ireland, forming part of the Limerick, Ennis to Galway national primary road, which, in turn, forms part of the Atlantic Corridor called for as part of the Transport 21 project.-Route:...
including 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....
provides a complete bypass of 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...
and improved access to Shannon
Shannon, County Clare
Shannon 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....
, Ennis
Ennis
Ennis 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 ....
and 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...
. The N/M20 road/motorway provides access to Cork and Kerry.
Urban areas
A list of the largest urban areas in the Mid-West Region. County capitals are shown in bold.| Rank | Town | County | Population (2006 census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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... |
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... |
90,757 |
| 2 | Ennis Ennis Ennis 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 .... |
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... |
24,253 |
| 3 | Shannon Shannon, County Clare Shannon 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.... |
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... |
9,222 |
| 4 | Nenagh Nenagh Nenagh 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... |
North Tipperary North Tipperary North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county... |
7,415 |
| 5 | Newcastle West Newcastle West Newcastle 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... |
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... |
7,291 |
| 6 | Thurles Thurles Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly... |
North Tipperary North Tipperary North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county... |
6,831 |
| 7 | Roscrea Roscrea Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin... |
North Tipperary North Tipperary North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county... |
5,896 |
| 8 | Rathkeale Rathkeale Rathkeale is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. It is located 30 km southwest of Limerick city on the N21 road to Tralee, and lies on the River Deel. Rathkeale has a significant Irish Traveller population.... |
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... |
3,938 |
| 9 | Kilrush Kilrush Kilrush is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland.-History:... |
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... |
2,768 |
| 10 | Templemore Templemore Templemore is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea.... |
North Tipperary North Tipperary North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county... |
2,255 |