Cork–Limerick–Galway corridor
The Cork–Limerick–Galway corridor links the Republic of Ireland's second, third and fourth largest urban centres.
Transportation links
Limerick lies midway between Cork and Galway approximately 100 km from each city.
Road
Galway and Limerick are linked by the N18. Limerick is linked to Cork by the N20. 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.[1] 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.
Rail
The Western Rail Corridor links the three cities after recent major investment.
The three cities are served by the Cork Suburban Rail, Limerick Suburban Rail and Galway Suburban Rail networks.
Air
There are three international airports in the region: Shannon Airport, Cork Airport, and Kerry Airport.
Economy
The main economic engines of the region are the Economy of Cork and the Economy of Limerick.
Third level institutions
- University College Cork - 19,000
- National University of Ireland, Galway - 17,000
- Cork Institute of Technology - 17,000
- University of Limerick - 14,500
- Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology - 9,000
- Limerick Institute of Technology - 7000
- Mary Immaculate College, Limerick - 3500
Industry
The Shannon Free Zone 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.
Population
Greater Cork: 480,000
- Carrigaline (16,850)
- Cóbh (12,890)
- Mallow (11,000),
- Midleton (10,336)
- Youghal (7,200)
- Fermoy (7,300)
- Caherlag (6,000)
- Bandon (5,000)
- Inishkenny (5,000)
- Blarney (5,400)
- Monkstown (5,000)
- Passage West (5,000)
- Kinsale 4,200
- Macroom (3,000)
- Ringaskiddy
Limerick urban area: 110,000
- Ennis - (25,000)
- Shannon - (9,000)
- Nenagh - (9,000)
- Newcastle West - (7,000)
- Tipperary - (5,000)
- Castleconnell - (4,000)
Galway city: 70,000
- Oughterard - 7,500
- Ballinasloe - 6,500
- Athenry - 5,000
- Oranmore - 3,500
- Gort - 2,734[2]
Statistics
| Region | Population | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Greater Cork) | (377,000) | ||
| County Cork | 480,000 | 7,499 km² | |
| (Limerick urban area) | (110,000) | ||
| County Limerick | 185,000 | 2,756 km² | |
| (Ennis Urban area) | (30,000) | ||
| County Clare | 110,000 | 3,450 km² | |
| (Galway city) | (70,000) | ||
| County Galway | 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 Galway - 230,000
- County Clare - 110,000
- County Limerick - 185,000
- Limerick city - 60,000
- County Cork - 480,000
- Cork city - 200,000
See also
References
- ↑ Limerick Leader New M20 motorway office opens (29 May 2008) http://www.limerickleader.ie/3872/New-M20-motorway-office-opens.4132537.jp
- ↑ http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf