Cork-Limerick-Galway corridor

The Cork-Limerick-Galway corridor links the Republic of Ireland'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 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 Galway 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
  • Cork School of Music
  • Crawford College of Art and Design
  • National Maritime College of Ireland
• 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.^{[citation needed]}

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

• The Dublin-Belfast corridor

References

1. ^ Limerick Leader New M20 motorway office opens (29 May 2008) http://www.limerickleader.ie/3872/New-M20-motorway-office-opens.4132537.jp
2. ^ http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf

External links

• Irish Planning Institute - Cork-Limerick-Galway corridor