Ireland, both north and south of the border, has an extensive network of roads. Historically, Northern Ireland has had better quality roads, though the difference is less marked nowadays. It is true to say that many rural roads, even in Northern Ireland, remain an 'exciting' ride. For an unforgettable example, drive from Charleville to Macroom in County Cork; all the stereotypical components are present, from road 'surface' and potholes, to junctions and vicious bends (often combined for added thrills). With the advent of European Union funding, most National routes in the Republic continue to be upgraded. In the years from 1990s to the following decade the Republic went from having one motorway in the country, to expanding the motorways to most major routes. This was part of a National Development Plan. Road construction in Northern Ireland has proceeded at a slower pace in recent years, although a number of important bypasses and upgrades to dual carriageway have recently been completed or are about to begin.

Table of contents

Roads in the Republic of Ireland

Motorways

In the Republic of Ireland, the most important roads are a small number of motorways, indicated by the prefix "M" followed by one or two digits. The motorway network is focused on Dublin. In all the intercity instances below, the Motorway is only part of the full route, the original route number is listed after. City names in brackets are the destinations served and signposted, but not directly connected to that route. In the Republic of Ireland, motorways inherit the route number of the "N" route they have replaced. In most cases, the bypassed section of road is reclassified as a regional route. New routes, such as the M50, are an exception. The M50 was chosen as a recognisable unique number.

M1 Dublin - (Belfast) N1 road
M4 Dublin - Sligo/(Galway) N4 road
M7 Dublin - Limerick/(Cork)/(Waterford) N7 road
M9 (Dublin) - Waterford N9 road
M11 Dublin - Wexford N11 road
M50 Dublin ring road

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National Primary Routes

This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits. The most important cross-country roads are numbered in the range N13 - N30, with less important roads having higher numbers. Destinations served but not on the route in question are listed in brackets, with the connecting route also listed. Road signage lists these end destinations, also using brackets and often the connecting route (apart from cross-border destinations, listed normally). This list ignores the sections of route reclassified as motorway (see previous section).

Roads N1 to N11 radiate anti-clockwise from Dublin:

N1 Dublin - Dundalk - (A1 to Belfast)
N2 Dublin - Monaghan - (A5 to Derry)
N3 Dublin - Cavan - (A509 to Enniskillen) - Ballyshannon
N4 Dublin - Sligo
N5 (N4 from Dublin) - Longford - Westport
N6 (N4 from Dublin) - Kinnegad - Galway
N7 Dublin - Limerick
N8 (N7 from Dublin) - Portlaoise - Cork
N9 (N7 from Dublin) - Kilcullen - Waterford
N10 (N9 from Dublin) - Paulstown - Kilkenny - Ballyhale - (N9 to Waterford)
N11 Dublin - Wexford
N12 Monaghan - (A3 to Belfast)
N13 (N15 from Sligo) - Stranorlar - Letterkenny - (A2 to Derry)
N14 Letterkenny - Lifford - (B72 to Strabane)
N15 Sligo - Donegal - Lifford - (B72, A5 to Derry)
N16 Sligo - (A4 to Enniskillen, A4, M1 to Belfast)
N17 Galway - Claremorris - Collooney - (N4 to Sligo)
N18 (N4, N17 from Sligo) - Claregalway - (N6 from Galway) Oranmore - Ennis - Limerick
N19 (N18 from Limerick/Ennis) - Shannon Town - Shannon International Airport
N20 Limerick - Castleisland - Tralee
N21 Limerick - Cork
N22 Cork - Killarney - Farranfore - Tralee
N23 (N21 from Limerick) - Castleisland - Farranfore - (N22 to Killarney)
N24 Limerick - Waterford
N25 Cork - Waterford - Rosslare Europort
N26 (N4, N5 from Dublin) - Swinford - Ballina
N27 Cork city centre - Cork Airport
N28 Cork - Ringaskiddy
N29 (Spur off N25 east of Waterford)
N30 (N25 from Cork, Waterford near New Ross) - Enniscorthy - (N11 to Dublin)

Other Routes

National Secondary Routes are also indicated with a "N" prefix, though the number is higher. Examples are:

N69 Limerick - Tralee (Coast road via Foynes)
N72 Killarney - Waterford
N85 Ennis - Ennistymon

Regional routes are indicated with an "R" prefix and a three-digit number, ranging from R1xx in the north-east to R7xx in the south-east of the country. Other roads are not generally referred to by number, but are registered with a four-digit "L" number, taking the form Lxxxx. Some old road signs will still carry old classifications, e.g. "T" for trunk road.

Roads in Northern Ireland

The main roads in the north, which connect well with those in the south, are classified "M"/"A"/"B" as in Great Britain, though their numbering is separate from the British system.

Motorways

The most important roads are motorways, designated as in the Republic and Great Britain by the letter "M". The motorway network is focused on Belfast.

M1 Belfast - Dungannon
M2 Belfast - Ballymena
M3 The Lagan Bridge in Belfast
M5 A short spur from Greenisland to Whitehouse in the northern suburbs of Belfast
M12 A short spur from the M1 to the centre of Portadown
M22 Antrim - Randalstown

"A" roads

The next most important roads are designated with the prefix "A" and a one-, two- or three-digit number. Some of the most important are:

A1 Belfast - Lisburn - Banbridge - Newry - becoming the N1 at the border and continuing to Dundalk and Dublin
A2 Derry - Newry coastal road
A3 Lisburn - Portadown - Armagh - Middletown joining the N12 at the border which extends to Monaghan
A4 Portadown - Dungannon - Clogher Valley - Enniskillen - Belcoo joining the N16 at the border which extends to Sligo
A5 Derry - Strabane - Omagh - Ballygawley joining the N2 at the border which extends to Monaghan and Dublin
A6 Belfast - Derry
A7 Carryduff - Downpatrick
A8 Belfast - Larne
A11 Belfast Inner Ring Road
A12 Westlink urban motorway in Belfast
A20 Belfast - Newtownards - Portaferry
A21 Bangor - Newtownards - Comber - Ballygowan - Saintfield - A24 north of Ballynahinch
A22 Dundonald - Comber - Killyleagh - Downpatrick
A23 Belfast - Ballygowan
A24 Belfast - Carryduff - Ballynahinch - Dundrum where it meets the A2 for Newcastle and Kilkeel
A25 Downpatrick - Castlewellan - Newry - South Armagh - becoming the R182 for Castleblayney at the border
A26 Banbridge - Lurgan - Crumlin - Antrim - Ballymena - Ballymoney - Coleraine
A27 Newry - Tandragee - Portadown
A28 Newry - Markethill - Armagh - Aughnacloy - Augher
A29 Portrush - Coleraine - Maghera - Cookstown - Dungannon - Armagh - Keady - South Armagh where it becomes the R177 for Dundalk
A30 Lisburn - Glenavy
A31 Moneymore - Castledawson
A32 Omagh - Irvinestown - Enniskillen - becoming the N87 towards Ballinamore at the border
A34 Maguiresbridge - Lisnaskea - Newtownbutler to the border at Clones
A35 Irvinestown - Kesh - Pettigo - becoming the R234 towards Donegal town at the border
A36 Ballymena - Larne
A37 (North) Coleraine - Limavady
A37 (South) A short stretch of road around Cullaville - that part of the N53 Castleblayney to Dundalk road which is within Northern Ireland
A40 From Derry City Centre southwest along the River Foyle to the border, where it becomes the R236 towards Raphoe
A42 Maghera - Portglenone - Ballymena - Carnlough
A43 Ballymena - Glenarriff
A44 Ballycastle - Armoy - A26 north of Clough Mills
A46 Enniskillen - Belleek - becoming the N3 towards Ballyshannon at the border
A47 Kesh - Belleek
A48 Newtownards - Donghadee
A49 Lisburn - Ballynahinch
A50 Portadown - Banbridge - Castlewellan - Newcastle
A51 Gilford - Tandragee - Armagh
A52 Belfast - Crumlin
A54 Castledawson - Portglenone - Kilrea - Coleraine
A55 Belfast Outer Ring Road
A57 Belfast International Airport - Templepatrick - Ballyclare - Ballynure
A501 Belfast - A30 just east of Glenavy
A505 Omagh - Cookstown
A509 Enniskillen - Derrylin becoming the N3 to Cavan and Dublin at the border
A514 Derry Ring Road (South)
A515 Derry Ring Road (North)

"B" roads

Less important roads are indicated with the prefix "B" and a one-, two- or three- digit number.

See also

External Links



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