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List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland facts for kids

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Dublin four courts
Dublin, the capital of Ireland

This is a list of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland by population. In 2022, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Tailte Éireann created of a new unit of urban geography called Built Up Areas (BUAs) which were used to produce data for urban areas in the 2022 census of Ireland.

There were 867 BUAs, representing the entire settlement area of each town and city (including suburbs and environs). The 250 largest cities, towns and villages are listed below with data from the 2022 census.

Cities and towns list

Rank
2022
Change
since 2016
Urban area County Population 2022 Increase
since 2016
1 Steady 0 Dublin city and suburbs County Dublin & County Meath 1,263,219 7.7%
2 Steady 0 Cork city and suburbs County Cork 222,526 6.6%
3 Steady 0 Limerick city and suburbs County Limerick & County Clare 102,287 8.6%
4 Steady 0 Galway city and suburbs County Galway 85,910 7.5%
5 Steady 0 Waterford city and suburbs County Waterford & County Kilkenny 60,079 12.3%
6 Steady 0 Drogheda County Louth & County Meath 44,135 7.8%
7 Increase 1 Dundalk County Louth 43,112 10.5%
8 Decrease 1 Swords County Dublin 40,776 3.9%
9 Increase 1 Navan County Meath 33,886 12.3%
10 Decrease 1 Bray County Wicklow & County Dublin 33,512 2.8%
11 Increase 1 Ennis County Clare 27,923 10.5%
12 Increase 1 Carlow County Carlow & County Laois 27,351 12.7%
13 Decrease 2 Kilkenny County Kilkenny 27,184 2.5%
14 Increase 4 Naas County Kildare 26,180 22.4%
15 Decrease 1 Tralee County Kerry 26,079 10.1%
16 Decrease 1 Newbridge County Kildare 24,366 7.1%
17 Steady 0 Balbriggan County Dublin 24,322 12.0%
18 Decrease 2 Portlaoise County Laois 23,494 6.5%
19 Steady 0 Athlone County Westmeath & County Roscommon 22,869 7.1%
20 Steady 0 Mullingar County Westmeath 22,667 8.3%
21 Increase 2 Letterkenny County Donegal 22,549 17.0%
22 Increase 3 Greystones County Wicklow 22,009 21.3%
23 Decrease 1 Wexford County Wexford 21,524 6.6%
24 Steady 0 Sligo County Sligo 20,608 7.3%
25 Decrease 4 Celbridge County Kildare 20,601 3.8%
26 Increase 1 Malahide County Dublin 18,608 12.4%
27 Decrease 1 Clonmel County Tipperary & County Waterford 18,369 7.2%
28 Steady 0 Carrigaline County Cork 18,239 15.7%
29 Increase 2 Maynooth County Kildare 17,259 18.3%
30 Decrease 1 Leixlip County Kildare 16,733 7.9%
31 Increase 4 Ashbourne County Meath 15,680 23.7%
32 Increase 7 Laytown–Bettystown–Mornington–Donacarney County Meath 15,642 31.8%
33 Decrease 3 Tullamore County Offaly 15,598 6.8%
34 Decrease 2 Killarney County Kerry 14,412 −0.6%
35 Decrease 1 Cobh County Cork 14,148 10.5%
36 Steady 0 Midleton County Cork 13,906 11.3%
37 Steady 0 Mallow County Cork 13,456 8.0%
38 Decrease 5 Arklow County Wicklow 13,399 1.8%
39 Decrease 1 Castlebar County Mayo 13,054 8.2%
40 Increase 2 Wicklow County Wicklow 12,957 22.4%
41 Decrease 1 Enniscorthy County Wexford 12,310 8.2%
42 Decrease 1 Cavan County Cavan 11,741 7.6%
43 Increase 5 Gorey County Wexford 11,517 17.3%
44 Decrease 1 Tramore County Waterford 11,277 8.6%
45 Increase 5 Athy County Kildare 11,035 14.0%
46 Steady 0 Longford County Longford 10,952 9.4%
47 Steady 0 Rush County Dublin 10,875 9.4%
48 Increase 4 Portmarnock County Dublin 10,750 13.6%
49 Decrease 4 Skerries County Dublin 10,743 7.0%
50 Decrease 6 Ballina County Mayo 10,556 3.8%
51 Increase 6 Kildare County Kildare 10,302 19.3%
52 Decrease 3 Shannon County Clare 10,256 5.4%
53 Steady 0 Dungarvan County Waterford 10,081 9.3%
54 Decrease 3 Ratoath County Meath 10,077 5.7%
55 Steady 0 Nenagh County Tipperary 9,895 10.3%
56 Increase 8 Donabate County Dublin 9,669 29.9%
57 Decrease 1 Tuam County Galway 9,647 10.0%
58 Decrease 4 Trim County Meath 9,563 4.0%
59 Decrease 1 Portarlington County Laois & County Offaly 9,288 11.0%
60 Increase 2 Lusk County Dublin 8,806 13.1%
61 Increase 15 Kilcock County Kildare 8,674 42.4%
62 Decrease 3 New Ross County Wexford 8,610 7.1%
63 Decrease 3 Youghal County Cork 8,564 7.5%
64 Increase 4 Bandon County Cork 8,196 17.8%
65 Decrease 4 Thurles County Tipperary 8,185 3.1%
66 Steady 0 Clane County Kildare 8,152 12.0%
67 Decrease 4 Monaghan County Monaghan 7,894 2.8%
68 Decrease 3 Edenderry County Offaly 7,888 7.2%
69 Increase 2 Kinsealy–Drinan County Dublin 7,526 13.3%
70 Increase 2 Newcastle West County Limerick 7,209 8.9%
71 Decrease 4 Dunboyne County Meath 7,155 −1.6%
72 Decrease 3 Buncrana County Donegal 6,971 2.7%
73 Increase 1 Westport County Mayo 6,872 10.9%
74 Decrease 1 Fermoy County Cork 6,720 2.1%
75 Increase 28 Dunshaughlin County Meath 6,644 64.7%
76 Decrease 1 Kells County Meath 6,608 7.7%
77 Decrease 7 Ballinasloe County Galway & County Roscommon 6,597 −1.0%
78 Decrease 1 Roscommon County Roscommon 6,555 11.6%
79 Increase 2 Loughrea County Galway 6,322 13.8%
80 Decrease 2 Sallins County Kildare 6,269 7.2%
81 Decrease 1 Passage West County Cork 6,051 3.6%
82 Increase 2 Kinsale County Cork 5,991 13.4%
83 Increase 4 Oranmore County Galway 5,819 16.6%
84 Increase 14 Rathcoole County Dublin 5,792 33.1%
85 Decrease 5 Carrick-on-Suir County Tipperary & County Waterford 5,752 −0.3%
86 Steady 0 Carrickmacross County Monaghan 5,745 14.2%
87 Decrease 5 Blessington County Wicklow 5,611 1.6%
88 Decrease 2 Carrigtwohill County Cork 5,568 9.6%
89 Decrease 6 Roscrea County Tipperary 5,542 1.8%
90 Decrease 1 Ardee County Louth 5,478 11.2%
91 Decrease 1 Ballybofey–Stranorlar County Donegal 5,406 11.4%
92 Decrease 4 Tipperary County Tipperary 5,387 8.2%
93 Increase 6 Monasterevin County Kildare 5,307 25.0%
94 Decrease 1 Tullow County Carlow 5,138 10.0%
95 Decrease 1 Clonakilty County Cork 5,112 11.3%
96 Decrease 4 Mountmellick County Laois 4,905 2.7%
97 Increase 4 Duleek County Meath 4,899 16.1%
98 Decrease 2 Cashel County Tipperary 4,805 8.7%
99 Decrease 8 Listowel County Kerry 4,794 −0.5%
100 Increase 2 Carrick-on-Shannon County Leitrim & County Roscommon 4,743 16.8%
101 Decrease 4 Birr County Offaly 4,726 8.1%
102 Decrease 7 Athenry County Galway 4,603 3.6%
103 Increase 15 Saggart County Dublin 4,573 46.0%
104 Decrease 4 Kilcoole County Wicklow 4,569 7.8%
105 Increase 14 Newcastle County Dublin 4,526 46.3%
106 Increase 5 Courtown County Wexford 4,365 21.6%
107 Decrease 2 Macroom County Cork 4,096 8.8%
108 Decrease 4 Charleville County Cork 3,970 1.3%
109 Steady 0 Castleblayney County Monaghan 3,926 8.8%
110 Decrease 2 Claremorris County Mayo 3,857 4.6%
111 Increase 4 Kill County Kildare 3,818 14.0%
112 Decrease 5 Kilcullen County Kildare 3,815 2.8%
113 Decrease 7 Mitchelstown County Cork 3,744 0.1%
114 Steady 0 Stamullen County Meath 3,720 10.7%
115 Decrease 5 Cahir County Tipperary 3,679 2.4%
116 Increase 1 Enfield County Meath 3,663 13.1%
117 Increase 6 Newtownmountkennedy County Wicklow 3,539 24.8%
118 Decrease 5 Rathnew County Wicklow 3,482 3.3%
119 Decrease 3 Clara County Offaly 3,403 2.0%
120 Increase 1 Annacotty County Limerick 3,398 16.0%
121 Decrease 9 Tower County Cork 3,300 -3.5%
122 Increase 14 Rathangan County Kildare 3,263 25.0%
123 Increase 14 Crosshaven County Cork 3,263 26.6%
124 Increase 8 Virginia County Cavan 3,211 21.3%
125 Decrease 1 Ballinrobe County Mayo 3,148 13.0%
126 Increase 1 Kinnegad County Westmeath 3,064 11.6%
127 Decrease 1 Moate County Westmeath 3,013 9.0%
128 Increase 2 Bailieborough County Cavan 2,974 10.8%
129 Increase 4 Ballina County Tipperary 2,959 12.4%
130 Increase 10 Kingscourt County Cavan 2,955 18.2%
131 Decrease 9 Bagenalstown County Carlow 2,945 3.8%
132 Decrease 4 Bantry County Cork 2,929 7.6%
133 Decrease 2 Ballyjamesduff County Cavan 2,917 9.6%
134 Increase 4 Boyle County Roscommon 2,915 13.5%
135 Decrease 10 Skibbereen County Cork 2,903 4.5%
136 Decrease 16 Gort County Galway 2,870 -4.1%
137 Decrease 3 Sixmilebridge County Clare 2,832 7.9%
138 Increase 10 Kanturk County Cork 2,803 19.3%
139 Steady 0 Blarney County Cork 2,779 9.5%
140 Increase 7 Ballyhaunis County Mayo 2,773 17.2%
141 Increase 2 Carndonagh County Donegal 2,768 12.0%
142 Decrease 7 Donegal County Donegal 2,749 5.0%
143 Decrease 1 Callan County Kilkenny 2,678 8.2%
144 Decrease 15 Kilrush County Clare 2,649 -2.6%
145 Increase 8 Baltinglass County Wicklow 2,611 22.2%
146 Increase 18 Bundoran County Donegal 2,599 32.4%
147 Decrease 3 Athboy County Meath 2,596 6.2%
148 Decrease 2 Kenmare County Kerry 2,566 8.0%
149 Decrease 8 Castleisland County Kerry 2,536 1.1%
150 Increase 4 Castleconnell County Limerick 2,488 18.1%
151 Decrease 2 Prosperous County Kildare 2,413 3.4%
152 Increase 20 Ballaghaderreen County Roscommon 2,387 32.0%
153 Increase 8 Castlerea County Roscommon 2,348 17.9%
154 Increase 5 Bearna County Galway 2,336 16.9%
155 Increase 7 Tubbercurry County Sligo 2,307 16.2%
156 Decrease 11 Thomastown County Kilkenny 2,305 -5.7%
157 Increase 1 Balrothery County Dublin 2,282 13.1%
158 Increase 28 Moycullen County Galway 2,279 33.7%
159 Decrease 7 Clogherhead County Louth 2,275 6.1%
160 Increase 25 Rathdrum County Wicklow 2,264 36.1%
161 Increase 80 Rosslare Harbour County Wexford 2,247 87.3%
162 Decrease 12 Ballyshannon County Donegal 2,246 -2.3%
163 Decrease 6 Abbeyfeale County Limerick 2,206 9.0%
164 Decrease 9 Edgeworthstown County Longford 2,199 6.1%
165 Decrease 5 Newport County Tipperary 2,183 9.4%
166 Decrease 15 Killorglin County Kerry 2,163 -1.6%
167 Increase 3 Dunleer County Louth 2,143 17.6%
168 Increase 8 Mountrath County Laois 2,070 16.7%
169 Decrease 6 Bunclody County Wexford & County Carlow 2,053 3.5%
170 Decrease 5 Templemore County Tipperary 2,005 3.4%
171 Decrease 5 Enniskerry County Wicklow 2,000 5.9%
172 Increase 22 Termonfeckin County Louth 1,983 25.6%
173 Increase 7 Strandhill County Sligo 1,982 13.1%
174 Steady 0 Cloyne County Cork 1,967 9.1%
175 Increase 11 Dunmanway County Cork 1,964 18.7%
176 Increase 2 Rathcormac County Cork 1,957 11.1%
177 Increase 2 Banagher County Offaly 1,907 8.4%
178 Decrease 1 Abbeyleix County Laois 1,897 7.2%
179 Increase 35 Ashford County Wicklow 1,892 32.8%
180 Decrease 5 Newmarket-on-Fergus County Clare 1,887 5.8%
181 Increase 2 Clones County Monaghan 1,885 12.2%
182 Decrease 1 Portlaw County Waterford 1,881 8.0%
183 Decrease 12 Ballivor County Meath 1,870 3.4%
184 Decrease 16 Cootehill County Cavan 1,856 0.2%
185 Decrease 16 Castlebridge County Wexford 1,850 0.5%
186 Increase 43 Oughterard County Galway 1,846 40.1%
187 Increase 41 Watergrasshill County Cork 1,840 36.7%
188 Increase 2 Derrinturn County Kildare 1,837 14.7%
189 Steady 0 Collooney County Sligo 1,797 11.6%
190 Decrease 2 Rosslare Strand County Wexford 1,795 10.8%
191 Decrease 7 Kilmallock County Limerick 1,761 5.6%
192 Increase 33 Ballysadare County Sligo 1,747 29.4%
193 Increase 5 Fethard County Tipperary 1,738 12.5%
194 Increase 15 Lanesborough–Ballyleague County Roscommon & County Longford 1,733 19.2%
195 Decrease 22 Dunmore East County Waterford 1,731 -4.3%
196 Decrease 1 Millstreet County Cork 1,722 10.7%
197 Decrease 30 Ballymahon County Longford 1,714 -8.7%
198 Decrease 2 Ballymote County Sligo 1,711 10.5%
199 Steady 0 Convoy County Donegal 1,702 11.5%
200 Decrease 3 Tullyallen County Louth 1,697 9.7%
201 Increase 9 Portumna County Galway 1,690 16.6%
202= Increase 3 Castledermot County Kildare 1,685 14.2%
202= Increase 78 Allenwood County Kildare 1,685 71.8%
202= Decrease 9 Longwood County Meath 1,685 6.6%
205 Decrease 49 Dingle County Kerry 1,671 -18.5%
206 Increase 2 Manorhamilton County Leitrim 1,667 13.7%
207 Decrease 5 Killaloe County Clare 1,666 12.3%
208 Increase 19 Mullagh County Cavan 1,651 22.5%
209 Increase 26 Claregalway County Galway 1,632 30.8%
210 Increase 6 Ballybunion County Kerry 1,618 14.5%
211 Decrease 24 Lifford County Donegal 1,613 -0.8%
212 Increase 11 Belturbet County Cavan 1,610 17.6%
213 Decrease 22 Castlemartyr County Cork 1,603 0.2%
214 Increase 17 Kilbeggan County Westmeath 1,575 22.3%
215 Increase 7 Killucan and Rathwire County Westmeath 1,574 14.9%
216 Decrease 12 Caherconlish County Limerick 1,569 6.3%
217 Decrease 6 Carlingford County Louth 1,528 5.7%
218 Decrease 12 Graiguenamanagh–Tinnahinch County Kilkenny & County Carlow 1,506 2.1%
219 Decrease 12 Rochfortbridge County Westmeath 1,498 1.7%
220 Decrease 20 Castlecomer County Kilkenny 1,496 -4.6%
221 Increase 129 Coill Dubh County Kildare 1,476 97.9%
222 Increase 32 Killumney County Cork 1,466 29.5%
223 Decrease 6 Swinford County Mayo 1,459 4.7%
224 Increase 6 Foxford County Mayo 1,452 10.4%
225 Decrease 1 Slane County Meath 1,445 5.6%
226 Decrease 14 Aughrim County Wicklow 1,437 -0.3%
227 Decrease 7 Murroe County Limerick 1,432 4.0%
228 Increase 29 Ballyconnell County Cavan 1,422 28.7%
229 Increase 10 Muff County Donegal 1,418 15.7%
230 Decrease 11 Oldcastle County Meath 1,409 1.9%
231 Decrease 5 Stradbally County Laois 1,404 4.0%
232 Decrease 29 Moville County Donegal 1,390 -6.1%
233 Increase 16 Ballinroad County Waterford 1,389 19.6%
234 Decrease 2 Rathdowney County Laois 1,368 7.6%
235 Increase 13 Castlepollard County Westmeath 1,349 16.0%
236 Decrease 15 Lismore County Waterford 1,347 -2.0%
237 Decrease 1 Ballybay County Monaghan 1,329 7.1%
238 Increase 5 Ferbane County Offaly 1,324 11.2%
239 Increase 38 Johnstown County Kildare 1,320 31.3%
240 Decrease 25 Ferns County Wexford 1,317 -6.9%
241 Increase 29 Cahirciveen County Kerry 1,297 24.6%
242 Steady 0 Dromiskin County Louth 1,292 8.1%
243 Increase 8 Enniscrone County Sligo 1,291 11.7%
244 Decrease 11 Ramelton County Donegal 1,288 1.7%
245 Decrease 5 Piltown County Kilkenny 1,275 4.5%
246 Increase 73 Greencastle County Donegal 1,268 52.6%
247 Decrease 9 Portrane County Dublin 1,262 2.1%
248 Decrease 56 Clifden County Galway 1,259 -21.2%
249 Decrease 12 Killybegs County Donegal 1,258 1.8%
250 Decrease 17 Kilpedder County Wicklow 1,248 0.6%

See also

  • List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland for the 2016 census
  • List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland for the 2011 census
  • List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland for the 2006 census
  • List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland for the 2002 census
  • List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland
  • List of localities in Northern Ireland by population
  • List of settlements on the island of Ireland by population
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