Roads in Ireland: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

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.

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

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.

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.