Ireland's routes
The network: what a national road is
The road network is divided according to the speed and the kind of traffic it carries. The letter at the start of a road number means more than one thing — it tells you what you can expect.
The letters
- M
- Motorway Motorway rules, higher speeds, restricted access
- N
- National road Principal link between large towns and ports
- R
- Regional road A wider local connection, at lower speeds
- L
- Local road A local or maintenance road
What the number means
Road numbering is not consistent across the country. Some numbers are used consistently throughout Ireland, while others belong specifically to a region or to local roads.
The letter at the start of a number can appear in combination on signs — a single route, for instance, may form part of the N network and still be a tolled route.
This is not a map
This is a textual description. It should not be used for navigation. Use a map or official signs.
A rural motorway, in contrast with the capital's urban motorway. Photograph: Peter McDermott (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Routes we have profiled
A selection · not a complete list
| Route | Type | Area | Length | Essay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M50 | Motorway | Dublin | ≈ 50 km | Essay |
| M1 | Motorway | Dublin – the border | Long | Context |
| M6 | Motorway | Dublin – Galway | Long | Context |
| N70 | National road | County Kerry | Long | Wild Atlantic Way |
| N59 | National road | Galway – Mayo | Long | Wild Atlantic Way |
| R759 | Regional road | Wicklow | Short | Sally Gap |
| R115 | Regional road | Dublin – Wicklow | Long | Sally Gap |
| N25 | National road | Cork – Waterford | Long | Tunnels |
All distances are approximate; consult official sources for exact figures.
How to choose a route
People usually choose the fastest route, but that is not always the most suitable one. If you want to see a landscape, a quiet regional road may serve you better than a motorway. If you must be somewhere at a particular time, the motorway with its margin of extra time may serve you better.
In most cases there are three things to weigh: the distance, the kind of road, and the time of day at which you will travel it.
Distance
Kilometres read in the context of the road, not the air.
Type
Motorway or regional road — the difference lies in speed and in access.
Time
The time of day largely determines how much traffic there will be.
How a route behaves
No two routes are alike, even where both share the same designation. Three things change a great deal.
- Width
- A motorway is wide enough for vehicles to move independently of one another. A regional road is, in places, so narrow that two large vehicles cannot pass without stopping.
- Maintenance
- Motorways are maintained regularly. Local roads often depend on less regular work, and can deteriorate through the winter.
- Signage
- Motorway signage is standardised across the country. On local roads, signs may be more abbreviated and less clear.
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