Chapter Three: Urban Settlement in Ireland

Introduction

Across the counties and provinces on the island of Ireland, there are important urban settlements. As we will see in this chapter, the threads of physical, human and cultural geography remain both apparent and intertwined in relation to the development of Ireland’s many unique urban settlements. As is often the case in global contexts, major city centres in Ireland have emerged through their strategic physical location – often near waterways or significant transport infrastructures that allow for the movement of people (including residents, visitors, and tourists), as well as the movement of major commercial goods. In addition to their strategic locations for travel and trade, each major city in Ireland has developed its own cultural character and is known for particular aspects of Irish life. For example, the city of Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, is well-known for Irish language speaking, and the presence of traditional Irish music. Given that colonial rule in Ireland – for which the British prohibited the speaking of Irish language – traveled from east to west, it makes sense that a city like Galway on the west coast would retain and celebrate its cultural closeness to the Irish language.

Each county has its own administrative hub that ranges in size (from a town to a city) dependent on the area. Many of the counties are home to major cities that share the same name:

• the county of Dublin’s main administrative centre is the city of Dublin, which is the largest city on the island of Ireland, as well as the capital city of the Republic of Ireland
• the county of Cork’s main administrative centre is the city of Cork, which is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland
• the county of Limerick’s main administrative centre is the city of Limerick, the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland
• the county of Galway’s main administrative centre is the city of Galway, the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland
• the county of Derry’s main administrative centre is the city of Derry, the second largest city in Northern Ireland

In smaller counties, there are also major towns known as “county towns” that have emerged as points of administrative importance – where hospitals, local government, health care access, and trading opportunities (such as weekly markets) are found. For example, we can see this in the town of Ennis in County Clare, or Tralee in County Kerry. Many county towns are also linked to major transportation routes, either through train or bus systems, that connect these smaller settlements to larger urban settlements across the island.

Major urban settlements throughout the island of Ireland have emerged for their strategic positions in relation to trade. For example, look at the map of Ireland below and consider the location of Galway, Dublin, Waterford, Cork, and Belfast – all major cities throughout the island. What physical attributes do these cities share, and what power do they hold in relation to the movement of people as well as the movement of commercial goods?