Waterford becoming Munsters second city.

WillieMason

With Cork streaming rolling ahead and now uncatchable as top dog in Munster will Waterford overtake limerick as number two in the province? Waterford city is getting a lot of investment with the re-development of the North Quays and Michael Street along with other developments. Waterford looks like a place on the up.

tototoe

WillieMason wrote: »

With Cork streaming rolling ahead and now uncatchable as top dog in Munster will Waterford overtake limerick as number two in the province? Waterford city is getting a lot of investment with the re-development of the North Quays and Michael Street along with other developments. Waterford looks like a place on the up.

In terms of population, investment, jobs and lots of other metrics it's a long way off.

nim1bdeh38l2cw

WillieMason wrote: »

Waterford looks like a place on the up.

To be fair, that ain't hard. It could hardly get any worse

Mc Love

Not by a long shot. Limerick continues to progress and while Waterford is getting some much needed investment, they're a long way off the level of Limerick

Vanquished

WillieMason wrote: »

With Cork streaming rolling ahead and now uncatchable as top dog in Munster will Waterford overtake limerick as number two in the province? Waterford city is getting a lot of investment with the re-development of the North Quays and Michael Street along with other developments. Waterford looks like a place on the up.

While Limerick is sorely lacking private investment in the city centre in particular. Quite a lot of economic activity has been generated by the significant employment growth over the last number of years. Much like here they've been talking about big ticket projects in Waterford for ages. What exactly is under construction?

Being realistic, Waterford is half the size of Limerick. That's not going to change any time soon. Although one area in which it does put Limerick to shame is in terms of the quality of its city centre public realm.

Harry Palmr

Don't worry you've got 20k more people with a strong IT and University of Limerick. Not been in Limerick for 10 years and I never rated it when I was a weekly visitor but I'd understood it had got a fair bit of development in recent years. We also have zero political clout in Dublin due to 4 seats which not critical to power mathematics.

dave 27

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Don't worry you've got 20k more people with a strong IT and University of Limerick. Not been in Limerick for 10 years and I never rated it when I was a weekly visitor but I'd understood it had got a fair bit of development in recent years. We also have zero political clout in Dublin due to 4 seats which not critical to power mathematics.

Theres 105k in the immediate city and suburbs, I dont think Waterford has 85k, Galway doesnt have that i dont think! :cool:

damowill

WillieMason wrote: »

With Cork streaming rolling ahead and now uncatchable as top dog in Munster will Waterford overtake limerick as number two in the province? Waterford city is getting a lot of investment with the re-development of the North Quays and Michael Street along with other developments. Waterford looks like a place on the up.

i sense this is Click bait and looking for a reaction

Irish_rat

Waterford is a nice little town, has the Greenway going for it. How it got a motorway to Dublin no one knows, it's more comparable in size with Dundalk, Drogheda and Ennis really.

First Up

Vanquished wrote: »

WillieMason wrote: »

With Cork streaming rolling ahead and now uncatchable as top dog in Munster will Waterford overtake limerick as number two in the province? Waterford city is getting a lot of investment with the re-development of the North Quays and Michael Street along with other developments. Waterford looks like a place on the up.

While Limerick is sorely lacking private investment in the city centre in particular. Quite a lot of economic activity has been generated by the significant employment growth over the last number of years. Much like here they've been talking about big ticket projects in Waterford for ages. What exactly is under construction?

Being realistic, Waterford is half the size of Limerick. That's not going to change any time soon. Although one area in which it does put Limerick to shame is in terms of the quality of its city centre public realm.

I was in Limerick recently for the first time in a few years and was pleasantly surprised at some of the renewal. I even sensed a bit of sophistication in the cafe/bar scene that I never noticed before. No question the UL- business dynamic has helped and that end of town is impressive.

There's a few eyesores alright but hopefully they are in the process of being replaced.

Its miles ahead of Waterford anyway.

yop

Mod Note: OP - If you want to make this a proper discussion then maybe interact on it, I've seen some similar posts there on the Waterford and Galway threads, so if you're instigating a proper discussion then fair enough.

Harry Palmr

Irish_rat wrote: »

Waterford is a nice little town, has the Greenway going for it. How it got a motorway to Dublin no one knows, it's more comparable in size with Dundalk, Drogheda and Ennis really.

It got a motorway to Dublin as it was logical to have one taking in Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford rather than the half arsed B road which was the case. Or are you the type of person who thinks actively holding a region back is a good thing.

WillieMason

yop wrote: »

Mod Note: OP - If you want to make this a proper discussion then maybe interact on it, I've seen some similar posts there on the Waterford and Galway threads, so if you're instigating a proper discussion then fair enough.

Is this directed at me? i posted at 20:00 last night your message is at 14:00 today i dont sit in a office im working all day and have other responsibilities.

WillieMason

Guys Waterford is being targeted for major development the region needs A lot of services to take pressure off Dublin and Cork. Look at Galway the population almost doubled in 20 years and when it gets the outer ring road will easily surpass limericks population because of its regional importance. I imagine something similar can happened with Waterford

zulutango

I think it's possible that Galway will surpass Limerick in the next few decades if we don't get our house in order down here, but I don't see Waterford catching up any time soon. In time Limerick may become a small city, nestled half way between the bigger cities of Cork and Galway. Having said that, Galway is mired with challenges, and the proposed ring road is a big mistake. Galway's fumbling might give Limerick a chance to stay ahead, but I don't think we're a particularly well managed city and we could be doing a lot better.

WillieMason

zulutango wrote: »

I think it's possible that Galway will surpass Limerick in the next few decades if we don't get our house in order down here, but I don't see Waterford catching up any time soon. In time Limerick may become a small city, nestled half way between the bigger cities of Cork and Galway. Having said that, Galway is mired with challenges, and the proposed ring road is a big mistake. Galway's fumbling might give Limerick a chance to stay ahead, but I don't think we're a particularly well managed city and we could be doing a lot better.

I agree that In time Limerick may become a small city, nestled half way between the bigger cities of Cork and Galway. Lets not forgot Limericks reputation has been damaged by some sections of the city even abroad people have heard bad stories. Waterford on the sunny south east could gain ground is all im saying. Galway needs a ring road the place has carnage traffic it badly needs another bridge crossing over the corrib.

Vanquished

WillieMason wrote: »

I agree that In time Limerick may become a small city, nestled half way between the bigger cities of Cork and Galway. Lets not forgot Limericks reputation has been damaged by some sections of the city even abroad people have heard bad stories. Waterford on the sunny south east could gain ground is all im saying. Galway needs a ring road the place has carnage traffic it badly needs another bridge crossing over the corrib.

Ah yeah, the large numbers of people from a whole range of diverse countries and cultures that have moved to Limerick in recent years were clearly petrified by its reputation.

Keep trying though.

zulutango

WillieMason wrote: »

Galway needs a ring road the place has carnage traffic it badly needs another bridge crossing over the corrib.

It's off-topic, but that's the last thing Galway needs. It needs to put that money into transport infrastructure that actually works. It's Limerick's gain if Galway goes down this road though, so I don't mind.

Silentcorner

Vanquished wrote: »

Ah yeah, the large numbers of people from a whole range of diverse countries and cultures that have moved to Limerick in recent years were clearly petrified by its reputation.

Keep trying though.

I reckon the house prices will be next!!

We live in a region where probably about 250,000 - 300,000 people can get from home to parked up in the city centre/industrial estates in no more than 45 mins at most times of the day or night.

We enjoy some of the best standards of living in the country, we'll be alright!

The same thing that is keeping Waterford small, is the same thing that is keeping Limerick and Galway indeed Cork small.

Cookiemunster

WillieMason wrote: »

Guys Waterford is being targeted for major development the region needs A lot of services to take pressure off Dublin and Cork. Look at Galway the population almost doubled in 20 years and when it gets the outer ring road will easily surpass limericks population because of its regional importance. I imagine something similar can happened with Waterford

There are a lot of plans for Waterford, but nothing has been built yet. There are also a lot of plans for Limerick (Opera centre, Bishops Quay, Rugby museum, Parkway Valley) but as with Waterford, nothing has been built yet.

The most important thing for Limerick right now though is that large multinationals are already locating here creating thousands of jobs. Can the same be said for Waterford?

I honestly can't see Galway surpassing Limerick either seeing as it's possibly the worse run city in the country.

WillieMason

Vanquished wrote: »

Ah yeah, the large numbers of people from a whole range of diverse countries and cultures that have moved to Limerick in recent years were clearly petrified by its reputation.

Keep trying though.

Keep try what?

WillieMason

zulutango wrote: »

It's off-topic, but that's the last thing Galway needs. It needs to put that money into transport infrastructure that actually works. It's Limerick's gain if Galway goes down this road though, so I don't mind.

I dont know i think the limerick tunnel n18 was a good idea galways is just going down the same route

snotboogie

dave 27 wrote: »

Theres 105k in the immediate city and suburbs, I dont think Waterford has 85k, Galway doesnt have that i dont think! :cool:

The CSO actually records the populations of all of the urban areas in Ireland as well as the far less relevant and outdated council and county figures they put front and centre at every press release and on their website. They record each city and town individually but somebody compiled them on Wikipedia (you can check, all of the sources are from the CSO and 2016 census) and it’s about as close as you are going to get to the actual city populations in Ireland: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_urban_areas_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland_by_population

Limerick is 95k, Galway is 80k and Waterford is just under 55k.

mdmix

WillieMason wrote: »

With Cork streaming rolling ahead and now uncatchable as top dog in Munster will Waterford overtake limerick as number two in the province? Waterford city is getting a lot of investment with the re-development of the North Quays and Michael Street along with other developments. Waterford looks like a place on the up.

Waterford has a very good plan to develop and may even become the fastest growing urban area in Ireland (in % terms), but as mentioned earlier its just over half the size of Limerick so its not going to become Munsters second city. Waterford even has a decent public transport plan, although there are no plans for bus connects yet. Limerick on the other hand has a half baked plan to develop which will see growth, but this growth will stop sharply when we hit infrastructure limits - which will take years to fix - while the rest of the country grows.

zulutango wrote: »

It's off-topic, but that's the last thing Galway needs. It needs to put that money into transport infrastructure that actually works. It's Limerick's gain if Galway goes down this road though, so I don't mind.

Galway are due to install dedicated bus lanes on the preexisting roads once the ring road is complete, possibly before. Any city that invests in a proper public transport system is rewarded with private investment. Galway will get a double boost in private investment along the ring road and along the bus routes, so yes Galway will likely become Irelands 3rd city, possibly before 2030, which would at least be a little ironic.

When the Limerick tunnel was built, a bus lane should have been added on the Ennis road from Coonagh onwards to the city centre, the is more than enough space for it and it would have reduced traffic and improved journey times from Shannon, Coonagh and Caherdavin to the city. It could still easily be done but there is no ambition or will.

Dublin, Cork and Galway all have plans in motion (&funding) for bus connects and while Limerick was mentioned in the plan, there is no commitments. The only reason i can imagine for Limerick being left out is because of resistance from the council, but this is just speculation on my part.

Cookiemunster

mdmix wrote: »

Galway are due to install dedicated bus lanes on the preexisting roads once the ring road is complete, possibly before. Any city that invests in a proper public transport system is rewarded with private investment. Galway will get a double boost in private investment along the ring road and along the bus routes, so yes Galway will likely become Irelands 3rd city, possibly before 2030, which would at least be a little ironic.

I'd just point out that even if ABP give permission, the Galway ring road is likely to be stuck in the courts for years. The road is optimistically unlikey to be open before 2025 and that's if we don't have another crash. It's all well and good having plans, but until something is built, it's all pie in the sky.

And Limerick has been far from short of private investment in recent years. FDI in recent years has been huge. Public transport is important, but it isn't the be all and end all. I very much doubt that Galway will have overtaken Limerick by 2030.

Bandana boy

Is top city in Munster not akin to a tallest dwarf in the village contest ?

damowill

Bandana boy wrote: »

Is top city in Munster not akin to a tallest dwarf in the village contest ?

Waterford is really in Leinster anyway. Have ye heard them talk down there. Tis a Leinster accent..........

zulutango

mdmix wrote: »

Galway are due to install dedicated bus lanes on the preexisting roads once the ring road is complete, possibly before.

If they do it before then they have a chance. But that ain't going to happen.

mdmix wrote: »

Dublin, Cork and Galway all have plans in motion (&funding) for bus connects and while Limerick was mentioned in the plan, there is no commitments. The only reason i can imagine for Limerick being left out is because of resistance from the council, but this is just speculation on my part.

It's because we haven't had a Transport Strategy completed, unlike the other cities. But that's kicking off around now I believe.

rebs23

Bandana boy wrote: »

Is top city in Ireland not akin to a tallest dwarf in the village contest ?

Fixed the above there for you.

WillieMason

mdmix wrote: »

Waterford has a very good plan to develop and may even become the fastest growing urban area in Ireland (in % terms), but as mentioned earlier its just over half the size of Limerick so its not going to become Munsters second city. Waterford even has a decent public transport plan, although there are no plans for bus connects yet. Limerick on the other hand has a half baked plan to develop which will see growth, but this growth will stop sharply when we hit infrastructure limits - which will take years to fix - while the rest of the country grows.



Galway are due to install dedicated bus lanes on the preexisting roads once the ring road is complete, possibly before. Any city that invests in a proper public transport system is rewarded with private investment. Galway will get a double boost in private investment along the ring road and along the bus routes, so yes Galway will likely become Irelands 3rd city, possibly before 2030, which would at least be a little ironic.

When the Limerick tunnel was built, a bus lane should have been added on the Ennis road from Coonagh onwards to the city centre, the is more than enough space for it and it would have reduced traffic and improved journey times from Shannon, Coonagh and Caherdavin to the city. It could still easily be done but there is no ambition or will.

Dublin, Cork and Galway all have plans in motion (&funding) for bus connects and while Limerick was mentioned in the plan, there is no commitments. The only reason i can imagine for Limerick being left out is because of resistance from the council, but this is just speculation on my part.

Great post very good points made

diusmr8a504cvk

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Not been in Limerick for 10 years and I never rated it

Harry Palmr wrote: »

We ... in Dublin

Now it adds up.

callaway92

yop wrote: »

Mod Note: OP - If you want to make this a proper discussion then maybe interact on it, I've seen some similar posts there on the Waterford and Galway threads, so if you're instigating a proper discussion then fair enough.

One of the more bizarre posts I’ve ever seen

mdmix

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I'd just point out that even if ABP give permission, the Galway ring road is likely to be stuck in the courts for years. The road is optimistically unlikey to be open before 2025 and that's if we don't have another crash. It's all well and good having plans, but until something is built, it's all pie in the sky.

And Limerick has been far from short of private investment in recent years. FDI in recent years has been huge. Public transport is important, but it isn't the be all and end all. I very much doubt that Galway will have overtaken Limerick by 2030.

I agree with your fist point but that shouldn’t excuse Limerick (or Galway) council from putting together a proper development strategy, it would in-fact make it more likely that development will happen.

Limerick is doing well in a national context. We are recovering from a low base and are riding a wave of investment which will inevitably dry up. There are very obvious problems with the current development of the city, particularly in transport and housing. Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford have taken best international practice in these areas in order to continue to develope. Limerick unfortunately has taken best international practice and twisted it and bended it to fit the same failed policies that ended up crippling us in the last recession. I think the next recession will be just as unkind for Limerick.

Harry Palmr

Sawyer Unkempt Vigilante wrote: »

Now it adds up.

It doesn't I live in Waterford.

Cookiemunster

mdmix wrote: »

There are very obvious problems with the current development of the city, particularly in transport and housing. Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford have taken best international practice in these areas in order to continue to develope.

Care to provide some examples?

Silentcorner

mdmix wrote: »

I agree with your fist point but that shouldn’t excuse Limerick (or Galway) council from putting together a proper development strategy, it would in-fact make it more likely that development will happen.

Limerick is doing well in a national context. We are recovering from a low base and are riding a wave of investment which will inevitably dry up. There are very obvious problems with the current development of the city, particularly in transport and housing. Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford have taken best international practice in these areas in order to continue to develope. Limerick unfortunately has taken best international practice and twisted it and bended it to fit the same failed policies that ended up crippling us in the last recession. I think the next recession will be just as unkind for Limerick.

i don't think that has any merit.

Last time round, at the beginning of an economic collapse nationwide, we had 4-5,000 jobs lost through Dell and the feeder companies, devastating the region.

There is not one closure could have that kind of impact again.

In the meantime, unlike Cork or Galway we are not dependent on one major employer or one/two major industries. We have huge diversity in the investment that has been attracted.

That investment has been attracted, by a number of factors, but the very unique and dynamic relationship between all 3 rd level Institutes (from UL-LIT-LCFE to Industry participation in creating talent pipelines) which was a direct result of the heavy blow the city suffered in 2009, these are lessons not yet learnt in Cork or Galway, Waterford, in the absence of a meaningful 3 level institute can never compete with the amount of talent/trained labour currently in our local education system, there is nothing to suggest that this pipeline will dry up, in fact what we should see is companies scaling up employment levels as well as attracting new investments.

Outside of FDI, locally owned companies perform much better than some realise, indeed, in the tech start up sphere, Limerick tech start ups raise in capital, much more than tech start ups in Cork and Galway, who knows what these companies become, but we are certainly not lagging behind any region in creating major locally owned employers down the line.

From a congestion point of view, Limerick offers comfortably less commuting times, affording our workers more downtime.

Christy Browne

I'm from Waterford but go to UL, Limerick is miles ahead but Waterford will hopefully be on the up in the next few years.

A stronger Munster benefits everyone.

mdmix

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Care to provide some examples?

Planned urban sprawl with housing in Mungret and NDR

redlead

Waterford and the south east region which doesn't even exist anymore is constantly being undermined by the government, be it with health or education. There is no chance it will ever come close to Limerick. Galway will definitely over take Limerick at some stage though. It's a clear regional capital and is always favoured by the government.

The county and provincial system in Ireland is what holds a lot back in Ireland. For instance having a strong Waterford as a regional centre would benefit a lot of people in Kilkenny, South Tipp and Wexford but they are too small minded to realise it. This is why Galway is so successful, they have no one constantly trying to undermine them. Limerick are more and more going to get undermined by the expansion of Cork and Galway, you are just going to be stuck in the middle and get chipped away.

Cookiemunster

mdmix wrote: »

Planned urban sprawl with housing in Mungret and NDR

Of other cities doing it properly. But you knew what I meant.

Silentcorner

mdmix wrote: »

Planned urban sprawl with housing in Mungret and NDR

While I agree with the sentiment, you are aware, that this city is way behind when it comes to urban sprawl? Just because the Fg/Lab government quietly canned the enquiry into planning irregularities in Cork and Galway doesn't mean those areas won't be dealing with the legacy of those irregularities for decades to come, just like Dublin is!

I can't see how Galway would be able to out grow Limerick given the current micro/macro elements required for growth for both cities, I can see how people might think it has already happened or will happen such is the perception, no more than Limerick will never be able to outgrow Cork to even half the gap in size between the two cities.

Silentcorner

redlead wrote: »

Waterford and the south east region which doesn't even exist anymore is constantly being undermined by the government, be it with health or education. There is no chance it will ever come close to Limerick. Galway will definitely over take Limerick at some stage though. It's a clear regional capital and is always favoured by the government.

The county and provincial system in Ireland is what holds a lot back in Ireland. For instance having a strong Waterford as a regional centre would benefit a lot of people in Kilkenny, South Tipp and Wexford but they are too small minded to realise it. This is why Galway is so successful, they have no one constantly trying to undermine them. Limerick are more and more going to get undermined by the expansion of Cork and Galway, you are just going to be stuck in the middle and get chipped away.

The absence of a University has allowed Galway overtake Waterford over the last three decades, until Central Government rectifies this, Waterford will always struggle to compete, which is a disgrace in my opinion and just further evidence that our Central Government have no inclination to even to attempt to reverse the highly centralised and dysfunctional nature of this state!

WillieMason

redlead wrote: »

Waterford and the south east region which doesn't even exist anymore is constantly being undermined by the government, be it with health or education. There is no chance it will ever come close to Limerick. Galway will definitely over take Limerick at some stage though. It's a clear regional capital and is always favoured by the government.

The county and provincial system in Ireland is what holds a lot back in Ireland. For instance having a strong Waterford as a regional centre would benefit a lot of people in Kilkenny, South Tipp and Wexford but they are too small minded to realise it. This is why Galway is so successful, they have no one constantly trying to undermine them. Limerick are more and more going to get undermined by the expansion of Cork and Galway, you are just going to be stuck in the middle and get chipped away.

Good points but Galway has a huge advantage over limerick. Ireland is split into two regions in european .munster/leinter and connacht/3 ulster countries. When you look at the stats munster/leinter are one of the wealthiest areas in the hole eu but connacht/3 ulster are among the poorest. the EU will encourage change in this by lending more to the region this is why the tuam gort rd was done they got easy funding and this will continue galway will expanse quickly.In munster/leinter dublin/cork will get most speading

Cookiemunster

WillieMason wrote: »

Good points but Galway has a huge advantage over limerick. Ireland is split into two regions in european .munster/leinter and connacht/3 ulster countries. When you look at the stats munster/leinter are one of the wealthiest areas in the hole eu but connacht/3 ulster are among the poorest. the EU will encourage change in this by lending more to the region this is why the tuam gort rd was done they got easy funding and this will continue galway will expanse quickly.In munster/leinter dublin/cork will get most speading

Actually the EU has given Limerick council €180m in loans in the last 12 months. Maybe your theory needs a bit of a rework?

And the M17/18 being built had nothing to do with the EU funding. It was planned before the recession and had planning permission before the crash. Afterwards when there was money to start building again it was ready to go. If the M20 had been at the same stage it would have been built before the M17/18 as it is of higher national importance.

I do honestly think at this stage that you have some sort of issue with Limerick.

zulutango

Silentcorner wrote:

While I agree with the sentiment, you are aware, that this city is way behind when it comes to urban sprawl?

We seem to be doing our best to catch up. The LNDR and Mungret will lead to the same ****ty urban sprawl that is so problematic in Galway. The Council seem to think developing these areas (all development equates to progress!) is a positive when it's actually detrimental to the city and region's ability to compete in the long run.

Stopitwillya

Waterford man here. Great work being done in my home county and exciting times ahead. Waterford city is definitely going to grow but then again so are all cities. Limerick is a great city, love going up there for all the Munster games but only wish the road up was a bit better. One thing Waterford doesn't have is proper political clout. Hospital and 3rd level ignored by successive governments. Compare that to limerick with UL and LIT. IDA has been a disgrace down here as regards attracting multinationals. Waterford is going to grow all right but until these issues are fixed we will always be playing catch up to Ireland's other cities.

Silentcorner

Stopitwillya wrote: »

Waterford man here. Great work being done in my home county and exciting times ahead. Waterford city is definitely going to grow but then again so are all cities. Limerick is a great city, love going up there for all the Munster games but only wish the road up was a bit better. One thing Waterford doesn't have is proper political clout. Hospital and 3rd level ignored by successive governments. Compare that to limerick with UL and LIT. IDA has been a disgrace down here as regards attracting multinationals. Waterford is going to grow all right but until these issues are fixed we will always be playing catch up to Ireland's other cities.

I wish I shared your optimism for our regional cities, apart from a slick plan peddled recently until we start dismantling power in Central Government regional political clout is meaningless, there has been plenty of high ranking politicians from the regions but you'll find they are relatively impotent also, apart from funding a few tourist attractions and festivals there is little else they can do.

The regional cities will grow along the lines they have over the last 30-40 years and no faster, this will not be enough to counter the much greater growth in the Greater Dublin region so by 2040 we will see the continued imbalance in this state, which is the most centralised state/economy in Europe.

The quality of life in Waterford will improve as it will in the regional cities, but the size of each city will only vary by single digit percentages year on year.

Waterford has a very impressive Industrial and Cultural heritage and you can see how more and more Irish people are beginning to appreciate it, who knows, maybe Irish media will wake up to it also....but I doubt it!!

Glenomra

Most cities grow through expansion rather than any internal development. For instance it was the recent boundary extension that saw Limerick reclaim its position a s the Republic's third largest city. Limerick will grow further and significantly when Westbury\Shannon Banks etc become part of the city. And I am not looking forward to same, as a Clareman. But its inevitable. Waterford also, should be allowed to expand into its natural catchment area, in South Kilkenny. Limerick City will grow more rapidly than Galway imo. In Galway today, enjoyable visit but its a large town, Limerick is more of a city.

WillieMason

Glenomra wrote: »

Most cities grow through expansion rather than any internal development. For instance it was the recent boundary extension that saw Limerick reclaim its position a s the Republic's third largest city. Limerick will grow further and significantly when Westbury\Shannon Banks etc become part of the city. And I am not looking forward to same, as a Clareman. But its inevitable. Waterford also, should be allowed to expand into its natural catchment area, in South Kilkenny. Limerick City will grow more rapidly than Galway imo. In Galway today, enjoyable visit but its a large town, Limerick is more of a city.

Will the Cork extension go ahead ?

Glenomra

Imo it's inevitable. The future in Ireland is increasingly about the cities. I think the recent legislation where one pint puts a driver off the road is a body blow for rural life. A change that hasn't got much attention but will prove devastating. From now on a driver cannot afford even one pint with a meal or watching a match on TV etc. Many city people who moved to the countryside will relocate back to the city. At least that's my expectation.

mdmix

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Of other cities doing it properly. But you knew what I meant.

Have a look at the Waterford north quays plan for a start