Roads in Ireland

Table of contents

1 Roads in the Republic of Ireland 1.1 Motorways 1.2 "N" roads 2 Roads in Northern Ireland 2.3 Motorways 2.4 "A" roads 2.5 "B" roads

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.

M1 Dublin – Newry (several sections)

M4 Dublin – N4

M7 Naas – Portlaoise (two sections)

M9 Portlaoise – N9

M11 Dublin – Bray

M50 Dublin bypass

"N" roads

The second category of road has the prefix “N” followed by one or two digits. Roads N1 to N11 radiate anti-clockwise from Dublin:

N1 Dublin – A1 south of Newry

N2 Dublin – A5 north of Monaghan

N3 Dublin – Northern Irish border north of Cavan

N4 Dublin – Sligo

N5 Longford – Westport

N6 Kinnegad – Galway

N7 Dublin – Limerick

N8 Portlaoise – Cork

N9 Kilcullen – Waterford

N10 Paulstown – Ballyhale via Kilkenny

N11 Dublin – Wexford

The most important cross-country roads are numbered in the range N13 - N30, with less important roads having higher numbers. Less important roads still 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.

Roads in Northern Ireland

Motorways

Although the roads in the north connect well with the roads in the south, their numbering follows the British system. The most important roads are motorways, many with the same designation as those in the Republic or mainland Britain. The motorway network is focused on Belfast.

M1 Belfast – Dungannon

M2 Belfast – Ballymena

M3 Short spur in Belfast

M5 Belfast – Newtownabbey

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 – N1 north of Dundalk

A2 Derry – Newry coastal road

A3 Belfast – Armagh

A5 Derry – N2 north of Monaghan

A6 Belfast – Derry

A7 Belfast – Downpatrick

A8 Belfast – Larne

"B" roads

Less important roads are indicated with the prefix “B” and a one-, two- or three- digit number.