List of settlements on the island of Ireland by population


This is a list of the 60 largest towns and cities on the island of Ireland by population. It therefore includes towns and cities in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The population figures listed are for the urban area centred around each settlement excluding areas that fall within the boundary of another town or city. The figures for Northern Ireland towns are based on the 2011 Northern Ireland Census, while the figures for towns in the Republic are based on the 2006 Census of Ireland, and cities in the Republic of Ireland are based on the 2016 Census of Ireland.
RankSettlementPopulationProvinceCountyJurisdictionDescription-
1Dublin1,173,179LeinsterRepublicCapital city of the Republic of Ireland and has mainly been the island's largest settlement since the Middle Ages.-
2Belfast483,418UlsterCounty Antrim, County DownNorthernCapital of Northern Ireland and largest city in all of Ulster. The city is home to Northern Ireland's devolved government and power-sharing assembly. Belfast received city status in 1888. It was briefly Ireland's biggest city in the late 19th century.-
3Cork208,669MunsterCounty CorkRepublicLargest city in the province of Munster in the south of Ireland. Cork is one of Ireland's oldest cities, having received city status in the 900s.-
4Limerick94,192Munster, County ClareRepublicPrincipal city of Ireland's Mid-West Region and second-largest city in Munster-
5Derry93,512UlsterCounty LondonderryNorthernSecond-largest city in all of Ulster-
6Galway79,934ConnachtCounty GalwayRepublicLargest city in the province of Connacht and the sparsely-populated West of Ireland-
7Newtownabbey65,646UlsterCounty AntrimNorthernLargest town in Northern Ireland and Ireland as a whole. Part of the Belfast Metropolitan Area.-
8Bangor61,011UlsterCounty DownNorthernThe town is part of the Belfast Metropolitan Area-
9Waterford53,504MunsterCounty Waterford, County KilkennyRepublicThird-largest in the province of Munster. It is the island of Ireland’s oldest surviving city founded by Vikings in the 9th century AD.-
10Lisburn45,370UlsterCounty Antrim, County DownNorthernGranted city status in 2002. The city lies on the border between County Antrim and County Down; Northern Ireland's two most populated counties. Though a city in its own right, it is also part of the wider Belfast Metropolitan Area.-
11Drogheda40,956LeinsterCounty Louth, County MeathRepublicLargest town in the Republic of Ireland, located in County Louth with its southern environs located in County Meath-
12Dundalk39,904LeinsterCounty LouthRepublicCounty town of County Louth-
13Swords39,248LeinsterCounty DublinRepublicNorth Dublin suburban town and second-largest settlement in County Dublin after the city itself. Forms part of the Greater Dublin Area.-
14Bray32,600LeinsterCounty WicklowRepublicMost populous town in County Wicklow-
15Navan30,173LeinsterCounty MeathRepublicLargest settlement in County Meath-
16Ballymena29,551UlsterCounty AntrimNorthern-
17Newtownards28,050UlsterCounty DownNorthern-
19Carrickfergus27,998UlsterCounty AntrimNorthern-
19Newry26,967UlsterCounty DownNorthernGranted city status in 2000, it is Northern Ireland's fourth-largest city-
20Kilkenny26,512LeinsterCounty KilkennyRepublicCounty town of County Kilkenny, granted city status in 1609-
21Ennis25,276MunsterCounty ClareRepublicCounty town and largest settlement in County Clare. Largest town in Munster.-
22Coleraine24,634UlsterCounty LondonderryNorthern-
23Carlow24,272LeinsterCounty CarlowRepublic-
24Tralee23,691MunsterCounty KerryRepublicCounty town and largest settlement in County Kerry-
25Antrim23,375UlsterNorthern-
26Newbridge22,742LeinsterRepublic-
27Portadown22,100UlsterNorthern-
28Portlaoise22,050LeinsterRepublicCounty town and largest settlement in County Laois-
29Balbriggan21,722LeinsterRepublic-
30Naas21,393LeinsterRepublic-
31Athlone21,349LeinsterRepublic-
32Mullingar20,928LeinsterRepublicCounty town of County Westmeath-
33Celbridge20,288LeinsterRepublic-
34Wexford20,188LeinsterRepublicCounty town of County Wexford-
35Omagh19,659UlsterNorthernCounty town of County Tyrone-
36Letterkenny19,274UlsterRepublicLargest settlement in County Donegal-
37Sligo19,199ConnachtRepublicCounty town of County Sligo, second largest settlement in Connacht and largest town in Connacht-
38Larne18,755UlsterNorthern-
39Greystones18,140LeinsterRepublic-
40Clonmel17,140MunsterRepublicLargest settlement in County Tipperary-
41Banbridge16,637UlsterNorthern-
42Malahide16,550LeinsterRepublic-
43Carrigaline15,770MunsterCounty CorkRepublic-
44Leixlip15,504LeinsterRepublic-
45Armagh14,777UlsterNorthernCounty town of County Armagh-
46Tullamore14,607LeinsterRepublicCounty town and largest settlement in County Offaly-
47Maynooth14,585LeinsterRepublic-
48Killarney14,504MunsterRepublic-
49Dungannon14,340UlsterNorthern-
50Enniskillen13,823UlsterNorthernCounty town and largest settlement in County Fermanagh
51Strabane13,172UlsterNorthern-
52Arklow13,163LeinsterRepublic-
53Cobh12,800MunsterCounty CorkRepublic-
54Ashbourne12,679LeinsterRepublic-
55Midleton12,496MunsterRepublic-
56Mallow12,459MunsterRepublic-
57Castlebar12,068ConnachtRepublicCounty town and largest settlement in County Mayo-
58Limavady12,032UlsterNorthern-
59Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington11,872LeinsterRepublic-
60Cookstown11,599UlsterNorthern-