Description: Detailed clear large road map of Ireland with road routes and driving directions from cities to towns, road intersections in regions, provinces, prefectures, also with routes leading to neighboring countries.
Picture yourself standing at any crossroads in Ireland, and you'll quickly realize that every road tells a story. Dublin workers, Kerry farmers with livestock, and tourists making their way to the sunset on the Wild Atlantic Way all share one thing in common. This detailed road map which shows the links connecting the roads of Ireland. Let's embark on a detailed journey through every route, intersection, and pathway that makes Ireland one of the world's most accessible and beautifully connected islands.
Before you set off on any Irish adventure, you need to understand how the roads speak to you. The thick orange lines cutting across the landscape represent Ireland's motorways - these are your M-roads, the modern arteries that can whisk you from Dublin to Cork in under three hours. The green lines marking the N-roads are Ireland's national routes, many of which have been carrying travelers for centuries, connecting market towns and coastal ports long before anyone dreamed of motorways.
More regional roads known as R-numbers zigzag through the valleys and over the hills, resembling a silver ribbon. The roads that lead to pubs you will not find on google, ancient standing stone circles and that must see viewpoint. In effect, every road classification has its function, creating a network so comprehensive that never are you more than a couple of kilometers away.
Dublin doesn't just lie at the center of Ireland but pulses at the heart of the entire road network. The city's M50 motorway which encircles the city is like a protective hug. Been on it yet at rush hour? It's certainly a blessing after a long trip but also a curse. This orbital route connects at Junction 1 with the M1 heading north toward Belfast, while Junction 7 links you to the N4 and your journey west to Galway.
The genius of Dublin's road system lies in how it radiates outward. Take the M7 from Junction 9 of the M50, and you're on Ireland's busiest motorway, carrying you southwest through the rolling hills of Kildare. You will pass by Naas, which is where a lot of Dubliners live in search of city access and country living. If you continue through that way, you arrive at Posterlaoise and then go Roscrea due to go to Limerick later.
What many visitors miss are Dublin's quieter arteries. The R132 hugs the coast north of the city, taking you through Skerries and Balbriggan - towns where Dubliners escape for weekend walks along pristine beaches. The R117 cuts through Dublin's western suburbs, connecting Blanchardstown with the M4, serving thousands of commuters who've discovered that sometimes the scenic route is also the practical one.
The N81 deserves special mention as it winds south from Dublin through the Wicklow Mountains. This route takes you past Blessington Lakes and through the Sally Gap, offering some of the most spectacular mountain scenery within an hour of the capital. It's a road that transforms from urban thoroughfare to mountain pass, eventually connecting with the N80 near Baltinglass.
Cork city sits like a spider at the center of its web, with roads radiating in every direction. The M8 motorway brings you here from Dublin in style, but it's when you leave Cork that the real adventure begins. The N25 stretches eastward toward Waterford, but don't rush through Youghal - this ancient port town deserves a stop, and the road that takes you there, the R634, offers glimpses of Blackwater Valley that will make you understand why so many artists have made their homes here.
If you're heading west from Cork, the N22 takes you round to Killarney. However, there is the R618 that splits off at Macroom. A road leading into a Gaeltacht where the locals speak Irish and little else has changed since time immemorial.
The N71 from Cork to Bantry is well-known, but the R586 that branches off near Bandon leads you to Timoleague, where the ruins of a Franciscan friary overlook Courtmacsherry Bay. The R600 takes you further west to Clonakilty, birthplace of Michael Collins, where the road network reflects the area's rich history - every turn seems to lead to another monument or historic site.
Don't miss out on the R591 that links Skibbereen to Baltimore. The coastal drive is one of Ireland's most dramatic, so the road winds with the coast, lifting and falling as it changes.
They all know the N70 Ring of Kerry. But let's see whether it’s really a journey worth doing off the main roads? The N71 commences in Killarney and leads you on into the Gap of Dunloe area, where R568 then branches off toward that famous gap. This narrow mountain road requires careful driving, but the reward is some of Ireland's most breathtaking mountain and lake scenery.
The N70 itself tells the story of Irish engineering ingenuity. Watch how it navigates the challenging terrain around Waterville, where the road seems to hang between mountain and sea. At Cahersiveen, the R565 branches off toward Valentia Island, connected to the mainland by a bridge that represents a triumph of modern engineering over challenging geography.
Once you choose the N86 to Dingle, you're on the peninsula. Once you reach Dingle, the R559 carries on to the West and narrows with each km. This road brings you to Slea Head where the Blasket Islands can be seen. It’s easy to see why this landscape has inspired poets and writers.
The R560 runs around the peninsula's northern part, through An Daingean (Dingle), and connects with smaller roads that serve the scattered farming communities. You can take the R549 for another road home to Tralee which shows other angles of the same beautiful scenery.
Galway city serves as your launching point for western adventures, and the road network reflects this role perfectly. The M6 brings you here from Dublin in comfort, but it's the N59 that carries you into the heart of Connemara. This road deserves your patience - it winds through landscapes that seem almost otherworldly, past lakes that mirror the sky and mountains that change color with the light.
The R336 branches off the N59 near Maam Cross, taking you toward Carna and the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. This road serves communities where Irish is the daily language and the landscape is one of a way of life that has not changed in generations.
The R336 also leads you to Rossaveal, where ferries depart for the Aran Islands. The road network here demonstrates how Ireland's transportation system integrates land and sea travel, with carefully planned connections between roads and ferry terminals.
The N17 north from Galway toward Sligo passes through Tuam, where the R332 branches eastward toward Dunmore and the R333 heads west toward Headford. These regional roads serve farming communities and connect with the broader network in ways that ensure no community remains isolated.
Mayo's road network faces the challenge of serving Ireland's third-largest county, much of it sparsely populated but all of it spectacularly beautiful. The N5 from Dublin terminates in Westport, but this is really where your Mayo adventure begins. The R335 takes you from Westport to Louisburgh and on toward the spectacular Doo Lough Pass, where the road seems to thread between mountain and lake like a silver needle.
The N59 continues from Westport toward Bangor Erris, serving the remote northwestern parts of the county. The R319 which heads to Achill Island branches off at Mulranny along this road. Achill Island bridge is vital for Ireland's largest island. Roads on Achill include the R319 which circles the island which allows access to some of Europe's most dramatic coastal scenery.
The N26 links Ballina to the national network, however, it is the local roads that actually serve the area. The R314 road travels along the coast from Ballina to Belmullet passing through Crossmolina and around the Mullet. The R313 offers another route along the coast that presents a different view of the same sea.
The R315 connects Belmullet with Bangor Erris, completing a network that ensures even the most remote communities maintain connections with the broader county and national road system.
Sligo's road network carries you through landscapes that inspired Ireland's greatest poet. The N4 from Dublin brings you to Sligo town, but it's the N15 north toward Donegal that really captures the magic of this region. This road passes Drumcliff, where W.B. Yeats is buried "under bare Ben Bulben's head," and the landscape seems to embody the poetry that made this area famous.
The R291 route goes around Lough Gill and includes the Lake Isle of Innisfree while landscapes indicate a state of continuous poetic inspiration. The R286 veers off towards Strandhill, where the surf club runs competitions at one of Ireland's most famous beaches.
The N15 continues north from Sligo, but the journey becomes more complex as you approach Donegal. After passing through Bundoran, the R280 road which runs along the coast enters County Donegal proper. This change shows the unusual geographical challenges faced by Ireland's most northern county.
Donegal's road network tells the story of a county that's geographically separated from the rest of the Republic by Northern Ireland. The N15 is the main road into the county. It enters the county near Ballyshannon. The road runs north. First, it goes through Donegal town and then Letterkenny.
The N13 is an alternative route that links up with the Northern Ireland network at Derry/Londonderry. It features a border cross that serves eastern Donegal and reflects the border complex cross.
The N56 creates Donegal's coastal route, and it's a road that demands your full attention and rewards it with spectacular scenery. From Letterkenny, this road takes you through Dunfanaghy, where the R245 branches off toward Horn Head, one of Ireland's most dramatic headlands.
The R238 connects you with ferry services to Tory Island, and further along, the R257 to Bloody Foreland – where the road appears to meet the end of the world. The R258 makes its way along the coast towards Gweedore in Ireland's largest Gaeltacht area.
The road network in the Irish midlands allows one to cross the country in almost any direction. The N6/M6 route through Athlone connects Dublin and Galway. The N61 heads to the north for Roscommon and the N62 extends to the south for Birr.
If travelling between Athlone and Dublin, you may find the R446 a good alternative. Further along, it proceeds through Moate, which is slow and relaxing. R390 is a vital link in the midlands network Athlone to Mullingar.
The R371 leaves Carrick-on-Shannon and runs south along the Shannon serving communities which have relied on the river for centuries.
The N5 crosses the Shannon at Longford, the R392 heads towards Granard and the R393 heads towards Ballymahon. The regional roads used by farmers link ensure mobility of people and goods with the regional network.
Waterford's road network reflects its role as the southeast's primary commercial center. The N25 connects Waterford with Cork to the west and Wexford to the east, but it's the regional roads that really serve this area. The R675 follows the coast from Waterford toward Tramore, Ireland's premier seaside resort, where generations of Irish families have spent summer holidays.
The R676 continues the coastal route toward Dungarvan, passing through fishing villages and seaside towns that seem frozen in time. The R672 provides an inland alternative, passing through the Comeragh Mountains and offering spectacular mountain scenery.
The N11/M11 corridor from Dublin terminates near Wexford, but the road network here serves multiple purposes. The N25 continues eastward toward Rosslare, Ireland's second-busiest ferry port, where the road system must accommodate international passenger and freight traffic.
The R736 track takes the coastal route from Wexford towards Kilmore Quay. These villages are fishing communities and has accesses to the Saltee Islands ferry services. The R741 road goes north from Wexford to Gorey linking with the M11 and offering alternative routes to Deird Dublinton.
Limerick's position at the head of the Shannon Estuary makes it a natural transportation hub. The M7 terminates here, but the road network radiates outward in all directions. The N18 starts moving northwards towards Galway passing through Gort and serves the communities of east Galway and south Roscommon.
The N21 goes southwest towards Tralee via Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. This route serves the communities of west Limerick and provides a way to get to Kerry while avoiding Cork.
The road connections at Shannon Airport need to be specialized. You can reach the M18 dual-carriageway from both Limerick and Galway. The old R471 route connects the airport with local communities. There is a road network in the region that facilitates both local as well as international level activities.
The N69 passes by Limerick and follows the course of the Shannon Estuary to Foynes, serving these communities. The road that passes through Askeaton and Rathkeale, two historical towns in Ireland that continue to function as major towns in the region.
If you have ever driven on Irish roads in summer, you know how they change. As one drives around the Ring of Kerry, one gets the sense of a never-ending procession of tour buses and rental cars, with the drivers of each being mesmerised for the first time by the beauty of the Irish landscape. Motorcyclists, cyclists, and camper vans all create a buzz along the Wild Atlantic Way routes in pursuit of their own Irish moment.
Local communities adapt to these seasonal rhythms. In Dingle, the narrow streets that handle local traffic all year suddenly accommodate visitors from around the world. In Killarney, the road system that serves a town of 15,000 people must handle hundreds of thousands of visitors during peak season.
Winter reveals a different Ireland, where the roads carry mainly local traffic and the landscape shows its true character. The coastal routes that battle Atlantic storms demonstrate Irish engineering at its most resilient. Mountain passes that challenge drivers in summer become tests of skill and courage in winter conditions.
The road maintenance teams responsible for keeping them open deserve credit. Ireland never cuts off from any area even in the advertising conditions. The Conor Pass in County Kerry and the Sally Gap in County Wicklow teams work round-the-clock.
Every morning, thousands of Irish people use this road network to get to work, take children to school, and maintain the connections that bind communities together. The N4 carries Mullingar residents to Dublin jobs, while the M7 enables people to live in Portlaoise and work in the capital.
The regional roads serve different purposes. The road R445 through Curragh in Kildare takes horse trainers to work at one of the most famous racing centers in the world. R559, Dingle Peninsula which connects Irish-speaking communities with centuries-long cultural and traditional practices.
Ireland's road network serves as a lifeline for emergency services. The motorways allows for good response times for the major centres of population. The regional roads ensure that even the most remote areas can be reached by ambulances, fire services and the gardaí.
During the pandemic Covid-19, these roads carried essential workers, medical supplies and food down the country spectrum. The network showed its strength and importance in ways which most people never really knew.
The network of roads in Ireland has changed much over the added decades, including things we would dream of in science fiction. Variable message signs provide real-time traffic information, while weather monitoring systems help drivers navigate safely through challenging conditions.
The integration of electric vehicle charging infrastructure along major routes represents the next phase of development. The network that carried horse-drawn carts and steam cars now prepares for an electric future.
The road network increasingly accommodates eco-friendly transport options. The system is flexible enough to build cycle lanes along major corridors, enhance park-and-ride facilities, and link public transport more effectively.
Having electric vehicle charging points on the Wild Atlantic Way and other scenic routes will promote sustainable tourism along with car tourism.
This map of Ireland is so detailed it will not only show you where places are, it will also show you how to get from A to B. All road is good. All intersection is good. All journey is a possible discovery. If you're planning a nationwide hike of Ireland, or just trying to find your way to the nearest pub, these routes will help you make sense of Ireland.
Irish roads are the most accessible in Europe. Whether you're on the busy M50 in Dublin or the quiet R-roads in remote valleys — from the great construction of roads through rivers and mountains, to the simple country road from a farmhouse to a small village. Over generations, the Irish people built up this network. These people understood that good roads not only facilitate traffic, they connect communities, enable dreams and make a small island feel as if it is a big place.
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