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There are 11 cities with current city status across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, plus Kilkenny, which has a special historic and legal position. This is why you may see both 11 and 12 cities in Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland has five cities: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Northern Ireland has six: Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Lisburn, Newry and Bangor. Kilkenny is the unusual case because it keeps the description “city” under Irish law and is also included in some modern lists of Ireland’s cities.
Quick Answer: How Many Cities Are in Ireland?
The answer depends on how you define “Ireland.”
| Area | Number of cities | Cities |
| Republic of Ireland | 5 | Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford |
| Northern Ireland | 6 | Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Lisburn, Newry, Bangor |
| Combined standard count | 11 | The five Republic cities + six Northern Ireland cities |
| Broader island-wide count | 12 | The 11 above + Kilkenny |
So, if you mean the Republic of Ireland, the answer is 5.
If you mean the whole island of Ireland, a straightforward administrative count gives 11, while a broader modern usage gives 12 because Kilkenny is included. Current island-wide events in 2026 have also referred to all 12 as the cities of the island.
How Many Cities Are in the Republic of Ireland?
There are five official cities in the Republic of Ireland:
- Dublin
- Cork
- Limerick
- Galway
- Waterford
The current local government structure has city councils for Dublin, Cork and Galway, while Limerick and Waterford operate as city and county councils. This administrative structure should not be confused with the number of places that people may casually call cities.
Dublin
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and its largest city. It is also the main centre for government, business, education, culture and international travel.
The 2022 Census counted 1,263,219 people in Dublin city and suburbs, although population figures can differ depending on the boundary being used.
Cork
Cork is Ireland’s second-largest city by the 2022 city-and-suburb population measure. It sits in the south of Ireland on the River Lee and is an important centre for business, education, food and culture.
The 2022 population for Cork city and suburbs was 222,526.
Limerick
Limerick is in the west of Ireland on the River Shannon. It is one of the country’s main urban centres and has a long history connected with medieval Ireland.
Its 2022 city-and-suburb population was 102,287.
Galway
Galway sits on Ireland’s west coast and is known for its arts, festivals, traditional music and connection with the Atlantic coast.
The 2022 population of Galway city and suburbs was 85,910.
Waterford
Waterford is in southeast Ireland and has a long Viking history. It is widely regarded as Ireland’s oldest city, with its foundation traditionally traced to a Viking settlement established in 914.
Its 2022 city-and-suburb population was 60,079.
How Many Cities Are in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has six cities:
- Belfast
- Derry
- Armagh
- Lisburn
- Newry
- Bangor
Bangor is the newest city in Northern Ireland. It received city status in 2022 as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. It is located on the River Lagan and is one of the main urban centres on the island.
It has an important role in government, business, education, culture and tourism.
Derry
Derry, also known as Londonderry, is a historic city in Northern Ireland. Its old city walls are one of its best-known landmarks.
The name can vary depending on the context, so you may see both Derry and Derry-Londonderry.
Armagh
Armagh is a smaller city in Northern Ireland with strong historical and religious importance.
Its city status is a good example of why population alone does not decide whether a place is a city.
Lisburn
Lisburn is located southwest of Belfast. It became a city in 2002 as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Today, it forms part of the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.
Newry
Newry is a city close to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its location has made it an important commercial and transport centre.
Newry received city status in 2002.
Bangor
Bangor is a coastal city in County Down. It received city status in 2022, making it the newest city in Northern Ireland.
So, Are There 11 or 12 Cities in Ireland?
This is where most of the confusion comes from.
If I count the five cities in the Republic of Ireland and the six cities in Northern Ireland, I get 11 cities.
But Kilkenny creates a special case.
Kilkenny has a historic claim to city status, and Irish legislation allows the continued use of the description “city” for Kilkenny. It is therefore included in some broader lists of Irish cities.
In 2026, this is more than just a tourism-listing issue. Civic representatives from 12 cities on the island of Ireland met at the first Summit of the Cities in Belfast. The 12 included Kilkenny alongside the five Republic cities and six Northern Ireland cities.
So I would explain the answer this way:
11 is the straightforward count of the five Republic cities and six Northern Ireland cities. 12 is the broader island-wide count when Kilkenny’s continuing city designation is included.
That explanation is more useful than simply choosing one number and ignoring the other.
Is Kilkenny a City?
Yes, but Kilkenny is different from the other five cities in the Republic of Ireland.
Irish legislation preserved the continued use of the description “city” for Kilkenny. At the same time, the current local-government structure does not treat Kilkenny in the same way as Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick or Waterford.
This is why some lists show five cities in the Republic of Ireland, while broader lists of places with city status or city usage include Kilkenny as a sixth.
I would not treat this as a simple error in one list or another. The difference comes from the definition being used.
What Makes a Place a City in Ireland?
There is no single population number that automatically turns an Irish town into a city.
City status can involve legal recognition, historical status, local government arrangements and civic designation.
This is why a smaller place can have city status while a much larger town does not.
For example, towns such as Drogheda, Dundalk, Sligo, Letterkenny and Athlone have sizeable populations, but they are not automatically counted among the five cities of the Republic of Ireland. In 2026, there was still no immediate plan to give another large Irish town city status.
Population and city status are therefore two different things.
City Status vs Urban Population
This distinction matters if you are comparing Irish cities by population.
A city can be measured using several different boundaries:
- City administrative area
- City proper
- Built-up area
- City and suburbs
- Metropolitan area
- Wider commuting area
These measurements can produce very different population figures.
For example, Dublin’s city-and-suburb population is much larger than the population of the Dublin City Council administrative area alone. The same issue can affect comparisons between other Irish cities.
For that reason, I would always check the population definition before saying that one Irish city is larger than another.
Largest Cities in Ireland by Population
Using the 2022 city-and-suburb figures for the five cities in the Republic of Ireland, the order is:
| City | 2022 population |
| Dublin | 1,263,219 |
| Cork | 222,526 |
| Limerick | 102,287 |
| Galway | 85,910 |
| Waterford | 60,079 |
These figures refer to the city-and-suburb areas rather than simply the administrative city boundaries.
Dublin is clearly the largest city in the Republic of Ireland under this measure.
What Is the Largest City in Ireland?
Dublin is the largest city on the island of Ireland by population.
The answer becomes more complicated only if different population boundaries are mixed.
For a simple comparison, I would use a consistent urban population measure for every city rather than comparing a city council population with a metropolitan population.
The 2022 figure for Dublin city and suburbs was 1,263,219.
What Is the Smallest City in Ireland?
This depends on whether you mean population, city boundaries or city status.
Among the five cities in the Republic of Ireland, Waterford has the smallest 2022 city-and-suburb population at 60,079.
But if the whole island is considered, smaller cities such as Armagh and Newry enter the comparison.
This is another reason I would avoid giving a single “smallest city in Ireland” answer without saying which part of Ireland and which population measure I am using.
What Is the Oldest City in Ireland?
Waterford is generally regarded as Ireland’s oldest city.
Its history is closely connected with the Vikings, who established a settlement there in 914.
Waterford’s historic importance can still be seen in places such as Reginald’s Tower and the city’s medieval streets.
What Is the Newest City in Ireland?
Bangor is the newest city on the island of Ireland.
It received city status in 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours. This makes Bangor the newest addition to the current group of Northern Irish cities.
Are Dublin and Belfast Both Cities in Ireland?
Yes, but they are in different jurisdictions.
Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland.
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
This distinction is useful because the phrase “Ireland” can mean either the independent state called Ireland in everyday speech or the entire island of Ireland, depending on context.
Are Drogheda, Dundalk and Sligo Cities?
No. They are important Irish urban areas, but they are not among the five cities of the Republic of Ireland.
The 2022 Census ranks places such as Drogheda, Dundalk, Swords, Bray, Ennis and Kilkenny among the country’s largest urban settlements, showing that population size does not automatically equal city status.
This is a useful distinction because visitors can easily assume that a large Irish town must officially be a city.
How Many Cities Are on the Island of Ireland?
The simplest official-style count is 11:
- 5 in the Republic of Ireland
- 6 in Northern Ireland
However, 12 is also used in current island-wide city discussions because Kilkenny is included.
In 2026, the first Summit of the Cities brought representatives from all 12 cities together, including Kilkenny.
Ireland’s Cities at a Glance
Here is the easiest way to see the full picture:
| City | Jurisdiction | Status |
| Dublin | Republic of Ireland | City |
| Cork | Republic of Ireland | City |
| Limerick | Republic of Ireland | City |
| Galway | Republic of Ireland | City |
| Waterford | Republic of Ireland | City |
| Belfast | Northern Ireland | City |
| Derry | Northern Ireland | City |
| Armagh | Northern Ireland | City |
| Lisburn | Northern Ireland | City |
| Newry | Northern Ireland | City |
| Bangor | Northern Ireland | City |
| Kilkenny | Republic of Ireland | Historic/special city designation |
This table explains why you may see 11 or 12 rather than one universally used number.
Why Do Some Lists Say There Are 12 Cities in Ireland?
The reason is mainly Kilkenny.
The five Republic of Ireland cities used in the current administrative structure are Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Northern Ireland has six cities. Together, that gives 11.
Kilkenny has a preserved legal and historic claim to the description “city.” Modern tourism and island-wide civic lists therefore often include it, producing a total of 12.
So when you see two different numbers, check whether Kilkenny is included.
Final Answer: How Many Cities Are in Ireland?
If you are asking about the Republic of Ireland, there are five cities: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
If you include Northern Ireland, there are 11 cities in the straightforward combined count.
You may also see 12 cities because Kilkenny has a special historic and legal city designation and is included in current broader island-wide lists.
So, for a clear answer, I would use:
5 cities in the Republic of Ireland, 6 in Northern Ireland, and 11 in the standard combined count, with Kilkenny making 12 in broader lists.
That distinction gives a much clearer picture than simply choosing 11 or 12 without explaining why the numbers differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cities are in Ireland?
There are five cities in the Republic of Ireland and six in Northern Ireland, giving 11 in the straightforward combined count. Kilkenny’s special city designation means broader lists often use 12.
How many cities are in the Republic of Ireland?
There are five: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
How many cities are in Northern Ireland?
There are six: Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Lisburn, Newry and Bangor.
Is Kilkenny officially a city?
Kilkenny has a special legal and historic status that allows the continued use of the description “city.” It is included in some current lists of the cities of Ireland.
What is the largest city in Ireland?
Dublin is the largest city by population. Its 2022 city-and-suburb population was 1,263,219.
What is the oldest city in Ireland?
Waterford is generally regarded as Ireland’s oldest city, with its Viking foundation traditionally dated to 914.
What is the newest city in Ireland?
Bangor is the newest city, receiving city status in 2022.
Are towns such as Drogheda and Dundalk cities?
No. They are large urban settlements but are not part of the five-city administrative group in the Republic of Ireland.
Why do some websites say Ireland has 12 cities?
The main reason is Kilkenny. Some lists include Kilkenny because of its continuing legal and historic city designation, while the standard administrative count for the Republic has five cities.