The speed limit for local roads in Ireland were changed from 80 km/h to 60 km/h in 2025. This impacted an estimated 73,000 km of roads. Gov.ie
For many of these roads 80 km/h was certainly a limit, rather than an actual expected driving speed. Especially those that were single lane with poor visibility.

These roads are now designated with a Rural Speed Limit sign.

Rural local roads were impacted, which is the largest class of roads in Ireland, with an estimated 60% of all roads in Ireland changing their speed limit.
Interactive map of Local Rural Roads in Ireland:

Cork, Mayo and Galway having the most kilometers of impacted local roads, with 0ver 9000 km of roads in Cork alone impacted.
But from a % of roads perspective Roscommon, Longford, Sligo, Mayo, Monaghan and Cavan all see around 70% of their roads impacted.
County | Local Roads Non Urban, km | Total Roads, km | Estimated % Impacted |
---|---|---|---|
Carlow | 972 | 1,622 | 60% |
Cavan | 2,401 | 3,392 | 71% |
Clare | 3,214 | 5,384 | 60% |
Cork | 9,902 | 15,257 | 65% |
Donegal | 5,043 | 8,506 | 59% |
Dublin | 550 | 4,990 | 11% |
Galway | 5,418 | 8,219 | 66% |
Kerry | 3,709 | 5,648 | 66% |
Kildare | 1,585 | 3,989 | 40% |
Kilkenny | 2,449 | 4,049 | 60% |
Laois | 1,697 | 3,045 | 56% |
Leitrim | 1,719 | 2,522 | 68% |
Limerick | 2,883 | 5,156 | 56% |
Longford | 1,311 | 1,739 | 75% |
Louth | 945 | 2,349 | 40% |
Mayo | 5,449 | 7,345 | 74% |
Meath | 2,453 | 4,692 | 52% |
Monaghan | 2,065 | 2,890 | 71% |
Offaly | 1,577 | 2,767 | 57% |
Roscommon | 3,303 | 4,305 | 77% |
Sligo | 2,297 | 3,079 | 75% |
Tipperary | 4,406 | 7,275 | 61% |
Waterford | 2,031 | 3,352 | 61% |
Westmeath | 1,738 | 2,975 | 58% |
Wexford | 2,747 | 4,780 | 57% |
Wicklow | 1,485 | 3,255 | 46% |
Total | 73349 | 122581 | 60% |