Galway & Waterford: Major Cities, But Not the Largest in Ireland

No. Galway and Waterford are important regional cities, but not the largest in Ireland.

Republic of Ireland Rankings (2022 Census)

1. Dublin — 1,458,000 (metro)
2. Cork — 222,000 (city), 359,000 (metro)
3. Limerick — 94,000 (city), 162,000 (metro)
4. Galway — 83,000 (city), 165,000 (metro)
5. Waterford — 54,000 (city), 82,000 (metro)

All-Island Context (Including Northern Ireland)

1. Belfast — 345,000 (city), 671,000 (metro)
2. Dublin — as above
3. Cork — as above
4. Derry/Londonderry — 85,000 (city)
5. Limerick, Galway, Waterford follow.

Why They Matter

• Galway: "Cultural Capital of Ireland," university, arts festivals, Gaeltacht gateway, med-tech hub.
• Waterford: Ireland's oldest city (Viking 914), crystal, port, southeast gateway, Viking Triangle museums.

Both are vibrant, historic, and economically significant—but Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Belfast are larger.