National secondary road

Road classification system in Ireland

The N59 on the shore of Kylemore Lough in County Galway

A national secondary road (Irish: bóthar náisiúnta den dara grád) is a category of road in Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. National secondary roads are designated with route numbers higher than those used for primary roads, but with the same "N" prefix. Routes N51 and higher are all national secondary roads.

National secondary roads have a default speed limit of 100km/h, but this is planned to reduce to 80km/h in 2025 under the Road Traffic Act 2024 following recommendations from a review of speed limits carried out by the Department of Transport in 2023.[1]

There are 2657 km of national secondary roads in Ireland, making up slightly over 50% of the entire national route (national primary and national secondary) network.[2] National secondary routes are generally more poorly maintained than primary routes (although their quality can vary widely), but often carry more traffic than regional roads. Almost the entire network of national secondary roads is single carriageway, although there are some short sections of dual carriageway on the Tallaght bypass section of the N81, on the N52 at Dundalk, on the N85 at Ennis, on the N62 at Athlone, on both the N69 and N70 at Tralee and on the N71 between Cork and Bandon. Typically, national secondary roads are of a similar standard or higher than regional roads although some are of lower quality than the better sections of regional roads. Many of them have been resurfaced with higher quality pavements in recent years with relatively smooth surfaces and good road markings and signposting. However, road widths and alignments are often inadequate, with many narrow and winding sections.

In the past, most national secondary roads would have run through the centres of the towns on their routes; however, recently, that is less often the case. For example:

* The N52 bypasses Nenagh (together with the M7), Tullamore, Mullingar, Kells and the centre of Dundalk (as a relief road)
* The N55 (together with the N3) bypasses Cavan.
* The N56 forms part of the Donegal bypass and the Mountcharles bypass.
* The N69 and N70 form part of the Tralee bypass.
* The N71 bypasses Halfway and Skibbereen.
* The N74 (together with the M8) bypasses Cashel.
* The N76 bypasses Callan.
* The N77 forms the northern part of the Kilkenny ring road.
* The N80 bypasses Carlow.
* The N85 bypasses Ennis (together with the M18).

The former N8 bypass of Mitchelstown was re-classified as the N73 when the Fermoy (Moorepark) to Kilbehenny section of the M8 was completed.

Most national secondary roads were originally Trunk Roads under the old system of road classification in Ireland, although some sections of national secondary routes were formerly Link Roads. Many less important Trunk Roads became regional roads when the road classification system changed from 1977 onward, including some roads, such as the N72 between Killarney and Killorglin, the N86 and the N87, which were originally re-classified as regional roads but later re-classified again as national secondary routes. In 1994, three national secondary roads were reclassified as national primary roads: the N57 between Swinford and Ballina became the N26, the N64 between Oranmore and Claregalway became part of the N18 and the N79 between New Ross and Enniscorthy became the N30. In addition, a section of the N60 between Castlebar and Westport became part of the N5.

Some national secondary roads, though not arterial routes between major cities, connect scenic areas to major population centres. For example, the N59 through County Galway and County Mayo, the N70 road through County Kerry (see Ring of Kerry) and the N71 through West Cork. For this reason, many national secondary roads are well-travelled by tourists.

## List of national secondary roads

[edit]

(XXXX) = Junction with road XXXX, e.g. (N21) = Junction with N21 road

National secondary roads in Ireland

Road name  | Description  | Length (km)  | Length (mi)
N51 | (M1) west of Drogheda – Slane (N2) – Navan (M3) – Athboy – Delvin (N52 to Mullingar) | 52.994  | 32.929
N52 | Ardee (N2) – Kells (N3) – Delvin (N51) – Mullingar – (Joins M6) near Tyrrellspass – (Leaves M6) near Kilbeggan – Durrow – Tullamore (N80) – Birr (N62) – Borrisokane (N65) – (M7 west of Nenagh) | 177.694  | 110.414
N53 | Dundalk to Castleblayney (a short section of the road becomes the A37 where it runs through County Armagh) | 18.122  | 11.260
N54 | Monaghan (N2) – Clones – Cavan (N3) (a short section of the road becomes the A3 where it runs through County Fermanagh) | 34.626  | 21.516
N55 | (N3 just outside Cavan) – Granard – Edgeworthstown (N4) – (N6 Athlone ringroad) | 78.815  | 48.973
N56 | (N15 just east of Donegal) – (R263 near Killybegs) – Glenties – Dungloe – Gweedore – Dunfanaghy – Letterkenny (N14) | 157.304  | 97.744
N58 | Foxford (N26) – (N5 between Swinford and Castlebar) | 11.259  | 6.996
N59 | (N4 to Sligo) – Ballina (N26) – Bangor Erris – Rosturk – Westport (N5) – Clifden – Oughterard – Moycullen bypass – Galway (N6) | 298.795  | 185.663
N60 | Castlebar – Claremorris (N17) – Ballyhaunis – Castlerea – Ballymoe – Roscommon | 92.217  | 57.301
N61 | Athlone (N6) – Knockcroghery – Roscommon – Tulsk (N5) – Boyle (N4) | 74.193  | 46.101
N62 | M6 near Athlone to M8 at Horse and Jockey) M6 – Ferbane – Cloghan – Birr – Roscrea – Templemore – Thurles – Horse and Jockey (M8) | 96.625  | 60.040
N63 | (N63 Galway city to Longford town) Galway – Claregalway – Lackagh – Turloughmore – Abbeyknockmoy – Moylough – Mountbellew – Newbridge – Ballygar – Mount Talbot – Athleague – Roscommon – Lanesborough-Ballyleague – Longford (N5) | 96.393  | 59.896
N65 | M6 north of Loughrea to N52 at Borrisokane; crossing the River Shannon at Portumna | 52.517  | 32.633
N67 | Galway – Kinvara – Ballyvaughan – Lisdoonvarna – Ennistymon (N85) – Kilkee – Kilrush (N68) – (ferry pier near Killimer) (ferry pier near Tarbert) – Tarbert (N69) | 129.172  | 80.264
N68 | Kilrush to Ennis | 40.569  | 25.208
N69 | Dock Road (Limerick) – Mungret – Clarina – Kildimo – (Askeaton) – Foynes – Tarbert (N67) – Listowel – Tralee (N21, N22, N70, N86) | 97.476  | 60.569
N70 | (Comprises most of the Ring of Kerry) – (N70 Killarney Road at Kenmare) – Sneem – Castlecove – Caherdaniel – Waterville – Cahersiveen – Killorglin – (N72) – Milltown – Castlemaine – (N86) – (N21, N69) Tralee | 141.691  | 88.043
N71 | (N22) Cork (Wilton Road, Bishopstown Road, Bandon Road) – Halfway bypass – Innishannon – Bandon – Ballinascarty – Clonakilty – Rosscarbery – Leap – Skibbereen – (R592 to Ballydehob) – Bantry – Ballylickey – Glengarriff – Kenmare – (N70) – Muckross – Killarney (N22, N72) | 187.270  | 116.364
N72 | Killorglin – Killarney (N22) – Rathmore – Mallow (N20) – Fermoy (M8) – Lismore – Dungarvan (N25) | 165.923  | 103.100
N73 | Mitchelstown (M8) – (N72 east of Mallow) | 34.296  | 21.311
N74 | (M8) Cashel – Golden – Kilfeakle – Tipperary (N24) | 19.915  | 12.375
N75 | Thurles to the M8 near Two-Mile Borris | 7.552  | 4.693
N76 | (N10) Kilkenny Ring Road – Ballymack – Callan bypass – Ninemilehouse – (N24 east of Clonmel) | 43.686  | 27.145
N77 | (N10) Kilkenny Ring Road – (N78) – Ballyragget – (M7) at Portlaoise | 48.742  | 30.287
N78 | (N77) – Castlecomer – (N80) – Athy – (M9) near Ballitore | 50.671  | 31.485
N80 | (N52) near Tullamore – Mountmellick – crosses the (M7) at Portlaoise (connects to M7 via R445) – Stradbally – (N78) Carlow – (M9) near Tinryland – (N81) – Kildavin – Bunclody – (N11) near Enniscorthy | 114.683  | 71.261
N81 | (M50) at Templeogue – Tallaght Bypass – Baltinglass – Tullow – (N80 just east of Ballon) | 76.784  | 47.711
N83 | Tuam – Dunmore – Cloonfad – Ballyhaunis – Tooreen – N17 south of Charlestown | 45.222  | 28.100
N84 | Galway – Cloonboo – Headford – Shrule – Kilmaine – Ballinrobe – Castlebar | 73.545  | 45.699
N85 | Ennis (M18) – Ennistymon (N67) | 31.858  | 19.796
N86 | Tralee – Annascaul – Lispole – Dingle | 50.235  | 31.215
N87 | Belturbet (N3) – Ballyconnell – Swanlinbar – (border with Northern Ireland where it becomes the A32) | 28.136  | 17.483
Total length of network: | 2,657  | 1,651

### Defunct routes

[edit]

* N57: Swinford – Ballina; upgraded to a primary route as the N26 in 1994.
* N64: Oranmore – Claregalway; upgraded to primary route status as the N18, but after the M18/M17 route was completed to Tuam in 2017, it was downgraded to the R381.
* N66: Gort – Loughrea; downgraded to the R380 in 2017 after the M18 was extended to the M6.
* N79: Enniscorthy – New Ross; upgraded to a primary route as the N30 in 1994.
* N82: N7 to the N81 in southwest Dublin; redesignated as the L2011 in 2012.

## Gallery

[edit]

* N69, Tralee Bypass, County Kerry

* N62, County Tipperary

* N72, near Mallow, County Cork

* N73, Kildorrery, County Cork

* N76, Killamery, County Kilkenny

* Signpost at N80, Portlaoise

* N81 at its junction with the R412 in County Wicklow

## See also

[edit]

* Roads in Ireland
* Motorways in the Republic of Ireland
* National primary road

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Policy Background". gov.ie. Government of Ireland. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
2. ^ [1] Archived 2016-08-07 at the Wayback Machine TII: National Route Lengths 2013

* S.I. No. 209/1994: Roads Act, 1993 (Declaration of National Roads) Order, 1994
* Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 – Department of Transport
* [2] – National Roads Authority: National Route Lengths 2007

* v
* t
* e

Roads in Ireland

Motorways|

* M1
* M2
* M3
* M4
* M6
* M7
* M8
* M9
* M11
* M17
* M18
* M20
* M50

Primary roads|

* N1
* N2
* N3
* N4
* N5
* N6
* N7
* N8
* N9
* N10
* N11
* N12
* N13
* N14
* N15
* N16
* N17
* N18
* N19
* N20
* N21
* N22
* N23
* N24
* N25
* N26
* N27
* N28
* N29
* N30
* N31
* N32
* N33
* N40
* N50

Secondary roads|

* N51
* N52
* N53
* N54
* N55
* N56
* N58
* N59
* N60
* N61
* N62
* N63
* N65
* N66
* N67
* N68
* N69
* N70
* N71
* N72
* N73
* N74
* N75
* N76
* N77
* N78
* N80
* N81
* N82
* N83
* N84
* N85
* N86
* N87

Regional roads|

* R101
* R102
* R103
* R104
* R105
* R106
* R107
* R108
* R109
* R110
* R111
* R112
* R113
* R114
* R115
* R116
* R117
* R118
* R119
* R120
* R121
* R122
* R123
* R124
* R125
* R126
* R127
* R128
* R129
* R130
* R131
* R132
* R133
* R134
* R135
* R136
* R137
* R138
* R139
* R147
* R148
* R149
* R150
* R151
* R152
* R153
* R154
* R155
* R156
* R157
* R158
* R159
* R160
* R161
* R162
* R163
* R164
* R165
* R166
* R167
* R168
* R169
* R170
* R171
* R172
* R173
* R174
* R175
* R176
* R177
* R178
* R179
* R180
* R181
* R182
* R183
* R184
* R185
* R186
* R187
* R188
* R189
* R190
* R191
* R192
* R193
* R194
* R195
* R196
* R197
* R198
* R199
* R200
* R201
* R202
* R203
* R204
* R205
* R206
* R207
* R208
* R209
* R210
* R211
* R212
* R213
* R214
* R215
* R229
* R230
* R231
* R232
* R233
* R234
* R235
* R236
* R237
* R238
* R239
* R240
* R241
* R242
* R243
* R244
* R245
* R246
* R247
* R248
* R249
* R250
* R251
* R252
* R253
* R254
* R255
* R256
* R257
* R258
* R259
* R260
* R261
* R262
* R263
* R264
* R265
* R266
* R267
* R268
* R277
* R278
* R279
* R280
* R281
* R282
* R283
* R284
* R285
* R286
* R287
* R288
* R289
* R290
* R291
* R292
* R293
* R294
* R295
* R296
* R297
* R298
* R299
* R300
* R306
* R307
* R308
* R309
* R310
* R311
* R312
* R313
* R314
* R315
* R316
* R317
* R318
* R319
* R320
* R321
* R322
* R323
* R324
* R325
* R326
* R327
* R328
* R329
* R330
* R331
* R332
* R333
* R334
* R335
* R336
* R337
* R338
* R339
* R340
* R341
* R342
* R343
* R344
* R345
* R346
* R347
* R348
* R349
* R350
* R351
* R352
* R353
* R355
* R356
* R357
* R358
* R359
* R360
* R361
* R362
* R363
* R364
* R365
* R366
* R367
* R368
* R369
* R370
* R371
* R372
* R373
* R374
* R375
* R376
* R377
* R378
* R379
* R380
* R381
* R389
* R390
* R391
* R392
* R393
* R394
* R395
* R396
* R397
* R398
* R399
* R400
* R401
* R402
* R403
* R404
* R405
* R406
* R407
* R408
* R409
* R410
* R411
* R412
* R413
* R414
* R415
* R416
* R417
* R418
* R419
* R420
* R421
* R422
* R423
* R424
* R425
* R426
* R427
* R428
* R429
* R430
* R431
* R432
* R433
* R434
* R435
* R436
* R437
* R438
* R439
* R440
* R441
* R442
* R443
* R444
* R445
* R446
* R448
* R449
* R458
* R459
* R460
* R461
* R462
* R463
* R464
* R465
* R466
* R467
* R468
* R469
* R470
* R471
* R472
* R473
* R474
* R475
* R476
* R477
* R478
* R479
* R480
* R481
* R482
* R483
* R484
* R485
* R486
* R487
* R488
* R489
* R490
* R491
* R492
* R493
* R494
* R495
* R496
* R497
* R498
* R499
* R500
* R501
* R502
* R503
* R504
* R505
* R506
* R507
* R509
* R510
* R511
* R512
* R513
* R514
* R515
* R516
* R517
* R518
* R519
* R520
* R521
* R522
* R523
* R524
* R525
* R526
* R527
* R548
* R549
* R550
* R551
* R552
* R553
* R554
* R555
* R556
* R557
* R558
* R559
* R560
* R561
* R563
* R564
* R565
* R566
* R567
* R568
* R569
* R570
* R571
* R572
* R573
* R574
* R575
* R576
* R577
* R578
* R579
* R580
* R581
* R582
* R583
* R584
* R585
* R586
* R587
* R588
* R589
* R590
* R591
* R592
* R593
* R594
* R595
* R596
* R597
* R598
* R599
* R600
* R601
* R602
* R603
* R604
* R605
* R606
* R607
* R608
* R610
* R611
* R612
* R613
* R614
* R615
* R616
* R617
* R618
* R619
* R620
* R621
* R622
* R623
* R624
* R626
* R627
* R628
* R629
* R630
* R631
* R632
* R633
* R634
* R635
* R637
* R638
* R639
* R640
* R641
* R659
* R660
* R661
* R662
* R663
* R664
* R665
* R666
* R667
* R668
* R669
* R670
* R671
* R672
* R673
* R674
* R675
* R676
* R677
* R678
* R679
* R680
* R681
* R682
* R683
* R684
* R685
* R686
* R687
* R688
* R689
* R690
* R691
* R692
* R693
* R694
* R695
* R696
* R697
* R698
* R699
* R700
* R701
* R702
* R703
* R704
* R705
* R706
* R707
* R708
* R709
* R710
* R711
* R712
* R713
* R723
* R724
* R725
* R726
* R727
* R729
* R730
* R731
* R732
* R733
* R734
* R735
* R736
* R737
* R738
* R739
* R740
* R741
* R742
* R743
* R744
* R745
* R746
* R747
* R748
* R749
* R750
* R751
* R752
* R753
* R754
* R755
* R756
* R757
* R758
* R759
* R760
* R761
* R762
* R763
* R764
* R765
* R766
* R767
* R768
* R769
* R770
* R772
* R773
* R774
* R801
* R802
* R803
* R804
* R805
* R806
* R807
* R808
* R809
* R810
* R811
* R812
* R813
* R814
* R815
* R816
* R817
* R818
* R819
* R820
* R821
* R822
* R824
* R825
* R826
* R827
* R828
* R829
* R830
* R831
* R833
* R834
* R835
* R837
* R838
* R839
* R840
* R842
* R843
* R846
* R847
* R848
* R849
* R851
* R852
* R853
* R854
* R855
* R857
* R858
* R859
* R860
* R861
* R863
* R864
* R865
* R866
* R867
* R868
* R870
* R871
* R873
* R874
* R875
* R876
* R877
* R880
* R883
* R884
* R885
* R886
* R887
* R888
* R889
* R890
* R895
* R896
* R899
* R900
* R901
* R903
* R904
* R906
* R907
* R908
* R909
* R910
* R911
* R912
* R913
* R914
* R915
* R916
* R917
* R918
* R919
* R920
* R921
* R924
* R925
* R926
* R927
* R928
* R929
* R930
* R931
* R932
* R933
* R934
* R935
* R936
* R937
* R938
* R940
* R941
* R999

See also
National Development Plan
Local roads
Toll roads
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Trunk roads
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template