It’s hard to contest the ethereal beauty of Ireland’s western region during an Indian summer. Last Thursday, as dawn’s mist surrendered to the sun, the city of Limerick emerged in all its Georgian splendour. Standing east of the languid Shannon river, the radiant autumn light showcases the exquisitely arranged red-brick roads. It’s not a stretch to see how Limerick could embody the epitome of reinvigorated, compact metropolis living.
Cheerful sunshine bathed Galway city on Friday morning, revealing the bustling heart of the city’s unique feel and magnitude. The future prosperity of Ireland is intimately tied to the growth of these two cities – Galway and Limerick.
The western coastline serves as Ireland’s covert economic power tool. If the development of the west is thought out and executed correctly over the forthcoming fifty years, it could favour a superior balance across the country. With the potential unification of the island in some shape or form, the west has roused from its sleep.
Geographically, unity primarily leans towards the east, where the Dublin/Belfast passageway governs in terms of population size, revenue, commerce and the region’s economic weight. If left unattended, the economy could increasingly centralise around a slim swathe of terrain from Wicklow to Antrim. However, other island cities could offset this – planning is key.
Ireland currently leans ‘dangerously’ towards the east. For a holistic future, Galway and Limerick play a critical role.
Ireland must consider the introduction of companies like Apple, alongside ‘Guinness households’.
The country should be open to data centres, not stand in their way, as more are needed.
David McWilliams posits that if Ireland maintains its current stance, the economy could falter in the future.
Galway has long possessed a certain magic; its robust tourism industry, fuelled by the promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way in recent years, spills over into the autumn period. This week welcomes back 20,000 university students for the freshers’ week. Combined with favourable weather, this creates an addictive buzz.
The city, known for its rich Irish culture and a stronghold for theatre and arts, is also a haven for Druid and Macnas. Additionally, its culinary prowess, with renowned establishments like Aniar, Kai, and Ard Bia, has found its way into the commendations of the Financial Times and beyond. The unparalleled natural beauty of sites like Connemara, the Burren and the Clare shoreline also add to its allure.
However, the west is far from just traditional art and delectable seafood, as it’s transforming into a dominant force in the biomedical and pharmaceutical arenas. Icons of the medical device industry like Medtronic and Boston Scientific find their homes in Galway, while Limerick accommodates pharmaceutical specialists like Regeneron and Eli Lilly.
Ireland now hosts the 10 leading biopharmaceutical firms globally, which has significantly revolutionised its economic scenario. Over 60% of the country’s total exports can be attributed to the biopharma industry, promoting Ireland to the position of third biggest pharmaceutical exporter worldwide with a staggering annual export value exceeding €116 billion.
The medical technology industry alone provides employment to over 25,000 individuals, primarily in the mentioned cities. Galway, with its 15,000-strong workforce, has become the medical technology hub of Europe, with half of the medtech firms based there housing dedicated research and development centres.
Over the last decade, a massive investment of €10 billion has been directed towards the construction of new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities around the nation. Notably, approximately 80% of the global stent supply originates from this region, chiefly sourced from the eastern periphery factories of Galway that are capable of producing about two million stents, or up to 10,000 daily.
One such inspiring success tale is of Aerogen, a Galway-based medical devices company specialising in respiratory disease treatment, founded over 25 years back in Moycullen, right above a butcher’s shop. It now brings in around €120 million in revenue and offers employment to roughly 500 individuals in Galway.
Limerick has further established itself as a crucial centre for the biopharmaceutical industry, with Eli Lilly’s recent announcement of a €927 million ($1 billion) investment. This significant investment is predicted to generate an additional 150 roles at the Raheen facility, increasing the total workforce to 450. In addition to the healthcare sector, both Limerick and Galway boast booming tech and financial services industries.
However, this flourishing private sector is continuously hindered by an unsatisfactory infrastructure in Ireland. Both Limerick and Galway are facing a critical housing shortage. The latest Q2 Daft Rental Report indicates that average rents in Galway city have surged by 13.3 per cent year-on-year to €2,114 monthly. Although Limerick has a slightly lower average rent at €2,107, its growth rate stands significantly higher at 21.2 per cent. Property sale prices also differ, with Galway city averaging €402,885 versus €292,253 in Limerick.
The transportation infrastructure follows a similar narrative of negligence. Galway city, according to the Global Traffic Scorecard 2023, is the 37th worst city globally and the 14th in Europe for traffic congestion. This poor ranking translates into Galway motorists spending an additional 73 hours on the road annually, equivalent to almost €1,000 of their time if calculated at the minimum wage rate. Moreover, it’s estimated that traffic congestion in Galway has worsened by 12 per cent annually, a concerning figure. Limerick’s traffic situation isn’t much better, with regular chaotic mornings at the Mick Mackey roundabout and frequent M7 traffic jams.
Ireland needs to prioritise spatial development and planning more seriously. The development of the west (and south) regions should be a national objective, necessitating intercity linkages similar to other European nations. For instance, in the Netherlands, small cities are interconnected via efficient train services, promoting increased industry growth and economic activities in cities smaller than the major ones.
There are approximately 27 small towns in the Netherlands, each with a population ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 individuals, mirroring the size of cities like Waterford or as large as Limerick and Galway. An effective railway system connects these diverse towns: a trip from Eindhoven to Arnhem (70km) takes about 1 hour 10 minutes; Leiden to Utrecht (40km) is a 35-minute journey; and it takes the same time from Groningen to Leeuwarden (55km). In contrast, the distance between Galway and Limerick (85km), which is similar to that of Eindhoven to Arnhem, requires at least two hours, with only four train rides available daily.
The design of the Netherlands was consciously built, encouraging public investment in less populated regions to reduce the natural flow of people moving from smaller towns, thus preserving their existing capacities.
As we anticipate constitutional amendments on our island, we should rethink how we visualise the country’s layout, shifting focus from Dublin in the Republic and Belfast in the North. This concentration on the eastern and northeastern areas entrenched itself in 1921, during the country’s partition. Currently, the island leans perilously towards one side and we ought to spread the future economy across the island, instead of focusing it in a single area.
The west is vibrant. Let’s ensure it remains so.