Taxi drivers in Cork pick up new app with over 100 signed up

Tapataxi is owned by drivers and is challenging multinational players in the market

Almost 120 taxi drivers in Cork city have signed up to a new taxi app which is rolling out across Ireland and looks to challenge the influence of multinationals in the business. Picture: iStock

Almost 120 taxi drivers in Cork city have signed up to a new taxi app which is rolling out across Ireland and looks to challenge the influence of multinationals in the business.

Tapataxi joined the Cork taxi market in May, having launched in Dublin in March. The taxi app is in the process of gaining registration as part of the Irish Co-Operative Society (ICOS), with participating drivers joining as shareholders.

Taxi drivers brought their protests to the streets in Dublin in December 2025 to express their anger at fixed fares introduced by Uber, while they have also hit out at 'technology fees' and priority fees charged by multinationals.

"The idea of taxi drivers in Ireland setting up our own app was a bit of a no-brainer," said Tapataxi co-founder and spokesperson, David Knox. "When the protests took place before Christmas, drivers were asking about the possibility of getting our own app, run as a not for profit. Tapataxi is only available to fully licensed drivers."

Drivers pay €300 for an initial shareholding in Tapataxi, and then pay a flat monthly fee of €120 for 11 months of the year. "We will always offer the closest taxi the job, it does not matter how many jobs he does," said Mr Knox. "All of the drivers are shareholders and we don't have outside private investors so it stays fair to the driver."

Mr Knox said 103 drivers have already signed up in Cork city, and the numbers continue to rise. Drivers are able to use Tapataxi in conjunction with other apps or radio base operations, and can do as much or as little work as they wish. 

Tapataxi says it now has about 1,800 taxi drivers signed up nationally, and is confident this number will continue to grow. The system was initially rolled out in Dublin and surrounding areas in March, but has since started in Waterford, Sligo, and Galway. 

Mr Knox said that after the successful launch in Cork, Limerick is next in sights for Tapataxi. 

The launch of Tapataxi in Cork follows the launch of Hola Taxi in the city, another driver-owned shareholder app in late 2025.