Maritime economy: Good tides and tidings for thriving Irish ports

A series of major investments in the ports of Cork, Dublin and others underpin their growing importance to the Irish economy. Tommy Barker, Property Editor, reports

Big marine changes: Port of Cork company (PoCC) wraps up a €100m investment in facilities for offshore renewable energy by 2026. Going forward, the port will move towards reclaiming a further 80 acres of land at Ringaskiddy, having sold its iconic Port of Cork/Cork Harbour commissioners/bonded warehouse site in 2021 for c.€7m. 

Tides come in and ebb out in Ireland’s ports and harbours, both metaphorically and literally, as well as historically, from Vikings and visitors to vital economy supporting goods.

As an island nation, it’s little surprise that the country’s main cities – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Belfast, Waterford and Galway – are all set by natural harbours and ports, naturally endowed havens evolving as key human settlements and growing since Viking and even pre-Viking and Norse days or raiding and trading. Today, over 40% of the Irish population lives within 5kms of the coastline.