Road signs in the Republic of Ireland

Road signs in the Republic of Ireland fall into a number of different categories:

Directional signage

Directional signage is similar to the United Kingdom design, although a different font is used. Place names are listed in Irish in mixed case, in italics, followed underneath by the relevant English language place name equivalent. If the sign is in the Gaeltacht, or no English place name exists, or is very similar (for example Dun Laoghaire or Portlaoise), only the Irish place name is given. Due to the need to signpost in both languages, usually a limited number of destinations will be signposted. If a destination can be reached by following a route which is a spur from that route, the destination and route number will be shown in brackets. Also, distances are shown in kilometres, rather than miles.

Signs are coloured white text on a blue background on motorways, white text on a green background on national roads (the route number is in yellow bold text), and black text on white background on regional roads. Signs to destinations of tourist interest have white text on a brown background.

Signage on motorways is near identical to that on UK motorways, although in the Republic of Ireland, motorway junctions are not always numbered (or the number is not always signposted). On the M50, in the case of junctions with national routes, the inital advance direction sign is replaced with a list of destinations for that national route.

One peculiar feature of road signage in Dublin formerly was that signage on some national roads, particularly on the N4 road and N7 road, directed drivers generically to destinations such as "The West" and "The South" for many years. After much comment, the National Roads Authority changed these to town names.

Warning signs

Warning signs are similar to United States design, in that they are black on a yellow background, and are diamond shaped.

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs are mostly circular, mostly black on a white background, with a red border. If the sign contains a prohibition, a red line will diagonally bisect the sign.

In Ireland, the "Give Way" sign, an upside-down-triangular sign, reads "Yield", or "Geill Sli" in Gaeltacht areas. The international "Stop" sign is used.

Speed limit signs have the speed with the letters "km/h".

"Keep Left" (or right) signs are now white on a a blue background.

Obsolete signage

The former "finger-post" style of Irish directional signage can still be seen in many areas of rural Ireland. These signs are black (raised) text on a white background. Destinations are in all caps (the Irish letter is simply smaller than the English one). Sometimes the former route number ("T" for trunk road, "L" for link road) can be seen, the former Bord Failte logo can be seen on some, as can a harp occasionally. Distances on these signs are in miles. This style of signage has become a common feature of many tourist images of Ireland, and can be seen in some Irish pubs.

The first generation of the current signage system, introduced in the 1970s, can also be seen in on some national roads (and also on the oldest stretch of the M1). This is similar to the current system, but the signs are simpler, a different shade of green is used, and the Irish place names are not in italics.

Formerly Irish "keep left" signs were black on a white background, with a red border. The Irish "Yield" sign formerly read "Yield Right of Way".

See also

• Roads in Ireland