There is no official designation for the "cleanest county" in Ireland, as national anti-litter and tidiness competitions award specific towns or urban areas, not entire counties. These competitions highlight the efforts of local volunteer groups and councils within their specific communities.
Once again Waterford has emerged as Ireland's Cleanest City in the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) Anti-Litter League 2025. The city ranked 6th out of 40 cities and towns, a jump of two places from the previous survey, and was classed as Cleaner than European norms.
According to the Ireland Liveability Index, Waterford is the best county to live in on account of it being one of sunniest counties in the country, having reasonably priced housing, and being in the top 10 most scenic counties.
Top 5 safest counties
Roscommon had the lowest rate of recorded crime per 1,000 people in 2023, giving it the top spot as the safest place to live and work.
Dublin and Cork have both been ranked among the 100 happiest cities in the world, according to the Institute for Quality of Life's 2025 Happy City Index.
Kinsale, Kenmare, and Westport all feature in our 'Ireland's prettiest-town' list. Towns and villages in Ireland combine local charm, walkable streets, history and culture. Visit breweries, take a walking tour or visit filming locations in some of these towns and villages.
For most people, a household salary of €100,000 would put a family in the category of “rich”. And if you earned that last year, you were among the top 6.6pc of employees, Revenue figures show. The average gross pay for a PAYE worker nationwide was €42,100 in 2024, while the Dublin average was €49,500.
The highest poverty risk is found in Donegal, Leitrim and Mayo and the lowest in the counties around Dublin. However, there is considerable diversity within administrative planning regions. Louth and Sligo, for instance, show much lower relative poverty risk than the other counties in the Border region.
2. High Cost of Living. Ireland, particularly cities like Dublin, has a high cost of living. Housing is a significant expense, with rental prices for a one-bedroom apartment in Dublin averaging €1,500–€2,000 per month.
Ennis named 'Ireland's Friendliest Place' at AIBMS Retail Excellence Awards 2022. Ennis, County Clare, known as the 'Boutique Capital of Ireland', was officially named 'Ireland's Friendliest Place' at the AIBMS Retail Excellence Awards ceremony at the Galmont Hotel, Galway, on Saturday, 12th November.
Adare, in County Limerick, is sometimes referred to as Ireland's prettiest village. With thatched roofs, gardens and walking trails, it's easy to see why so many visitors fall under its charm! A visit wouldn't be complete without stopping by (or spending a night) at the well-known Adare Manor.
Most of Ireland's top 1% of earners live in its capital, Dublin. The Household Finance and Consumption Survey, 2020, published in 2022, said that the top 10% of wealthy households have more than approximately $881,00 (€788,400) in net wealth.
A 'good' salary in Ireland generally ranges from €50,000 to €70,000 per year. This would allow a single person or small family to live comfortably, especially outside of Dublin.
Perhaps surprisingly, Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin's south inner city is at the centre of Ireland's most crime-ridden district.
Scenic Attractions in Ireland
Galway welcomes more overseas visitors than Cork or Kerry, and Longford is Ireland's least-visited county, according to new data from Fáilte Ireland.
The high cost-of-living in Ireland as a driver to leave Irish shores was repeatedly mentioned in our analysis of 48 blogs written by Irish people living all over the world. Housing and healthcare were highlighted, but also the costs of public transport, education and childcare.
Employer criteria
That an employer – employee relationship will exist in that the prospective employee concerned will be employed, salaried and paid directly by the employer. An employment permit will not issue unless at the time of application at least 50% of the employees in a firm are EEA nationals (50:50 rule).
17 Ireland Travel Tips to Know Before Visiting
Housing was seen as the most important issue facing the Republic of Ireland as of 2025, with 64 percent of respondents placing it as one of the top two issues facing the country.
The 11 Most Beautiful Counties in Ireland
Affordable locations and local life
The agency's latest analysis of earnings broken down by gender and county indicated that men represented 73.6 per cent of those in the top 1 per cent income bracket (those earning above €300,000 a year). The proportion of women among the State's top one per cent of earners is, however, increasing.