Thousands on daily commute in Gorey and district

THE car is still king in North Wexford when it comes to getting to work. The latest CSO figures from the 2016 Census on commuting show that in areas such as Ardamine, a large percentage of the population leaves the local area to go to work.

A total of 772 commuters in the electoral area of Ardamine worked elsewhere, while just 224 commuters travelled into the division to work, resulting in an outward net flow of 548. In the Courtown electoral division, the figures are more balanced. 548 commuters travelled in, and 551 commuters travelled out.

In the urban electoral area of Gorey, some 634 commuters travelled elsewhere for work, while 2,098 travelled into the town for work, giving an inward flow of 1,464 commuters. In the Gorey rural electoral area, some 1,739 commuters went to work elsewhere, while 633 commuters travelled in to the area, resulting in an outward flow of 1,106.

North of Gorey, 276 commuters in the Coolgreany went to work elsewhere, and 47 commuters travelled into the area for work. In Limerick (Kilanerin), 273 travelled out, and 31 travelled in, and in the nearby Wingfield, 251 commuters travelled out, and 28 travelled in.

In the Ballynestragh area, 329 went out, and 100 travelled in, while in Ballylarkin (Inch), 208 commuted out, and 80 travelled in. The figures for Kilgorman (Castletown) were 214 out, and 54 in.

Elsewhere, the areas all showed net outward flows: Kilnahue saw 111 leaving and 3 coming in; Monaseed, 175 travelled out while 22 travelled in; Ballycanew had 287 going out, and 141 coming in; 84 were leaving Huntingtown, and 7 travelling in; Killenagh had 129 out and 9 in; Ballyoughter, 134 out, and 30 in; Ballymore, 118 out and 19 in; Rossminogue, 154 out and 72 in; Ballybeg, 135 out, 19 in; Kilcomb (Camolin), 246 out, 164 in; Kilrush, 103 out, 16 in; Ballyellis, 99 out, 14 in.

Over in Ballygarrett, 177 went out, and 40 travelled in; Cahore, 92 out, 7 in; Monamolin, 211 out, 13 in; Wells, 163 out, and 93 in; Killincooly (Kilmuckridge), 130 travelled out and 76 travelled in; and in Ford (also Kilmuckridge) 136 travelled for work elsewhere, and 64 travelled into the area for work.

Commuting by bicycle is not that common. For instance, in the Gorey urban area, 11 people cycled out of the electoral area to their place of work, while 14 cycled in from elsewhere; 13 cycled out of the Gorey rural area to work elsewhere, while 14 cycled in to the Gorey rural electoral area for work.

In Courtown, 7 cycled out of the area, and 11 cycled in, while 7 cycled out of Ardamine, and no-one cycled in to Ardamine for work.

When people in Gorey, aged over 15, stated how they got to work, school or college, some 2,243 of respondents said they drove a car, and 197 were passengers. Just 18 took the train, while 90 took the bus.

Some 571 people went on foot, while 58 cycled; 7 took a motorbike or scooter; 203 went in a van; 11 in a lorry; and 92 mainly worked at or from home.