The R421 road is a regional road in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

which runs southwest-northeast from the R445 south of

Roscrea Roscrea () is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland. In 2022 it had a population of 5,542. Roscrea is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, having developed around the 7th century monastery of Crónán of Roscrea, Saint Crónán of Roscrea, p ...

to the N52 north of

Tullamore Tullamore (; ) is the county town of County Offaly in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is on the Grand Canal (Ireland), Grand Canal, in the middle of the county, and is the fourth most populous town in the Midland Region, Ireland, Midlands Reg ...

. The route also passes through

Clareen Clareen () is a village in the parish of Seir Kieran in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 8 km east of Birr on the R421 regional road. The village is situated at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is the location of a Church ...

Kinnitty Kinnitty () is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr, County Offaly, Birr on the R440 road, R440 and R421 road, R421 roads. The village is in a Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of the same name. Name a ...

and Killurin. The bulk of the route is in

County Offaly County Offaly (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is named after the Ancient Ireland, ancient Kingdom of Uí ...

with small sections in counties Tipperary and

Laois County Laois ( ; ) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom. Hist ...

. The route is long.

Details

The R421 commences south of Roscrea at a roundabout junction with the R445 Roscrea bypass. The route continues through the town as the Limerick Road, Limerick Street and Main Street. Continuing in a northeast direction from Roscrea, the route forms a crossroads junction with the N62

National secondary road A national secondary road () is a category of road in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. Nat ...

at the Lourdes Road. A short distance after it crosses the Limerick-Ballybrophy railway line and passes near

Roscrea railway station Roscrea railway station serves the town of Roscrea, County Tipperary, in Ireland. Roscrea station is on the Limerick-Ballybrophy railway line of the Irish railway network connecting to the main Cork-Dublin line at Ballybrophy. It is listed ...

and continues into

. At Ballybritt there is a sharp turn on the road. To stay on the R421 one must turn left at Ballybrit. The route continues through The Leap & Clareen. The road joins the R440 road west of Kinnitty which continues through the village. The R421 leaves the R440 east of Kinnitty and continues northeastwards through Cadamstown and continues into

County Laois County Laois ( ; ) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom. Hist ...

. A few kilometers west of

Clonaslee Clonaslee () is a village in north County Laois, Ireland, situated in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 Mountmellick to Birr road. Clonaslee is approximately 100 km west of Dublin, and is close to the towns of Portl ...

in order to stay on the R421 one must turn left for Killurin. The road to

continues as the R422 road. The R421 diverts back into County Offaly through Killurin and meets the N52 Tullamore Bypass at a roundabout junction. It leaves the N52 at Charleville Castle grounds and continues in through Tullamore as the Charleville Road, Cormac Street, High Street, Bridge Street, Columcille Street & Arden Road (all formerly part of the main N52 road). The road terminates at the N52 Bypass north of Tullamore. The current route designation took form following the opening of the bypasses of Roscrea and Tullamore in the 2001 and 2009 respectively. Prior to the opening of the N7 Roscrea bypass (now the R445 bypass following the opening of the M7) the route through the town known as the Limerick Road and Limerick Street formed part of the N7 road. Prior to the opening of the N52 Tullamore bypass the R421 terminated at its junction with the N52 near

Charleville Castle Charleville Castle is a Gothic architecture, Gothic-style castle located in County Offaly, Ireland, bordering the town of Tullamore, near the River Clodiagh. It is considered one of the finest of its type in the country. History The first ma ...

(south of Tullamore) with the N52 assuming prominence through the town.

References

Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2006
–

Department of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government a ...

{{Roads in Ireland Regional roads in the Republic of Ireland Roads in County Offaly Roads in County Laois Roads in County Tipperary

Details

See also

References