Commercial vacancy rate falls for first time since 2013, but West still struggles
The national commercial vacancy rate dipped to 14.5% in the second quarter of 2026, marking the first annual decline since records began in 2013. It is a small drop, just 0.1 percentage points, but it breaks a long and wearying pattern of rising emptiness across our towns and cities.
The GeoDirectory Commercial Vacancy Rates Report, prepared by EY, found that 30,611 commercial properties remain vacant across the State. That is a heavy weight on any community, and the figures remind us that while the national picture shifts slightly, the lived reality varies greatly from county to county.
Where are the highest and lowest vacancy rates?
Donegal carries the heaviest burden, with a vacancy rate of 20.7%, meaning more than one in five commercial properties sit empty. Sligo follows at 20.2%, Galway at 18.6%, and Leitrim and Limerick both at 18.1%. The West and North-West continue to feel the pinch most acutely.
At the other end, Meath leads the way with the lowest rate in the country at 9.9%, the only county under the 10% mark. Wexford (11.2%), Westmeath (12%), Kerry (12.3%), and Cavan (12.7%) also fare better than the national average.
Dublin sits at 13.3%, a 0.6 point improvement on last year and below the national figure.
Which towns are feeling it most?
Among the 80 towns and urban areas analysed, Shannon in Co Clare has the highest vacancy rate at 34.9%. Ballybofey in Donegal is close behind at 34.5%, with Boyle in Roscommon at 30.1%.
For a sense of what is possible, look to Carrigaline in Cork at 5.1% and Greystones in Wicklow at 7.3%. The contrast is stark, and it speaks to a deeper divide in how our regions are faring.
Why did the vacancy rate fall this quarter?
Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory, put it plainly: while the national rate edged down, the broader picture is one of significant local variance. With over 30,000 units vacant and 13 counties still seeing increases, he said commercial property owners and local high streets need to keep adapting to shifting consumer habits.
Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY Ireland, noted that the decline is modest but significant, as it marks a break from the steady rise we have seen since 2013. He pointed to a growing divide between areas benefiting from population growth and investment, particularly in the East, and those struggling to sustain commercial activity, especially in the West and North-West.
His call is for sustained investment and policy measures to support town centre vitality and long-term economic growth. That is a conversation we need to have, and soon, because every shuttered shopfront is a story of lost livelihood and diminished community.
What does this mean for our towns and cities?
These figures are not just statistics. They reflect the daily reality of people walking past empty windows, of small businesses closing their doors, of town centres that have lost their pulse. The modest national decline is welcome, but it should not mask the persistent pain in our western counties.
If we are serious about balanced regional development, we need to look at these numbers as a call to action. Investment in our towns, support for local enterprise, and policies that breathe life back into our high streets are not optional extras. They are essential to the kind of Ireland we want to build, one where every community has a fair chance to thrive.
As we reflect on these findings, let us hold onto the hope that this small decline is the beginning of a longer trend, and let us push for the measures that will make it so.