Shannon has recorded the highest commercial vacancy rate of all towns in Ireland.
A new report from data analysis firm GeoDirectory shows that Kilrush has the 8th highest rate in the country and the 2nd highest in the province.
The GeoDirectory Commercial Buildings Report for the fourth quarter of 2022, shows that Shannon town had a commercial vacancy rate of 29.8%, a rise of 5.9% on the same period the year before.
Kilrush, which previously topped the poll in Clare, now has a vacancy rate of 24.7% – a drop of 1.5% on 2021.
18% of businesses in Ennis were empty in the final three months of 2022, down 0.1% on the previous year.
Overall, Clare’s commercial vacancy rate stands at 15.5% – 1.5% above the national average.
More than half of commercial properties in this county are occupied by businesses attached to the services industry, while over 21% are filled by retailers.
Shannon and Kilrush have the highest vacancy rate in Munster, with Ennis recording the joint 8th highest number of empty business premises in the province, tied with Tralee.
