Slight drop in commercial vacancy rates across Co Carlow

CARLOW recorded a slight drop in the rate of commercial vacancy compared to the same time last year, according to a new report by GeoDirectory.

Of the 2,063 commercial units in the county, there were an estimated 150 vacant commercial units in Carlow town in the second quarter of this year, 30 in Bagenalstown and 26 in Tullow. During this period, the vacancy rate across Co Carlow stood at 13%, down 0.2 percentage points from the same period in 2025.

While vacancy rates in Carlow town appear to be moving downwards, rates increased in Tullow and Bagenalstown.

There was no change in the number of units occupied by businesses in the accommodation and food services sector.

Nationally, the commercial vacancy rate stands at 14.5% and it was the first year since 2013 that there has been a year-on-year drop.

Carlow was one of 12 that recorded a year-on-year decrease in the number of commercial properties that are vacant.

“The broader picture remains one of significant local variance,” said Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory. “With over 30,611 commercial units lying vacant across the country and 13 counties still seeing vacancy increases, commercial property owners and local high streets need to continue to adapt to shifting consumer habits.” 

Vacancy rates for commercial units are highest in Co Donegal and lowest in Co Meath.

According to Simon MacAllister, partner at EY Ireland, this data “highlights a growing divide between areas benefiting from population growth, employment and investment, particularly in the east, and those that continue to face challenges sustaining commercial activity, especially in the west and north-west.”