Destruction of Irish country houses (1919–1923) April 1921, north Cork IRA leader, Liam Lynch, enraged by the destruction of several houses in reprisal for an IRA ambush declared, 'six big houses and castles of their friends, the Imperialists will go up for this.'" At least 76 country mansions were destroyed in the War of Independence; 30 "Big Houses" were burned in 1920 and another 46 in the first half of 1921, mostly in the conflict's Munster heartland, i.e. counties Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. Historian James S. Donnelly stated in a study of the burning of over 50 country mansions in County Cork in 1919–21
Cork–Limerick–Galway corridor closed for commercial traffic in 2016. Galway and Limerick are linked by the M18, and Limerick is linked to Cork by the N20. A motorway, the M20, is planned between Cork and Limerick. All three cities are connected to Dublin via motorway, Cork via the M8, Limerick via the M7 and Galway via the M6. The Western Rail Corridor links the three cities after recent major investment. The three cities are served by the Cork Suburban Rail, Limerick Suburban Rail and Galway Suburban Rail networks. Cork is served by Kent Station, Limerick by Colbert Station and Galway by Galway Station.