Kilkenny takes top spot as most sleepless city in Ireland
The Marble City was also found to be the second most sleepless on a global scale
Kilkenny has been named the most sleepless city in Ireland, and the second most sleepless globally, as new research shows more people are turning to sleep sounds like white noise and rain to help them switch off.
The analysis, carried out by hearing care specialists Audika, looked at Google search data across international cities to find out where people are relying most on sound-based sleep aids.
By adjusting for population, the research reveals where sleep struggles are most common, and it’s not just in Ireland’s biggest cities.
According to the data, 100 searches are made each month in Kilkenny for sleep-related audio, equating to 368 searches per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Irish Cities Searching Most for Sleep Sounds (per 100,000 people):
Kilkenny – 368
Dundalk – 325
Drogheda – 249
Derry – 212
Dublin – 201
The results show that smaller cities like Kilkenny and Dundalk are actually searching more for help getting to sleep than places like Dublin.
Kilkenny ranks not only as Ireland’s most sleepless city, but second globally. While it might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of sleepless nights, the data suggests locals are increasingly relying on white noise, rain sounds and meditation music to drift off.
People in Dundalk are also struggling to nod off as its named in the top three sleepless cities in the world, acting as a reminder that sleep issues aren’t just a big city problem.
Oliver Applebaum at Audika commented on the results, “Using sound to aid sleep has become increasingly popular, but it’s not always straightforward.
“For people experiencing hearing issues, certain frequencies may be harder to perceive or may cause irritation. This can affect how effective sound is in promoting sleep.
“If you find yourself relying on sleep sounds but still struggling to fall asleep, or needing to turn the volume up, your hearing could be part of the problem.”
To view the full analysis and find out more about hearing care, please visit: https://www.audika.com.au/hearing-blog/research/the-sound-of-sleeplessness