Uber’s Irish rider ratings analysis shows which areas are receiving the most five-star ratings as Uber prepares for huge festive travel demand.
Every year Uber keeps millions of people across Ireland on the move, and drivers get the opportunity to rate their riders along the way. After twelve months of five-star journeys, Uber is revealing the top ten areas across Ireland.
This year, the nicest riders in all of Ireland hail from Douglas (Cork). They take the national crown for good behaviour and five-star etiquette, having soared up five places from their 2024 podium finish in fifth place.
Hot on their heels are Blanchardstown (Dublin), which rose one place to second, and Castletroy (Limerick), which fell one place to third this year. Other high scorers and new additions to the nice list include Cobh (Cork) and Clontarf (Dublin).
Sligo Town and Oranmore (Galway) return to the list for 2025, while Stoneybatter, Rathmines and Dalkey in Dublin round out the top ten areas with the highest average rider ratings across Ireland.
The findings come as Uber prepares for huge demand for taxis over the Christmas and New Year period, alongside the launch of its Taxi Fixed Price product, offering riders simple, transparent upfront pricing as they travel to dinners, parties and long-awaited reunions.
Uber Ireland General Manager Kieran Harte said: “As people head out to celebrate over the busy festive season, taxi drivers across the nation will keep towns and cities moving safely. Taxi drivers are the heartbeat of Christmas travel – a little extra kindness, patience and respect for drivers goes a long way. We’re proud to serve communities across Ireland, and we’re asking everyone this year to spread the Christmas cheer and help make every trip a five-star one.”
Uber also outlined how ratings work, noting they are based on an average of a rider’s last 500 trips, with drivers citing rudeness, eating in the car, loud music, slamming doors and not wearing seatbelts as the most common reasons for lower scores.
The ‘Nice List’ Rankings for 2025
Douglas (Cork)
Blanchardstown (Dublin)
Castletroy (Limerick)
Cobh (Cork)
Clontarf (Dublin)
Sligo Town
Oranmore (Galway)
Stoneybatter (Dublin)
Rathmines (Dublin)
Dalkey (Dublin)
However, the timing of Uber’s festive push comes amid significant tension within Ireland’s taxi industry. More than 2,000 Dublin taxi drivers staged a major protest in early December in Dublin, bringing parts of the capital to a standstill during rush hour.
The protest centres on Uber’s fixed taxi pricing model, which allows passengers to lock in a fare upfront. If the final meter reading exceeds the agreed price, the passenger still pays the lower fixed amount. Taxi drivers have argued that the system undermines regulated fares, places financial risk solely on drivers, and could breach existing taxi regulations.
Uber, meanwhile, has defended the move, saying fixed pricing reduces so-called “meter anxiety” for customers and offers clarity at busy periods such as Christmas. With demand surging and protests looming, the debate highlights a growing divide between traditional taxi operators and evolving ride-hailing platforms — even as Ireland’s politest passengers continue to rack up five-star ratings nationwide.
