[4] The plan declared that it was envisaged as an area with "an integrated transport system, and the social, cultural and educational facilities of a modern European city".

The term is loosely defined but has been taken by authorities to include the city of Cork and the surrounding suburban and commuter towns of Ballincollig, Blarney, Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill, Cobh, Glanmire, Glounthaune, Midleton, Passage West and Ringaskiddy.

[3][6] According to the Cork Area Transit System (CATS) Study Final Report of February 2010, at that time, the metropolitan area covered 820 km2 and approximately 270,000 people.

[1] By mid-2018, legislation was drafted to expand the boundary of Cork city, to include a number of the metropolitan area towns (such as Blarney and Carrigtwohill).

[7][8] On 31 May 2019, the boundary change came into force, with the city bounds being extended to include Ballincollig, Blarney, Glanmire, Rochestown, Grange and Cork Airport, and thereby increasing the city population from 125,000 to approximately 210,000.