Residence outside Ireland before applying for citizenship via naturalisation (Irish Associations)

[Meadbhh]

So, I see online that you must be residing in the country for five out of the last nine years in Ireland and the year prior to application must be spent in Ireland.

That makes sense to me, but I'm intending to apply next year with Irish Associations, which reduces that to three years residence, but it doesn't say anywhere how many years of residence is required if I were to leave for an extended period of time and then return.
Reason being is that I may (unexpectedly) be moving abroad for the time being, but I do wish to return to Ireland and I would like to know if the residence I built up thus far (almost two years) would still count if I was out for a year. Would it be three out of nine years like the regular applicants or something like three out of five? Or would I just have to start it all over again?

If anybody has an ideas or advice, I'd much appreciate it.