Hi Paudie, Welcome to the forum:cheers:.
Personally id go for continuous as it allows the operator to watch the trains go by, it allows for running in new stock and you can work at the bench while the trains run.
For inspiration try and get to an exhibition or have a look through the various layout blogs and sites on the web plus have a look at some of the excellent layouts in the layout section on this site.Take a look at eiretrains.com/ Ciaran the site owner has plenty of pics from across the island.
With the space that you have you ll be able to fit quite a lot in and you d have no problem fitting in what you ve outlined above.
cheers
Tom
Final one for tonight
Waterford 1993
048 shunting rail wagons during a rail delivery to the North wharf, it was the last time i saw the big crane being used before it was dismantled
Brand new 205 and 086 with small IE logo shunting Ammonia and barrier wagons at Cork Kent yard in Feb 1995 theres also a few bogie cement wagons beside the cement silos