Ballygarvan’s story
Ballygarvan has 2 buildings on the National Inventory
Homes built before 1919: 3%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1820Church of the Holy Mary Mother of God
- 1820Outbuilding, Church of the Holy Mary Mother of God
BallygarvanCo. Cork
Home to 556 people, this town lies in Co. Cork.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Neil Theasby · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
556
CSO, Census 2022 · Cork County Council
Median age
34.6
5% are 65+ · Co. Cork 15%
Degree level
44%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
2%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Ballygarvan a good place to live?
Ballygarvan takes 4.6 years of the median household income to buy the median home, at €385,600. 2% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Nearly a tenth of people here were born outside Ireland. Median gross household income: €83,480 a year.
Ballygarvan isn’t graded: grades for Irish towns begin at 1,000 residents.
What makes Ballygarvan stand out
The 3 things Ballygarvan does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
2% walk, cycle or ride
Against 23% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Born outside Ireland
Who lives here
9% were born abroad
Against 22% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Median gross household income
Income
Gross, a year (the median of Irish towns: €57,760)
CSO household income for the electoral division.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ballygarvan.
Schools
Schools around Ballygarvan have lost ground: pupils −6% since 2019, below Co. Cork’s towns and Irish towns
One school lies within 3 km of Ballygarvan. Pupils at the school within 3 km of the town: 366.
1schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballygarvan N.S. Special classesLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 366 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 37% | 35% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 9% | 8% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −6% | +1% | +4% |
366
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−6%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.3 km
to the nearest primary school
4.2 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · There are no letters or results on these cards, because Ireland publishes none school by school.
Natural hazards
Some of Ballygarvan’s homes have high radon: an estimated 6.3%, above the reference level
The nearest bathing water to Ballygarvan is Fountainstown, 12 km away, rated good in 2025. No part of Ballygarvan is mapped as high landslide susceptibility. Only a handful of its homes, if any, sit low beside water.
0%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0.4% | 0% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
12 km
to Fountainstown bathing water (good)
169
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Ballygarvan is wetter than Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns: 1,205 mm of rain a year
The year’s mean temperature is 10.8°C, near Co. Cork’s towns (10.8°C) and higher than Irish towns (10.3°C). Expect January lows of around 3.7°C in Ballygarvan. Summer highs in Ballygarvan reach 19.7°C in July.
19.7°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter9.6°C
Spring13.3°C
Summer19.2°C
Autumn14.6°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain a year | 1,205 mm | 1,114 mm | 937 mm |
| January low | 3.7°C | 3.5°C | 2.9°C |
| July high | 19.7°C | 20.0°C | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.8°C | 10.8°C | 10.3°C |
19.7°C
July high
3.7°C
January low
1,205 mm
Rain a year
137 mm
Wettest month
14
Air frosts
1,461 hrs
Sunshine
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Bad health runs low in Ballygarvan for a town of its ages, at 28 per 100 expected, less than in both Co. Cork’s towns and Irish towns
95% of Ballygarvan’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, higher than both Co. Cork’s towns (88%) and Irish towns (88%). Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 0.4% of the town. Disability touches 18% of the town’s population.
95%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health28
Disability98
Co. Cork107
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 95%Fair 5%Bad or very bad 0%
| Census 2022 | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 95% | 88% | 88% |
| Bad or very bad health | 0.4% | 2% | 2% |
| With a disability | 18% | 24% | 22% |
| Unpaid carers | 5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
28
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Cork 107
98
disability per 100 expected · Co. Cork 110
83.2 · 79.1
life expectancy, women · men, the South-West region, 2016
28%
hold a medical card, HSE South West
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
Housing
More households own their home in Ballygarvan than in Co. Cork’s towns or across Irish towns: 88%
11% of households rent privately. Social housing holds 1% of households, below both Co. Cork’s towns (14%) and Irish towns (13%).
€386Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Ballygarvan€386K
Co. Cork€350K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 88% | 60% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 1% | 14% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 11% | 21% | 22% |
| Median sale price | €386K | €350K | €350K |
88%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
11%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,542
a month on new tenancies, County Cork
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area T12, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Green space is close to home in Ballygarvan: 100% of homes are within 400 m of some, more than in both Co. Cork’s towns and Irish towns
Its paths and tracks come to 0.1 km per km², lower than both Co. Cork’s towns (1.8 km per km²) and Irish towns (2.1 km per km²). Woodland covers 4.1% of the land within 1 km, near Co. Cork’s towns (4.1%) and higher than Irish towns (2.7%). One waymarked trail or greenway starts within 5 km.
100%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Ballygarvan5.2 ha
Co. Cork4.3 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paths per km² of town | 0.1 km per km² | 1.8 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Near a park | 100% | 90% | 92% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 0% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2.7% |
100%
Near a park
5.2 ha
Green space
1 km
Footpaths
4.1%
Woodland
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Work & commute
Only 2.4% of commuters in Ballygarvan go to work without a car, fewer than in both Co. Cork’s towns and Irish towns
By car: that was how 85% of commuters travelled at the census. 5.9% of the labour force were unemployed, below both Co. Cork’s towns (8%) and Irish towns (9.2%). On average, the journey to work lasts 23.8 min.
2%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van85%
Bus1%
Walk1%
Bicycle0%
| Census 2022 | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | €83,480 | €53,156 | €57,760 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 8% | 9.2% |
| Average trip | 23.8 min | 24.8 min | 27.6 min |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 27% | 33% | 31% |
€83,480
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Cork €60,671
12%
worked mainly from home, 2022
2%
trips of an hour or more
19,928
on the Live Register, County Cork, September 2026
CSO, Census 2022 travel to work, work and education · CSO Geographical Profiles of Income 2022 · Live Register · Census day was 3 April 2022, with working from home still common; shares are of those who travelled.
Who lives here
Ballygarvan has fewer older residents than Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns: 5.4% are 65 or over
The share aged 15 to 24 is 18%. 26% are under 15, above Co. Cork’s towns (19%) and Irish towns (20%) alike. Among adults, 44% have a degree.
34.6median age
BallygarvanCo. CorkIreland
Ages · share of residents
18%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none4%
Lower secondary8%
Leaving Cert33%
Diploma or cert11%
Degree or higher44%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.5% of Ballygarvan
275 women and 281 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 26% | 19% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 18% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 29% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 25% | 24% |
| 65+ | 5.4% | 15% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 4.2% | 8.1% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 8.3% | 14% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 33% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 11% | 6% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 44% | 38% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Cork and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
More people in Ballygarvan voted at the general election than in Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns: 60%
Turnout at the last local elections was 47%, above Co. Cork’s towns (45%) and close to Irish towns (46%). With 19 of 55 seats, Fianna Fáil are the largest group on Cork County Council, short of the 28 a majority needs. Ballygarvan is run by Cork County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government.
19/55seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Cork County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil19
Fine Gael18
Independent8
Independent Ireland4
Social Democrats3
Labour Party2
Sinn Féin1
| Turnout | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| General election, November 2024 | 60% | 58% | 59% |
| Local elections, June 2024 | 47% | 45% | 46% |
6
Councillors
19/55
Fianna Fáil seats on Cork County, the largest party
47%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Cork South-Central
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
2 buildings in Ballygarvan are on the national inventory, all of regional importance
Homes from before 1919 make up 3% of the total, below Co. Cork’s towns (7.7%) and Irish towns (3.4%) alike. For its size, Ballygarvan has 36 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents, below both Co. Cork’s towns (103) and Irish towns (48).
2inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional2
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1820
earliest dated inventory building
3%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Ballygarvan | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 36 | 103 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 3% | 7.7% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Rumley's Open Farm and 12 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of Ballygarvan; with it, the best known within 40 km.
AttractionAttractionRumley's Open Farm4.9 km outside town, to the west
CathedralSt. Fin Barre's Cathedral8.2 km north
CastleBlarney Castle and Gardens14 km northwest
CathedralCathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne9.3 km north
ZooFota Wildlife Park13 km northeast · 415K visitors a year (2022)
CathedralSaint Colman's Cathedral12 km east
CathedralSt. Fin Barre's Cathedral8.2 km northCastleBlarney Castle and Gardens14 km northwestCathedralCathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne9.3 km northZooFota Wildlife Park13 km northeast · 415K visitors a year (2022)CathedralSaint Colman's Cathedral12 km eastPlaces: Fáilte Ireland open data (CC BY 4.0) · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- St. Fin Barre's Cathedral: Flickr member Charlie cravero, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Blarney Castle and Gardens: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne: JohnArmagh, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fota Wildlife Park: Hywel Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Saint Colman's Cathedral: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ballygarvan
15pages on Ballygarvan
The big questions
Out and about
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 2 buildings in Ballygarvan, each of regional importance.
Famous people from around Ballygarvan
2 notable people were born in Ballygarvan; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
G
Ger SpillaneIrish Gaelic football player · born 1981S
Stephen WhiteIrish hurler · born 1988C
Cillian MurphyIrish actor (born 1976) · born in DouglasL
Lennox RobinsonIrish writer (1886-1958) · born in DouglasA
Alan CadoganIrish hurler and Gaelic football player · born in Douglas · born 1993E
Eoghan HarrisIrish journalist · born in Douglas · born 1943Ballygarvan’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Frankfield and GrangeCarrigalineLehenaghDouglasInishkennyTramoreBallygarvan
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballygarvan | 556 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Frankfield and Grange | 7,687 | 4.8 | A | C− | A | A |
| Carrigaline | 18,239 | 4.8 | A+ | C | A | A− |
| Lehenagh | 4,154 | 5.2 | B+ | C− | B+ | A |
| Douglas | 22,029 | 5.9 | A+ | C− | A+ | A |
| Inishkenny | 5,552 | 6.4 | A− | C− | A− | A− |
| Tramore | 4,803 | 6.6 | B− | C− | C | B− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Ballygarvan
How do people in Ballygarvan get to work?
12% mostly work from home, and 27% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Is Ballygarvan growing?
Ballygarvan had 556 people at the 2022 census, up from 516 in 2016: 7.8% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
How old are the people of Ballygarvan?
The median age in Ballygarvan is 34.6, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns. 26% of residents are under 15 and 5% are 65 or over.
About Ballygarvan
Urban area in Co. Cork
556 people live in Ballygarvan, in the area of Cork County Council. TownRatings uses the CSO’s 2022 Urban Areas as Ireland’s towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a county or a council area, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from Tailte Éireann’s boundaries and the CSO’s Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0)
- Population
- 556 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Cork
- Council
- Cork County Council
- Local electoral area
- Carrigaline
- Dáil constituency
- Cork South-Central
- Name in Irish
- Baile Garbháin
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:18757
Sources: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (CC BY 4.0) · Tailte Éireann, Urban Areas and Electoral Divisions 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).