Douglas’ story
Douglas: 51 buildings on the National Inventory
The record adds 31 archaeological sites.
Homes built before 1919: 2%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1730Donnybrook House
- 1760Hop Island House
- 1760Maryborough Hotel
DouglasCork
With 22,029 residents, it is a neighbourhood in Cork. At the 2022 census, 5% of the labour force was out of work.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Hywel Williams · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
22,029
CSO, Census 2022 · Cork City Council
Median age
38.3
13% are 65+ · Co. Cork 15%
Degree level
54%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
10%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
TownGrade
A+
#16 of 320
Is Douglas a good place to live?
Douglas does the important things well, at a cost. Recorded crime is low: 2.3 burglaries and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residents a year, and 2.4 violent crimes. At A+ overall, Douglas ranks #3 of 54 in Co. Cork. Nationally, it does better than 95% of Irish towns. Health is a strength: bad health runs at 63 and disability at 90 per 100 expected for its ages. Buying in is costly: half the homes sold for more than €417,000, a price of 5.2 times what the median household earns. Walkability is weaker too: on the way to work, 10% walk, cycle or take the bus or train, where the typical Irish town has 23%.
Figures: crime, CSO recorded crime, 2023 to 2025 · health and commuting, CSO Census 2022 · prices, Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025 · incomes, CSO.
This town's Hazard risk Grade uses radon and landslides only: open LiDAR heights don't cover enough of its homes to measure flooding, so flood isn't counted for or against it.
What makes Douglas stand out
The 3 things Douglas does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Jobs & income
Jobs & income
Better than 96%
of Irish towns on jobs & income
Its jobs & income grade: A+.
Unemployment rate, Census 2022
Work
5% unemployment
Of the labour force, Census 2022 (the median of Irish towns: 9%)
61% of residents 15 and over are at work.
How Douglas grades
Each subject compares Douglas with Irish towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
Jobs & income73% of 15-to-64s in work; 5% unemployedA+Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentA+Open →Health90 with a disability per 100 predictedAOpen →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carC−Open →Cost of livingNear the bottom of the towns comparedC−Open →Hazard risk6% of homes above the radon reference levelB−Open →
SchoolsNot graded in Ireland: schools’ exam results aren’t published school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)–
How TownRatings grades Irish towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Be Framed Fine Art Gallery and 33 more in and around Douglas
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Douglas. Best known first.
Art galleryArt galleryBe Framed Fine Art Galleryin town
CathedralSt. Fin Barre's Cathedral3.1 km outside town, to the northwest
CathedralCathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne3.7 km outside town, to the northwest
ZooFota Wildlife Park3.5 km outside town, to the east · 415K visitors a year (2022)
CastleMTU Blackrock Castle Observatory600 m outside town, to the north
CathedralSaint Colman's Cathedral4.5 km outside town, to the east
CathedralSt. Fin Barre's Cathedral3.1 km outside town, to the northwestCathedralCathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne3.7 km outside town, to the northwestZooFota Wildlife Park3.5 km outside town, to the east · 415K visitors a year (2022)CastleMTU Blackrock Castle Observatory600 m outside town, to the northCathedralSaint Colman's Cathedral4.5 km outside town, to the 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
- Cathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne: JohnArmagh, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fota Wildlife Park: Hywel Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory: Raúl Corral, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Saint Colman's Cathedral: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Douglas.
Work & commuteJobs & income A+
Fewer commuters in Douglas walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns: 9.8%
16% of workers did their job mainly from home at the census. The car took nearly three quarters of commuters, about level with Co. Cork’s towns (71%) and above Irish towns (66%). Before tax, the average household brings in €80,260 a year.
10%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van74%
Bus5%
Walk3%
Bicycle2%
Train, DART or Luas0%
| Census 2022 | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | €80,260 | €51,591 | €57,760 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 8% | 9.2% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 22% | 33% | 31% |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 73% | 69% | 68% |
€80,260
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Cork €60,671
16%
worked mainly from home, 2022
4%
trips of an hour or more
6,264
on the Live Register, Cork city, September 2026
C−
Walkability: better than 16% of Irish towns
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.
SafetySafety A+
Among the 118 Irish towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, Douglas records less crime per resident than 100% of them
Town centres with shops, stations and nightlife record more incidents per resident: they are counted where they happen, not where victims live.
Assaults and harassment topped the graded crimes in Douglas (2023–2025). In all, 27.7 crimes per 1,000 residents were recorded a year, lower than both Co. Cork’s towns (44.2) and Irish towns (54.3).
2.4violent incidents per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with towns its sizeFewer incidents against residents per 1,000 than 100% of the 118 Irish towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Recorded by type · per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025
Theft10.3
Dangerous acts5.4
Road traffic3.5
Assault1.9
Public order1.9
Damage1.7
Drugs1.1
Against justice0.7
Burglary0.6
Not in the gradeTheft, public order and offences found by Garda checks (drugs, road traffic, dangerous acts) are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence, burglary and damage.
| Per 1,000 a year | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary & damage | 2.3 | 4.9 | 6.4 |
| Violent crime | 2.4 | 6 | 5.7 |
| All recorded crime | 27.7 | 44.2 | 54.3 |
2.4
violent incidents per 1,000 a year
2.3
burglary and damage per 1,000 a year
972
incidents a year, Douglas Garda area
4.7
against residents per 1,000, as graded
CSO recorded crime by Garda station, 2023–2025, shared to towns by where residents live · Census 2022 populations
HealthHealth A
Douglas has 90 people with a disability for every 100 its ages predict, fewer than Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns
At the census, 1.1% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, below both Co. Cork’s towns (2%) and Irish towns (2%). Self-reported good health: 92% of Douglas’ residents. Nearly a fifth of residents in Douglas live with a disability.
92%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health63
Disability90
Co. Cork107
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 92%Fair 7%Bad or very bad 1%
| Census 2022 | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 92% | 88% | 88% |
| Bad or very bad health | 1.1% | 2% | 2% |
| With a disability | 19% | 24% | 22% |
| Unpaid carers | 6.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
63
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Cork 107
90
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
HousingCost of living C−
More households own their home in Douglas than in Co. Cork’s towns or across Irish towns: 69%
Prices in Douglas are up 65% since 2010: the typical sale went from €263K that year to €435K in 2025. Council and housing-body homes hold 7% of households. 23% rent privately, higher than both Co. Cork’s towns (21%) and Irish towns (22%).
€417Kmedian sale priceC−Cost of living Grade
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Douglas€417K
Co. Cork€340K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| New homes | €475,000 | 285 |
| Second-hand homes | €380,000 | 499 |
| The last 12 months | €450,000 | 369 |
| Housing | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households in social housing | 7% | 14% | 13% |
| Households owning their home | 69% | 59% | 61% |
| Median sale price | €417K | €340K | €350K |
69%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
€1,701
a month on new tenancies, Cork City
6.9
times median household income, County Cork
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
Schools
DEIS support reaches 20% of schools around Douglas, below Co. Cork’s towns and Irish towns
Families in Douglas have 66 schools within 3 km to choose from: 38 primary schools, 16 secondary schools and 12 special schools. Irish-medium schools make up 15%, higher than both Co. Cork’s towns (9%) and Irish towns (8%). For secondary school, the closest is Douglas Community School, 1.8 km from the town.
66schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Well National School (Scoil Tobair Naofa) Special classesLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 803 | Catholic |
| Carrigaline Community SchoolLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · Community school | Post-primary · Community school | 1,072 | Inter-denominational |
| Gaelscoil Charraig Ui Leighin GaelscoilTeaches through IrishPrimary | Primary | 591 | Catholic |
| Coláiste Éamann Rís DEISIn the DEIS schemePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | Post-primary · Voluntary secondary | 811 | Catholic |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic45
Multi-denominational10
Church of Ireland5
Inter-denominational4
Other2
| Schools within 3 km | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 15% | 9% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 20% | 40% | 35% |
| Single-sex secondaries | 38% | 44% | 39% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +3% | +1% | +4% |
20,250
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+3%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.4 km
to the nearest primary school
1.8 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · No letters and no results: Ireland publishes none school by school.
Climate
Douglas has warmer summer afternoons than nine in ten Irish towns
On a January night, the temperature in Douglas falls to about 3.4°C. July afternoons reach 20.2°C here, near Co. Cork’s towns (20.0°C) and higher than Irish towns (19.9°C). Over twelve months, Douglas averages 10.8°C.
20.2°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter9.7°C
Spring13.6°C
Summer19.6°C
Autumn14.8°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 20.2°C | 20.0°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,145 mm | 1,114 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.8°C | 10.8°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 3.4°C | 3.5°C | 2.9°C |
20.2°C
July high
3.4°C
January low
1,145 mm
Rain a year
129 mm
Wettest month
14
Air frosts
1,461 hrs
Sunshine
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Outdoors
Douglas has fewer homes a short walk from green space than Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns: 57%
Within 5 km, 5% of the land is protected nature, above both Co. Cork’s towns (1.4%) and Irish towns (1.8%). Among the protected sites near Douglas is Cork Harbour SPA. 9 parks and 56 ha of green space in all: that is Douglas’ share.
57%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Douglas2.5 ha
Co. Cork4.4 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 57% | 91% | 92% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 5% | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 4.6% | 4% | 2.7% |
| Sea within 5 km | 3.2% | 0% | 0% |
57%
Near a park
2.5 ha
Green space
84 km
Footpaths
5%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Forecast for Douglas: light showers today and highs near 11 degrees
Usually, November days warm to 12°C and nights cool to 5°C; Douglas’ forecast is read against that. Today brings about 1 mm of rain and a breeze of up to 30 km/h; the low is 7°C. Plan indoor things for Tuesday, when about 17 mm of rain is forecast.
11°C / 7°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November12°C
December10°C
January9°C
February10°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 10°C | 4°C | 341 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 6°C | 239 mm |
| Summer | 20°C | 12°C | 239 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 8°C | 327 mm |
11°C / 7°C
Today
0.8 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
20 km/h
Wind
90%
Humidity
9 h 27 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Douglas is a graduates’ town: 54% hold a degree, more than in Co. Cork’s towns or Irish towns
One measure of its mix: 18% of residents were born abroad. People 65 and over make up 13% of the town, lower than both Co. Cork’s towns (15%) and Irish towns (14%).
38.3median age
DouglasCo. CorkIreland
Ages · share of residents
12%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none4%
Lower secondary8%
Leaving Cert28%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher54%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.0% of Douglas
11,245 women and 10,784 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | 19% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 29% | 29% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 25% | 24% |
| 65+ | 13% | 15% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 3.6% | 8.3% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 8.4% | 14% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 28% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 6.1% | 5.9% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 54% | 38% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Cork and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
16 candidates stood for 6 seats in Cork City South East, one of the most contested ballots at the 2024 local elections
60% voted at the general election. Local government for Douglas is Cork City Council alone; Ireland has a single tier. Fianna Fáil lead Cork City Council with 9 of 31 seats, but no party has a majority: 16 are needed.
9/31seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Cork City · June 2024
Fianna Fáil9
Fine Gael5
Sinn Féin4
Independent4
Labour Party3
Green Party3
Social Democrats1
Independent Ireland1
| Turnout | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| General election, November 2024 | 60% | 58% | 59% |
| Local elections, June 2024 | 46% | 45% | 46% |
6
Councillors
9/31
Fianna Fáil seats on Cork City, the largest party
46%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Cork South-Central
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Douglas has 51 buildings on the national inventory, each of regional importance
1.8% of homes were built before 1919. Relative to its size, Douglas keeps 23 buildings on the inventory per 10,000 residents, lower than both Co. Cork’s towns (106) and Irish towns (48). 31 archaeological sites are on the record.
51inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional51
Among them
- Donnybrook House 1730
- Hop Island House 1760
- Maryborough Hotel 1760
- Hill House 1780
31
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1730
earliest dated inventory building
2%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
2
places pictured on the history page
| Heritage | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 23 | 106 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 31 | 9 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 1.8% | 7.7% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Natural hazardsHazard risk B−
Radon reaches above the reference level in about 5.9% of Douglas’s homes
For a swim, the nearest bathing water is Fountainstown, 13 km from Douglas, rated good in 2025. On high landslide susceptibility: 0.6% of homes, about level with Co. Cork’s towns (0.4%) and above Irish towns (0%). Low ground by water holds almost none of its homes.
0%of homes in high-radon areasB−Hazard risk Grade
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility0.6%
| Share of homes | Douglas | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
13 km
to Fountainstown bathing water (good)
7,223
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Douglas
15pages on Douglas
The big questions
Out and about
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 51 buildings in Douglas, each of regional importance. Archaeologists have recorded 31 sites here.
Famous people from Douglas
20 notable people were born in Douglas.
C
Cillian MurphyIrish actor (born 1976)L
Lennox RobinsonIrish writer (1886-1958)A
Alan CadoganIrish hurler and Gaelic football player · born 1993E
Eoghan HarrisIrish journalist · born 1943D
Duncan WilliamsIrish rugby union player · born 1986Photo credits
Jimmy Crowley: Cqui, CC BY-SA 3.0
Douglas’ neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
TramoreFrankfield and GrangeMahonBallinloughKnockreaTurner's CrossDouglas
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas | 22,029 | — | A+ | C− | A+ | A |
| Tramore | 4,803 | 2.5 | B− | C− | C | B− |
| Frankfield and Grange | 7,687 | 2.6 | A | C− | A | A |
| Mahon | 13,892 | 2.7 | C | C− | B− | C+ |
| Ballinlough | 5,435 | 2.7 | B+ | D | C | A+ |
| Knockrea | 5,228 | 3.6 | B− | C− | D− | B+ |
| Turner's Cross | 7,208 | 3.9 | C | C+ | D | C− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Douglas
Is Douglas a young town or an old one?
The median age in Douglas is 38.3, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Douglas
Neighbourhood in Cork
Douglas has 22,029 people, in the area of Cork City Council. TownRatings splits Cork into neighbourhoods made from the CSO’s Electoral Divisions, named from Tailte Éireann’s gazetteer, so each has figures of its own.
Built from Tailte Éireann’s boundaries and the CSO’s Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0)
- Population
- 22,029 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Cork
- Council
- Cork City Council
- Local electoral area
- Cork City South East
- Dáil constituency
- Cork South-Central
- Name in Irish
- Dúglas
- Area
- 8.6 sq mi (22.4 km²)
- CSO code
- ED:CC:CARRIGALINE/MONKSTOWN RURAL/DOUGLAS
Sources: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (CC BY 4.0) · Tailte Éireann, Urban Areas and Electoral Divisions 2022 (CC BY 4.0) · TownRatings grades, run #544 (Irish towns only). 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).