Ballyliffin’s story
Ballyliffin: 6 buildings on the National Inventory
The record adds 3 archaeological sites.
Homes built before 1919: 5%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1800House, Cloghorna
- 1850House, Annagh
- 1890Bridge, Annagh
BallyliffinCo. Donegal
In Co. Donegal, this town has 479 residents.
2 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
479
CSO, Census 2022 · Donegal County Council
Median age
48.2
26% are 65+ · Co. Donegal 16%
Degree level
28%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
10%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Ballyliffin a good place to live?
A median €165,200 buys a home here, 4.4 years of what the median household earns. Walking, cycling and public transport carry one in ten commuters. Over-65s are 26% of the population.
Ballyliffin isn’t graded: grades for Irish towns begin at 1,000 residents.
What makes Ballyliffin stand out
The 3 things Ballyliffin does most differently from other towns.
Median sale price
Housing
56% below the median of Irish towns, €372,600
Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
26% are 65 or over
The median of Irish towns: 14%
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ballyliffin.
Schools
100% of schools around Ballyliffin get DEIS support, above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Pupil numbers changed −5% since 2019/20, lower than both Co. Donegal’s towns (+7%) and Irish towns (+4%). Families in Ballyliffin have 3 schools within 3 km to choose from: 3 primary schools.
3schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Francis' National School DEISLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 132 | Catholic |
| Scoil Phadraig DEISIn the DEIS schemePrimary | Primary | 121 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the DEIS scheme | 100% | 38% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −5% | +7% | +4% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 7% | 8% |
349
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−5%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
2.5 km
to the nearest primary school
8.8 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.
Natural hazards
6.5% of Ballyliffin’s homes stand on ground prone to landslides
The EPA estimates that 1.2% of homes in Ballyliffin are above the radon reference level. Low ground by water holds almost none of its homes.
0%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility6.5%
| Share of homes | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 6.5% | 0.5% | 0% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
491
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Ballyliffin has cooler summers than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: July highs of 17.4°C
In January, overnight lows in Ballyliffin settle at 2.9°C. Across the year it averages 9.5°C, about level with Co. Donegal’s towns (9.7°C) and below Irish towns (10.3°C). A year brings 1,257 mm of rain to Ballyliffin.
17.4°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter7.8°C
Spring11.6°C
Summer16.9°C
Autumn12.8°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 17.4°C | 18.6°C | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.5°C | 9.7°C | 10.3°C |
| Rain a year | 1,257 mm | 1,316 mm | 937 mm |
| January low | 2.9°C | 2.5°C | 2.9°C |
17.4°C
July high
2.9°C
January low
1,257 mm
Rain a year
143 mm
Wettest month
6
Air frosts
1,348 hrs
Sunshine
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Fewer people in Ballyliffin have a disability than its ages would predict: 83 per 100 expected, under Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
8.6% of residents in Ballyliffin care, unpaid, for a relative or friend. Allowing for its ages, Ballyliffin has 94 residents in bad health per 100 expected, lower than both Co. Donegal’s towns (128) and Irish towns (113). A disability affects just over a fifth of people locally.
88%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health94
Disability83
Co. Donegal128
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 88%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 8.6% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| With a disability | 21% | 25% | 22% |
| Good or very good health | 88% | 86% | 88% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2% |
94
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Donegal 128
83
disability per 100 expected · Co. Donegal 113
83.5 · 79.5
life expectancy, women · men, the Border region, 2016
34%
hold a medical card, HSE West and North West
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
Housing
Most households in Ballyliffin own their home: 72%, more than in Co. Donegal’s towns or across Irish towns
The social rented sector houses 1% of households. Private renters make up 21% of households, below Co. Donegal’s towns (24%) and close to Irish towns (22%).
€165Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Ballyliffin€165K
Co. Donegal€181K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households in social housing | 1% | 15% | 13% |
| Households owning their home | 72% | 55% | 61% |
| Median sale price | €165K | €181K | €350K |
| Households renting privately | 21% | 24% | 22% |
72%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
21%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€977
a month on new tenancies, County Donegal
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area F93, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
More protected nature lies near Ballyliffin than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 20% of the land within 5 km
Nearly two thirds of homes have green space within 400 m. The sea makes up 30% of the area within 5 km, above both Co. Donegal’s towns (8.7%) and Irish towns (0%). Per 1,000 residents, Ballyliffin has 0.5 ha of green space.
65%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Ballyliffin0.5 ha
Co. Donegal2.2 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected nature within 5 km | 20% | 4.7% | 1.8% |
| Sea within 5 km | 30% | 8.7% | 0% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 0% | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| Near a park | 65% | 54% | 92% |
65%
Near a park
0.5 ha
Green space
3 km
Footpaths
20%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Ballyliffin’s outlook today: mostly sunny, peaking at 10 degrees
For warmth, Thursday is the pick of the days ahead at 10°C; the chilliest afternoon gets to just 8°C. Long-term averages for Ballyliffin put November days at 10°C and November nights at 5°C. The rain holds off today, but the wind gets up to 26 km/h, and the low is 8°C.
10°C / 8°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November10°C
December8°C
January8°C
February8°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 3°C | 382 mm |
| Spring | 12°C | 5°C | 238 mm |
| Summer | 17°C | 11°C | 278 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 8°C | 360 mm |
10°C / 8°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
19 km/h
Wind
80%
Humidity
9 h 05 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
The car carries 82% of commuters in Ballyliffin, more than in Co. Donegal’s towns or across Irish towns
The average trip to work took 24.8 min, above Co. Donegal’s towns (20.9 min) but below Irish towns (27.6 min). The census counted 7.9% of workers working mainly from home. A household here earns €37,940 a year before tax, on average.
10%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van82%
Walk10%
Bus1%
| Census 2022 | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 44% | 56% | 31% |
| Median household income | €37,940 | €39,838 | €57,760 |
| Average trip | 24.8 min | 20.9 min | 27.6 min |
| Unemployment rate | 11% | 13% | 9.2% |
€37,940
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Donegal €42,497
8%
worked mainly from home, 2022
9%
trips of an hour or more
6,785
on the Live Register, County Donegal, 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
An older town: 26% of people in Ballyliffin are 65 or over, more than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns
Children under 15 make up 13% of residents. Daily Irish speakers outside school: 0.2%, below Co. Donegal’s towns (1.2%) and Irish towns (1.1%) alike. Degrees are held by 28% of adults.
48.2median age
BallyliffinCo. DonegalIreland
Ages · share of residents
26%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none19%
Lower secondary17%
Leaving Cert31%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher28%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 50.3% of Ballyliffin
241 women and 238 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 13% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 23% | 24% |
| 65+ | 26% | 16% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 19% | 14% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 17% | 16% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 31% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 6.1% | 6.2% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 28% | 29% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Donegal and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
No party comes near a majority on Donegal County Council: the largest holds 10 of 37
There is no majority on Donegal County Council; Fianna Fáil have the most seats, 10 of 37, short of 19. Ballyliffin is run by Donegal County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government. Turnout at the last local elections was 53%, close to Co. Donegal’s towns (53%) and above Irish towns (46%).
10/37seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Donegal County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil10
Sinn Féin10
Independent9
100% Redress4
Fine Gael3
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 53% | 53% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 59% | 59% | 59% |
4
Councillors
10/37
Fianna Fáil seats on Donegal County, the largest party
53%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Donegal
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Ballyliffin is dense with heritage: 125 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents, more than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns
Archaeologists have recorded 3 sites here. The pre-1919 share of homes is 5.2%. The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 6 buildings in Ballyliffin, each rated of regional importance.
6inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional4
Among them
- House, Cloghorna 1800
- House, Annagh 1850
- Bridge, Annagh 1890
- House, Ballyliffin\Cloghorna 1900
3
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1800
earliest dated inventory building
5%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Ballyliffin | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 125 | 105 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 3 | 18 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 5.2% | 4.7% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Carrickabraghy Castle and 3 more in and around Ballyliffin
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Ballyliffin. Best known first.
CastleCarrickabraghy Castle3.1 km outside town, to the northMuseumMuseumDoagh Famine Village4.1 km outside town, to the northeastAttractionAttractionDough Famine Village4 km outside town, to the northeastAttractionAttractionGlendowen craft shop3.5 km outside town, to the southPlaces: 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 (1)
- Carrickabraghy Castle: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ballyliffin
15pages on Ballyliffin
Landmarks
The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 6 buildings in Ballyliffin, each rated of regional importance. 3 archaeological sites are on the record here.
Famous people from around Ballyliffin
No notable person born in Ballyliffin is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
F
Frank McGuinnessIrish writer (born 1953) · born in Buncrana
G
Grainne GallanaghIrish model · born in Buncrana · born 1994Photo credits
Gary Doherty: Nick from Bristol, UK, CC BY 2.0 · John Colgan: Emmanuel di Como, Public domain · John Wallace Crawford: Bennett and Brown photographers, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Public domain · Danny Hutton: Cornstalker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ballyliffin’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
CarndonaghBuncranaBallyliffin
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyliffin | 479 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Carndonagh | 2,768 | 8.7 | B− | A+ | B− | C |
| Buncrana | 6,971 | 16 | C+ | A | C− | B− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Ballyliffin
Is Ballyliffin a young town or an old one?
The median age in Ballyliffin is 48.2, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
Do people in Ballyliffin drive to work?
8% mostly work from home, and 44% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Has Ballyliffin grown?
Ballyliffin had 479 people at the 2022 census, up from 448 in 2016: 6.9% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
About Ballyliffin
Urban area in Co. Donegal
479 people live in Ballyliffin, in the area of Donegal 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
- 479 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Donegal
- Council
- Donegal County Council
- Local electoral area
- Carndonagh
- Dáil constituency
- Donegal
- Name in Irish
- Baile Lifín
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi (1.7 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:33069
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).