Kildrum’s story
Kildrum has nothing on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage yet
3% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.
Explore the history →KildrumCo. Donegal
Home to 518 people, this town lies in Co. Donegal.
Population
518
CSO, Census 2022 · Donegal County Council
Median age
42.1
11% are 65+ · Co. Donegal 16%
Degree level
26%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
4%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Kildrum a good place to live?
A typical home sold for €165,200, or 5.6 years of the town’s median household income. The car is not the only way to work here: 4% of commuters walk, cycle or use public transport. 62% of people here were born outside Ireland. The median household takes in €29,250 a year before tax.
Kildrum isn’t graded: grades for Irish towns begin at 1,000 residents.
What makes Kildrum stand out
The 3 things Kildrum does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
4% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Born outside Ireland
Who lives here
The median of Irish towns: 22%
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 Kildrum.
Natural hazards
Low radon and steady ground in Kildrum; flooding isn’t measured here
Lisfannon, 14 km from Kildrum, is the closest bathing water; it was rated good in 2025. No part of Kildrum is mapped as high landslide susceptibility. Under 1% of homes locally are estimated to have radon above the reference level.
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 | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0.5% | 0% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
14 km
to Lisfannon bathing water (good)
234
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Kildrum has colder winters than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: January lows of 2.1°C
A year brings 1,058 mm of rain to Kildrum. July afternoons reach 18.6°C here, about level with Co. Donegal’s towns (18.6°C) and below Irish towns (19.9°C). Averaged across the seasons, Kildrum sits at 9.5°C.
18.6°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter7.9°C
Spring12.5°C
Summer18.1°C
Autumn13.2°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 18.6°C | 18.6°C | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.5°C | 9.7°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 2.1°C | 2.5°C | 2.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,058 mm | 1,316 mm | 937 mm |
18.6°C
July high
2.1°C
January low
1,058 mm
Rain a year
120 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Fewer people in Kildrum have a disability than its ages would predict: 94 per 100 expected, under Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
A disability affects nearly a fifth of people in Kildrum. Allowing for its ages, Kildrum has 140 residents in bad health per 100 expected, above Co. Donegal’s towns (128) and Irish towns (113) alike. 34% of people in the HSE West and North West health region hold a medical card.
87%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health140
Disability94
Co. Donegal128
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| With a disability | 19% | 25% | 22% |
| Good or very good health | 87% | 86% | 88% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Unpaid carers | 5.6% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
140
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Donegal 128
94
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
Kildrum is a town of owners: 80% of households own their home, above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Social housing holds 3% of households, below both Co. Donegal’s towns (15%) and Irish towns (13%). Renting privately is how 17% of households live.
€165Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Kildrum€165K
Co. Donegal€181K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 80% | 55% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 3% | 15% | 13% |
| Median sale price | €165K | €181K | €350K |
| Households renting privately | 17% | 24% | 22% |
80%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
17%
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 homes in Kildrum are a short walk from green space than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 100%
Woodland covers 1.4% of the land within 1 km, below Co. Donegal’s towns (4.5%) and Irish towns (2.7%) alike. Kildrum offers 1.3 ha of green space per 1,000 residents. Walkers have 3 waymarked trails and greenways starting within 5 km.
100%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Kildrum1.3 ha
Co. Donegal2.2 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 100% | 54% | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 1.4% | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.0 km per km² | 0.4 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 1.6% | 4.7% | 1.8% |
100%
Near a park
1.3 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
1.6%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Forecast for Kildrum: sunny today and highs near 10 degrees
Kildrum’s forecast, set beside its normal weather: in November a typical day reaches 10°C, and nights drop to 4°C. It stays dry from start to finish today, with wind of 13 km/h or less and a low near 5°C. For warmth, Thursday is the pick of the days ahead at 10°C; the chilliest afternoon gets to just 6°C.
10°C / 5°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 | 2°C | 312 mm |
| Spring | 12°C | 5°C | 208 mm |
| Summer | 18°C | 11°C | 251 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 7°C | 288 mm |
10°C / 5°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
8 km/h
Wind
94%
Humidity
9 h 07 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Fewer commuters in Kildrum walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 3.9%
The census found 71% of 15- to 64-year-olds in work. The car took 87% of commuters, higher than both Co. Donegal’s towns (75%) and Irish towns (66%). Home was the main workplace for nearly one in ten workers at the census.
4%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van87%
Bus3%
Walk1%
| Census 2022 | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 29% | 56% | 31% |
| Median household income | €29,250 | €39,838 | €57,760 |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 71% | 63% | 68% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.2% | 13% | 9.2% |
€29,250
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Donegal €42,497
9%
worked mainly from home, 2022
5%
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
2.5% of Kildrum speaks Irish every day outside school, more than Co. Donegal’s towns
62% were born abroad, above Co. Donegal’s towns (26%) and Irish towns (22%) alike. The 65-and-over age group makes up 11% of residents. Young adults of 15 to 24 account for 13% of the town.
42.1median age
KildrumCo. DonegalIreland
Ages · share of residents
13%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none14%
Lower secondary19%
Leaving Cert34%
Diploma or cert8%
Degree or higher26%
Women and men · all residents
49.2% of Kildrum’s residents are women
255 women and 263 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 20% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 13% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 33% | 23% | 24% |
| 65+ | 11% | 16% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 14% | 14% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 19% | 16% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 34% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 7.9% | 6.2% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 26% | 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
Kildrum is run by Donegal County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government. 52% of voters turned out at the last local elections, near Co. Donegal’s towns (53%) and higher than Irish towns (46%). There is no majority on Donegal County Council; Fianna Fáil have the most seats, 10 of 37, short of 19.
10/37seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Donegal County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil10
Sinn Féin10
Independent9
100% Redress4
Fine Gael3
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Kildrum | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 52% | 53% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 59% | 59% | 59% |
5
Councillors
10/37
Fianna Fáil seats on Donegal County, the largest party
52%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Donegal
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Dunmore Gardens and 12 more within 40 km
2 places to visit are mapped within 5 km of Kildrum; with them, the best known within 40 km.
GardenGardenDunmore Gardens2.5 km outside town, to the south
CastleBurt Castle7.4 km northwest
Castle · Office of Public WorksDoe Castle34 km northwest
MuseumFort Dunree Military Museum26 km north
CastleGlenveagh Castle36 km west
MuseumDonegal County Museum21 km west
CastleBurt Castle7.4 km northwestCastle · Office of Public WorksDoe Castle34 km northwestMuseumFort Dunree Military Museum26 km northCastleGlenveagh Castle36 km westMuseumDonegal County Museum21 km westPlaces: 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)
- Burt Castle: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Doe Castle: Original uploaded by Brendandh (Transfered by Lvova ), CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Fort Dunree Military Museum: Irishhistoricalgamer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Glenveagh Castle: Chris Gunns, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Donegal County Museum: DevelopedMadness at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kildrum
15pages on Kildrum
Famous people from around Kildrum
No notable person born in Kildrum is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
W
William C. CampbellIrish biochemist · born in Ramelton · born 1930S
Shay GivenIrish association football player · born in Lifford · born 1976C
Chloe MageeIrish badminton player · born in Lifford · born 1988D
Dave GallaherNew Zealand rugby union footballer (187… · born in RameltonM
Mickey Joe HarteIrish singer-songwriter · born in Lifford · born 1973F
Frank McGuinnessIrish writer (born 1953) · born in BuncranaKildrum’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
NewtowncunninghamMuffRameltonLiffordRaphoeBuncranaKildrum
Questions about Kildrum
Do people in Kildrum drive to work?
9% mostly work from home, and 29% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Has Kildrum grown?
Kildrum had 518 people at the 2022 census, up from 515 in 2016: 0.6% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Kildrum a young town or an old one?
The median age in Kildrum is 42.1, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Kildrum
Urban area in Co. Donegal
518 people live in Kildrum, 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
- 518 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Donegal
- Council
- Donegal County Council
- Local electoral area
- Buncrana
- Dáil constituency
- Donegal
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:33071
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).