Killygordon’s story
Killygordon: 12 buildings on the National Inventory
Homes built before 1919: 3%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1760Bridge, Cross Roads
- 1780House, Killygordon
- 1780Killygordon Bridge
KillygordonCo. Donegal
It is a town of 716 residents in Co. Donegal.
5 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
716
CSO, Census 2022 · Donegal County Council
Median age
36.1
12% are 65+ · Co. Donegal 16%
Degree level
20%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
9%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Killygordon a good place to live?
Homes sell for a median €165,200, about 3.9 times what a household here earns in a year. Its architectural heritage runs to 12 buildings on the national inventory. The car is not the only way to work here: 9% of commuters walk, cycle or use public transport.
With fewer than 1,000 residents, Killygordon falls below the line for grades among Irish towns.
What makes Killygordon stand out
The 3 things Killygordon does most differently from other towns.
Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents
History
12 buildings on the national inventory
3.5 times the median of Irish towns for its size, all of regional importance.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
9% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Median sale price
Housing
56% below the median of Irish towns, €372,600
Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Killygordon.
Schools
100% of schools around Killygordon get DEIS support, above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Families in Killygordon have 4 schools within 3 km to choose from: 4 primary schools. Since 2019/20, pupils changed −13%, below both Co. Donegal’s towns (+7%) and Irish towns (+4%).
4schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.N. an Droim Mor DEISLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 229 | Catholic |
| Gleneely N.S. DEISIn the DEIS schemePrimary | Primary | 45 | Catholic |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic2
Church of Ireland1
Other1
| Schools within 3 km | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the DEIS scheme | 100% | 38% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −13% | +7% | +4% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 7% | 8% |
318
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−13%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.2 km
to the nearest primary school
5.9 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · You won’t find letters or results below: Ireland publishes none for single schools.
Natural hazards
More homes in Killygordon sit on high-radon ground than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 79%
Radon above the reference level: an estimated 14% of homes in Killygordon. Landslides: none of Killygordon lies in a high-susceptibility zone. Hardly any of its homes sit low beside water.
79%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas79%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 79% | 0% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0.5% | 0% |
14%
of homes over the radon level
408
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
July afternoons in Killygordon reach 19.1°C (Co. Donegal towns 18.6°C, Irish towns 19.9°C)
Expect January lows of around 2.1°C in Killygordon. Across the year it averages 9.7°C, close to Co. Donegal’s towns (9.7°C) and below Irish towns (10.3°C). A year brings 1,235 mm of rain to Killygordon.
19.1°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.3°C
Spring13.0°C
Summer18.6°C
Autumn13.6°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 19.1°C | 18.6°C | 19.9°C |
| January low | 2.1°C | 2.5°C | 2.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,235 mm | 1,316 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.7°C | 9.7°C | 10.3°C |
19.1°C
July high
2.1°C
January low
1,235 mm
Rain a year
145 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Killygordon has 189 people in bad health for every 100 its ages predict, more than in both Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Allowing for its ages, Killygordon has 116 residents with a disability per 100 expected, near Co. Donegal’s towns (113) and higher than Irish towns (106). Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 3.1% of the town. In the HSE West and North West health region, 34% of people hold a medical card.
87%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health189
Disability116
Co. Donegal128
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2022 | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 87% | 86% | 88% |
| With a disability | 24% | 25% | 22% |
| Unpaid carers | 5.7% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
189
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Donegal 128
116
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
More households in Killygordon live in social housing than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 17%
25% rent privately, near Co. Donegal’s towns (24%) and higher than Irish towns (22%). Households that own their home make up 57%.
€165Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Killygordon€165K
Co. Donegal€181K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | €165K | €181K | €350K |
| Households in social housing | 17% | 15% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 25% | 24% | 22% |
| Households owning their home | 57% | 55% | 61% |
57%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
25%
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 Killygordon are a short walk from green space than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 100%
Woodland covers 5.7% of the land within 1 km, higher than both Co. Donegal’s towns (4.5%) and Irish towns (2.7%). Among the protected sites near Killygordon is River Finn SAC. Walkers have one waymarked trail or greenway starting within 5 km.
100%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Killygordon5.7 ha
Co. Donegal2.2 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 100% | 54% | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 5.7% | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.1 km per km² | 0.4 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Sea within 5 km | 0% | 8.7% | 0% |
100%
Near a park
5.7 ha
Green space
1 km
Footpaths
1.8%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Forecast for Killygordon: fog today and highs near 10 degrees
Thursday should be the warmest of the days ahead, at 10°C, and the coolest reaches only 5°C. In a typical November, days climb to about 10°C and nights sink to 4°C, the yardstick for Killygordon’s forecast. The sky keeps its rain today; wind tops out at 12 km/h, and the low reaches 3°C.
10°C / 3°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November10°C
December8°C
January8°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 2°C | 393 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 246 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 258 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 338 mm |
10°C / 3°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
7 km/h
Wind
100%
Humidity
9 h 08 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Only 9.4% of commuters in Killygordon go to work without a car, fewer than in both Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
In work: 63% of residents aged 15 to 64, about level with Co. Donegal’s towns (63%) and below Irish towns (68%). The car carried 81% of commuters at the census. Getting to work takes 23.3 min on average.
9%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van81%
Walk7%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
| Census 2022 | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 15% | 13% | 9.2% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 49% | 56% | 31% |
| Average trip | 23.3 min | 20.9 min | 27.6 min |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 63% | 63% | 68% |
€42,390
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Donegal €42,497
9%
worked mainly from home, 2022
7%
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
Fewer people in Killygordon hold a degree than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 20%
Foreign-born residents make up 18% of the population. 0.1% speak Irish daily outside school, lower than both Co. Donegal’s towns (1.2%) and Irish towns (1.1%). Under 15: nearly a quarter of residents.
36.1median age
KillygordonCo. DonegalIreland
Ages · share of residents
12%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none19%
Lower secondary22%
Leaving Cert33%
Diploma or cert5%
Degree or higher20%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.0% of Killygordon
365 women and 351 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 24% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 23% | 24% |
| 65+ | 12% | 16% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 19% | 14% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 22% | 16% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 33% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 20% | 29% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Donegal and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Donegal County Council is one of the most divided councils: the largest party has 10 of 37 seats
There is just one council for Killygordon, Donegal County Council: Ireland has only 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%). This Co. Donegal town sits in the Lifford-Stranorlar local electoral area, which elects 6 councillors.
10/37seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Donegal County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil10
Sinn Féin10
Independent9
100% Redress4
Fine Gael3
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 53% | 53% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 59% | 59% | 59% |
6
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
168 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents put Killygordon above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns for heritage
Before 1919: that is when 3.3% of homes were built. Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 12 buildings in Killygordon, each of regional importance.
12inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional12
Among them
- Bridge, Cross Roads 1760
- House, Killygordon 1780
- Killygordon Bridge 1780
- Bridge, Cross Roads 1800
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1760
earliest dated inventory building
1
places pictured on the history page
| Heritage | Killygordon | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 168 | 105 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 18 | 11 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Glenveagh National Park and 9 more within 40 km
Nothing to visit is mapped within 5 km of Killygordon; these are the best known within 40 km.
National parkGlenveagh National Park34 km northwest
Castle · Office of Public WorksDonegal Castle32 km southwest
Castle · Office of Public WorksDoe Castle40 km north
CathedralSt Eunan's Cathedral10 km northeast
CastleGlenveagh Castle32 km northwest
MuseumDonegal County Museum18 km northPlaces: 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 (6)
- Glenveagh National Park: Patrice78500, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Donegal Castle: Benson Wills, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Doe Castle: Original uploaded by Brendandh (Transfered by Lvova ), CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- St Eunan's Cathedral: Andreas F. Borchert, 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 Killygordon
15pages on Killygordon
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 12 buildings in Killygordon, each of regional importance.
Famous people from around Killygordon
No notable person born in Killygordon is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
S
Shay GivenIrish association football player · born in Lifford · born 1976
M
Mark EnglishIrish middle-distance runner · born in Letterkenny · born 1993C
Chloe MageeIrish badminton player · born in Lifford · born 1988
Photo credits
Philip Deignan: Balloholic, Public domain · Frances Browne: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain · Joseph Barclay Pentland: Carlo Ernesto Liverati, CC BY 4.0
Killygordon’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Ballybofey-StranorlarConvoyRaphoeLiffordLetterkennyKillygordon
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killygordon | 716 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ballybofey-Stranorlar | 5,406 | 6.1 | C+ | A | C+ | C |
| Convoy | 1,702 | 7.7 | — | A− | B | D |
| Raphoe | 1,161 | 10 | — | A | A− | D− |
| Lifford | 1,613 | 13 | — | A | C+ | D− |
| Letterkenny | 22,549 | 18 | D | B | C− | C− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Killygordon
Has Killygordon grown?
Killygordon had 716 people at the 2022 census, up from 691 in 2016: 3.6% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Killygordon a young town or an old one?
The median age in Killygordon is 36.1, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Killygordon
Urban area in Co. Donegal
Killygordon has 716 people, 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
- 716 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Donegal
- Council
- Donegal County Council
- Local electoral area
- Lifford-Stranorlar
- Dáil constituency
- Donegal
- Name in Irish
- Cúil na gCuirridín
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:33089
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).