Laghy’s story
Laghy has 4 buildings on the National Inventory
Homes built before 1919: 11%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1760Laghy Bridge
- 1800House, Laghy
- 1830Laghy Church of Ireland Church
LaghyCo. Donegal
Home to 176 people, this town lies in Co. Donegal.
2 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
176
CSO, Census 2022 · Donegal County Council
Median age
43.6
21% are 65+ · Co. Donegal 16%
Degree level
30%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
5%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Laghy a good place to live?
The median sale, €191,400, comes to 4.5 times what the median household here earns. On the way to work, 5% walk, cycle or take the bus or train. It skews older: 21% of residents are 65 or over.
At under 1,000 residents, Laghy is too small for the grades Irish towns get.
What makes Laghy stand out
The 3 things Laghy does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
5% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Median sale price
Housing
49% below the median of Irish towns, €372,600
Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
21% are 65 or over
The median of Irish towns: 14%
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Laghy.
Schools
Irish-medium schooling is strong around Laghy: 50% of schools, above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Since 2019/20, pupils changed +9%, above Co. Donegal’s towns (+7%) and Irish towns (+4%) alike. Within 3 km of Laghy there are 2 schools (2 primary schools).
2schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naomh AdhamhnainLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 123 | Catholic |
| Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistri GaelscoilTeaches through IrishPrimary | Primary | 55 | Inter-denominational |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic1
Inter-denominational1
| Schools within 3 km | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 50% | 7% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 38% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +9% | +7% | +4% |
178
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+9%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0 km
to the nearest primary school
3.7 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · Letters and results are missing here for a reason: Ireland publishes neither school by school.
Natural hazards
Low radon, steady ground, few homes by big water: Laghy is light on natural hazards
Murvagh, 5.2 km from Laghy, is the closest bathing water; it was rated excellent in 2025. Radon is rarely a worry in the town: under 1% of homes are estimated above the reference level. No part of Laghy is mapped as high landslide susceptibility.
0%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
Low-lying beside water0%
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
Low-lying near a river0%
Low-lying near the coast0%
| Share of homes | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0.5% | 0% |
| Low-lying near a river | 0% | 4.2% | 0.5% |
5.2 km
to Murvagh bathing water (excellent)
165
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Laghy is wetter than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 1,411 mm of rain a year
Here July highs average 18.8°C, above Co. Donegal’s towns (18.6°C) but below Irish towns (19.9°C). Over twelve months, Laghy averages 9.8°C. On a January night, the temperature in Laghy falls to about 2.4°C.
18.8°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.3°C
Spring12.8°C
Summer18.3°C
Autumn13.6°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain a year | 1,411 mm | 1,316 mm | 937 mm |
| July high | 18.8°C | 18.6°C | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.8°C | 9.7°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 2.4°C | 2.5°C | 2.9°C |
18.8°C
July high
2.4°C
January low
1,411 mm
Rain a year
153 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
For its ages, Laghy reports less bad health than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 25 per 100 expected
Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 0.6% of the town. Allowing for its ages, Laghy has 106 residents with a disability per 100 expected, lower than Co. Donegal’s towns (113) and near Irish towns (106). Unpaid caring falls to a tenth of the town’s residents. In the HSE West and North West health region, just over a third of people hold a medical card.
89%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health25
Disability106
Co. Donegal128
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 89%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 1%
| Census 2022 | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 10% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Bad or very bad health | 0.6% | 2.4% | 2% |
| With a disability | 26% | 25% | 22% |
| Good or very good health | 89% | 86% | 88% |
25
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Donegal 128
106
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
Few households rent privately in Laghy: 16%, fewer than in both Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Owners make up 65% of households. 17% live in social housing, higher than both Co. Donegal’s towns (15%) and Irish towns (13%).
€191Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Laghy€191K
Co. Donegal€181K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households renting privately | 16% | 24% | 22% |
| Median sale price | €191K | €181K | €350K |
| Households owning their home | 65% | 55% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 17% | 15% | 13% |
65%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
16%
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 F94, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Woodland runs close to Laghy: 10% of the land within 1 km, more than in both Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Within 5 km, 11% is sea, above Co. Donegal’s towns (8.7%) and Irish towns (0%) alike. Among the protected sites near Laghy is Donegal Bay (Murvagh) SAC. Also worth knowing: a park or green space is within 400 m for 100% of homes.
100%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Laghy1.2 ha
Co. Donegal2.2 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland within 1 km | 10% | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| Near a park | 100% | 54% | 92% |
| Sea within 5 km | 11% | 8.7% | 0% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.0 km per km² | 0.4 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
100%
Near a park
1.2 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
3.9%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Laghy’s outlook today: mostly sunny, peaking at 10 degrees
Expect no rain today, only a light breath of wind up to 17 km/h, and a low of 5°C. The warmest afternoon ahead comes on Thursday, at 10°C; the coolest tops out at 6°C. By December, a normal day reaches 8°C and a normal night 3°C.
10°C / 5°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 | 3°C | 407 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 273 mm |
| Summer | 18°C | 11°C | 322 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 410 mm |
10°C / 5°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
13 km/h
Wind
97%
Humidity
9 h 09 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Laghy than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 4.5%
Households had €42,640 a year before tax, higher than Co. Donegal’s towns (€39,838) yet lower than Irish towns (€57,760). The car carried 84% of commuters at the census. Workers spend 20.4 min getting to work, on average.
5%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van84%
Walk5%
| Census 2022 | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 61% | 56% | 31% |
| Average trip | 20.4 min | 20.9 min | 27.6 min |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 69% | 63% | 68% |
| Median household income | €42,640 | €39,838 | €57,760 |
€42,640
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Donegal €42,497
6%
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
Few people in Laghy are 15 to 24: 6.8%, fewer than in both Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Children under 15 make up 19%, below Co. Donegal’s towns (21%) and close to Irish towns (20%). Over-65s are 21% of the population. 30% of adults hold a degree.
43.6median age
LaghyCo. DonegalIreland
Ages · share of residents
21%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none19%
Lower secondary15%
Leaving Cert28%
Diploma or cert8%
Degree or higher30%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.4% of Laghy
87 women and 89 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 6.8% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 23% | 24% |
| 65+ | 21% | 16% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 19% | 14% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 15% | 16% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 28% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 8.4% | 6.2% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 30% | 29% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Donegal and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Laghy turns out to vote: 57% at the last local elections, above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
Donegal County Council is the one council for Laghy; Ireland has no town or county councils between it and the government. Fianna Fáil lead Donegal County Council with 10 of 37 seats, but no party has a majority: 19 are needed. In the Dáil, Laghy is part of Donegal, which elects 5 TDs.
10/37seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Donegal County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil10
Sinn Féin10
Independent9
100% Redress4
Fine Gael3
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 57% | 53% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 59% | 59% | 59% |
6
Councillors
10/37
Fianna Fáil seats on Donegal County, the largest party
57%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Donegal
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
227 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents put Laghy above Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns for heritage
Homes from before 1919 make up 11% of the total. The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 4 buildings in Laghy, each rated of regional importance.
4inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional4
Among them
- Laghy Bridge 1760
- House, Laghy 1800
- Laghy Church of Ireland Church 1830
- Rectory, Laghy 1830
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1760
earliest dated inventory building
11%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
2
places pictured on the history page
| Heritage | Laghy | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 227 | 105 | 48 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 11% | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| 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 →Donegal Castle and 3 more in and around Laghy
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Laghy. Best known first.
Castle · Office of Public WorksDonegal Castle3.9 km outside town, to the north
MuseumDonegal Railway Heritage Centre4 km outside town, to the northGardenGardenDonegal Garden Trail3.7 km outside town, to the northAbbey or prioryAbbey or prioryDrumhome Monastic Site4.7 km outside town, to the southwestPlaces: 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 (2)
- Donegal Castle: Benson Wills, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Donegal Railway Heritage Centre: louise price, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Laghy
15pages on Laghy
Landmarks
The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 4 buildings in Laghy, each rated of regional importance.
Famous people from around Laghy
No notable person born in Laghy is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
R
Rory GallagherIrish guitarist (1948–1995) · born in BallyshannonC
Charlie McGettiganIrish singer · born in Ballyshannon · born 1950W
William AllinghamIrish man of letters and poet (1824-188… · born in Ballyshannon
J
John J. KeaneAmerican Catholic archbishop · born in Ballyshannon · 1839–1918Photo credits
Mark Farren: Johnfullerton at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Mary Coughlan: Irishdebunker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Laghy’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
DonegalBallyshannonLaghy
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laghy | 176 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Donegal | 2,749 | 4.1 | A− | B+ | B− | B |
| Ballyshannon | 2,246 | 14 | — | A− | C | C− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Laghy
Is Laghy a young town or an old one?
The median age in Laghy is 43.6, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
How do people in Laghy get to work?
10% mostly work from home, and 61% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Is Laghy growing?
Laghy had 176 people at the 2022 census, up from 174 in 2016: 1.1% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
About Laghy
Urban area in Co. Donegal
Laghy has 176 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
- 176 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Donegal
- Council
- Donegal County Council
- Local electoral area
- Donegal
- Dáil constituency
- Donegal
- Name in Irish
- An Lathaigh
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:33100
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).