Loch An Iúir’s story
Loch An Iúir has 1 building on the National Inventory
3 archaeological sites are on the record here too.
7% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.
- 1935Coláiste Mhuire
Loch An IúirCo. Donegal
412 people live in this town in Co. Donegal.
1 place within 19 kmMap →
Photo: MaxPride · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
412
CSO, Census 2022 · Donegal County Council
Median age
44.2
18% are 65+ · Co. Donegal 16%
Degree level
22%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
8%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Loch An Iúir a good place to live?
Set against the median household income, the median home, at €191,400, costs 4.9 times as much. 8% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. 36% of residents speak Irish every day outside school.
Loch An Iúir isn’t graded: grades for Irish towns begin at 1,000 residents.
What makes Loch An Iúir stand out
The 3 things Loch An Iúir does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
8% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Speak Irish daily, outside school
Who lives here
36% speak Irish daily
The median of Irish towns: 1%
CSO, Census 2022
Median sale price
Housing
49% 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 Loch An Iúir.
Schools
Schools around Loch An Iúir have lost ground: pupils −17% since 2019, below Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
2schools within 3 km
100% of the schools are in the DEIS scheme, above Co. Donegal’s towns (38%) and Irish towns (35%) alike. Within 3 km of Loch An Iúir there are 2 schools (2 primary schools).
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.N. Dhubhthaigh Gaeltacht schoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 91 | Catholic |
| S.N. Loch an Iubhair Gaeltacht schoolTeaches through IrishPrimary | Primary | 25 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 100% | 7% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 100% | 38% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −17% | +7% | +4% |
116
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−17%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.8 km
to the nearest primary school
7.6 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · There are no letters or results on these cards, because Ireland publishes none school by school.
Natural hazards
More homes in Loch An Iúir stand on ground prone to landslides than in Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 3.9%
0%of homes in high-radon areas
For a swim, the nearest bathing water is Carrickfinn, 6.1 km from Loch An Iúir, rated excellent in 2025. Few of its homes stand low beside water.
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility3.9%
| Share of homes | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 3.9% | 0.5% | 0% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
6.1 km
to Carrickfinn bathing water (excellent)
363
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Loch An Iúir is wetter than Co. Donegal’s towns or Irish towns: 1,596 mm of rain a year
17.9°CJuly afternoon high
The annual mean in Loch An Iúir is 9.8°C. July afternoons reach 17.9°C here, below both Co. Donegal’s towns (18.6°C) and Irish towns (19.9°C). Midwinter nights in Loch An Iúir bottom out at 2.9°C on average.
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.4°C
Spring12.3°C
Summer17.5°C
Autumn13.3°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 17.9°C | 18.6°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,596 mm | 1,316 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.8°C | 9.7°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 2.9°C | 2.5°C | 2.9°C |
17.9°C
July high
2.9°C
January low
1,596 mm
Rain a year
177 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Disability runs below what Loch An Iúir’s ages predict, at 90 per 100 expected, and under Co. Donegal’s towns and Irish towns
83%good or very good health
21% of residents have a disability, below both Co. Donegal’s towns (25%) and Irish towns (22%). At the census, 3.3% of people here described their health as bad or very bad. Asked at the census, 83% of residents of Loch An Iúir said they were in good or very good health.
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health151
Disability90
Co. Donegal128
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2022 | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 3.3% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 83% | 86% | 88% |
| With a disability | 21% | 25% | 22% |
| Unpaid carers | 5.3% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
151
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Donegal 128
90
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
Private renting is less common in Loch An Iúir than in Co. Donegal’s towns or across Irish towns: 1%
€191Kmedian sale price
Owners make up just over three quarters of households, above Co. Donegal’s towns (55%) and Irish towns (61%) alike. Social renters account for 16% of households.
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Loch An Iúir€191K
Co. Donegal€181K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households renting privately | 1% | 24% | 22% |
| Households owning their home | 76% | 55% | 61% |
| Median sale price | €191K | €181K | €350K |
| Households in social housing | 16% | 15% | 13% |
76%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
1%
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
Protected nature surrounds Loch An Iúir: 27% of the land within 5 km, more than in Co. Donegal’s towns and across Irish towns
0%of homes near green space
Among the protected sites near Loch An Iúir is Derryveagh And Glendowan Mountains SPA. Woodland covers 2.1% of the land within 1 km, lower than both Co. Donegal’s towns (4.5%) and Irish towns (2.7%). 9 waymarked trails and greenways start within 5 km.
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Loch An Iúir0.0 ha
Co. Donegal2.2 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 0% | 54% | 92% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 27% | 4.7% | 1.8% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 2.1% | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.2 km per km² | 0.4 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
3 km
Footpaths
27%
Protected for nature
2.1%
Woodland
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Weather in Loch An Iúir: 9 degrees and rain tomorrow
9°C / 4°CTomorrow
Usually, November days warm to 10°C and nights cool to 5°C; Loch An Iúir’s forecast is read against that. Tomorrow brings about 2 mm of rain, though the wind stays light at 10 km/h; the low is 4°C. The heaviest rain of the week is due on Tuesday, around 3 mm.
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November10°C
December9°C
January8°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 3°C | 465 mm |
| Spring | 12°C | 5°C | 292 mm |
| Summer | 18°C | 11°C | 367 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 8°C | 471 mm |
9°C / 4°C
Tomorrow
1.7 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
9 km/h
Wind
92%
Humidity
8 h 59 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Fewer people in Loch An Iúir are out of work than in Co. Donegal’s towns or across Irish towns: 6.4%
8%walk, cycle or take transit
Household income averages €39,010 a year before tax. Short trips: 46% under 15 minutes, between Co. Donegal’s towns (56%) and Irish towns (31%). Getting to work takes 24.1 min on average.
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van87%
Walk4%
Bus4%
| Census 2022 | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% | 13% | 9.2% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 46% | 56% | 31% |
| Median household income | €39,010 | €39,838 | €57,760 |
| Average trip | 24.1 min | 20.9 min | 27.6 min |
€39,010
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Donegal €42,497
5%
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
Irish is an everyday language in Loch An Iúir: 36% speak it daily, above Co. Donegal
44.2median age
Those 65 and older account for 18% of residents. 22% of adults hold a degree, lower than both Co. Donegal’s towns (29%) and Irish towns (36%). The share aged 15 to 24 is 10%.
Loch An IúirCo. DonegalIreland
Ages · share of residents
18%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none15%
Lower secondary23%
Leaving Cert33%
Diploma or cert8%
Degree or higher22%
Women and men · all residents
52.7% of Loch An Iúir’s residents are women
217 women and 195 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 20% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 23% | 24% |
| 65+ | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 15% | 14% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 23% | 16% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 33% | 34% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 7.8% | 6.2% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 22% | 29% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Donegal and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
16 candidates stood for 6 seats in Glenties, one of the most contested ballots at the 2024 local elections
10/37seats held by Fianna Fáil
With 10 of 37 seats, Fianna Fáil are the largest group on Donegal County Council, short of the 19 a majority needs. Loch An Iúir is run by Donegal County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government. 54% voted at the last local elections.
Seats on Donegal County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil10
Sinn Féin10
Independent9
100% Redress4
Fine Gael3
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 54% | 53% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 59% | 59% | 59% |
6
Councillors
10/37
Fianna Fáil seats on Donegal County, the largest party
54%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Donegal
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
One inventory building stands in Loch An Iúir
1inventory buildings
7% of its homes were built before 1919, higher than both Co. Donegal’s towns (4.7%) and Irish towns (3.4%). Beneath and around the town lie 3 recorded archaeological sites. Loch An Iúir’s built heritage counts one inventory entry, of regional standing.
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional1
Among them
- Coláiste Mhuire 1935
3
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1935
earliest dated inventory building
7%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Loch An Iúir | Co. Donegal | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 24 | 105 | 48 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 7% | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 3 | 18 | 11 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Loch An Iúir
15pages on Loch An Iúir
The big questions
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Glenveagh National Park and 5 more within 40 km
Nothing to visit is mapped within 5 km of Loch An Iúir; these are the best known within 40 km.
National parkGlenveagh National Park15 km east
Castle · Office of Public WorksDoe Castle30 km northeast
CastleGlenveagh Castle20 km east
Historic houseGlebe House and Gallery24 km east
MuseumDonegal County Museum35 km eastCathedralCathedralCathedral of St. Eunan and St. Columba35 km 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)
- Glenveagh National Park: Patrice78500, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Doe Castle: Original uploaded by Brendandh (Transfered by Lvova ), CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Glenveagh Castle: Chris Gunns, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Glebe House and Gallery: Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Donegal County Museum: DevelopedMadness at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from around Loch An Iúir
One notable person was born in Loch An Iúir; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
N
Niall Ó DónaillIrish lexicographer · 1908–1995P
Peadar O'DonnellIrish republican, socialist activist, p… · born in An Clochán LiathM
Maighréad Nic MhaicínIrish translator · born in An Clochán Liath · 1899–1983H
Harry CannonIrish footballer (1897-1944) · born in An Clochán LiathJ
John O'DonnellIrish Gaelic footballer · born in An Clochán Liath · 1910–1954About Loch An Iúir
Urban area in Co. Donegal
412 people live in Loch An Iúir, 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
- 412 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Donegal
- Council
- Donegal County Council
- Local electoral area
- Glenties
- Dáil constituency
- Donegal
- Name in Irish
- Loch an Iúir
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi (1.7 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:33111
Loch An Iúir’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
An Clochán LiathLoch An Iúir
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loch An Iúir | 412 | — | — | — | — | — |
| An Clochán Liath | 1,247 | 8 | — | B+ | C | C− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Loch An Iúir
How many people speak Irish in Loch An Iúir?
35.5% of residents speak Irish every day outside school, against 1.1% in the median of Irish towns; 81% can speak it.
How do people in Loch An Iúir get to work?
5% mostly work from home, and 46% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Is Loch An Iúir growing?
Loch An Iúir had 412 people at the 2022 census, up from 398 in 2016: 3.5% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Loch An Iúir a young town or an old one?
The median age in Loch An Iúir is 44.2, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
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).