Fettercairn’s story
Fettercairn: 12 buildings on the National Inventory
The record adds 7 archaeological sites.
Homes built before 1919: 0%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1765Belgard Castle
- 1770Stables, Naas Road
- 1795Milestone, Brownsbarn
FettercairnDublin
It grew by 29% between the 2016 and 2022 censuses. Population 12,970: a neighbourhood in Dublin.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: P L Chadwick · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
12,970
CSO, Census 2022 · South Dublin County Council
Median age
32.5
9% are 65+ · Co. Dublin 14%
Degree level
27%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
30%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
TownGrade
D−
#317 of 320
Is Fettercairn a good place to live?
The weak point is health — bad health runs at 175 and disability at 121 per 100 expected for its ages. Fettercairn’s overall grade is D−, behind almost every Irish town. That places it #116 of 116 in Co. Dublin. It also trails on cost of living (D) — the median home sold for €490,000, 7.9 times the town’s median household income. Natural hazards are few: an estimated 2% of its homes exceed the radon reference level. Walkability is another plus (B+) — on the way to work, 30% walk, cycle or take the bus or train, where the typical Irish town has 23%.
Figures: radon, EPA · commuting and health, CSO Census 2022 · prices, Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025 · incomes, CSO.
Crime here is counted against the people who live here, but much of it involves people who come in to work, shop or go out, so the rate per resident runs higher than residents' own risk.
What makes Fettercairn stand out
The 3 things Fettercairn does most differently from other towns.
Population growth, 2016 to 2022
Growth
+29% more people than in 2016
Against 8% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2016 and 2022, on the 2022 boundaries.
Health
Health
Behind 93%
of Irish towns on health
Its health grade: D.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
Only 9% are 65 or over
The median of Irish towns: 14%
CSO, Census 2022
How Fettercairn grades
Each subject compares Fettercairn with Irish towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
Health121 with a disability per 100 predictedDOpen →Cost of livingIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →Safety10.1 burglaries and acts of criminal damage per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Jobs & income63% of 15-to-64s in work; 13% unemployedC−Open →Hazard riskGraded on exposure to natural hazardsA−Open →WalkabilityEasier than most to get around on footB+Open →
SchoolsNot graded in Ireland: schools’ exam results aren’t published school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)–
How TownRatings grades Irish towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Fettercairn.
HealthHealth D
More people in Fettercairn have a disability than its ages would predict: 121 per 100 expected, above Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns
4.4% of residents in Fettercairn care, unpaid, for a relative or friend. At the census, 87% of people in Fettercairn called their health good or very good, lower than both Co. Dublin’s towns (89%) and Irish towns (88%). Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 2.4% of the town.
87%good or very good healthDHealth Grade
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health175
Disability121
Co. Dublin103
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 4.4% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 87% | 89% | 88% |
| With a disability | 23% | 21% | 22% |
175
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Dublin 103
121
disability per 100 expected · Co. Dublin 99
83.4 · 80.1
life expectancy, women · men, the Dublin region, 2016
28%
hold a medical card, HSE Dublin and Midlands
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
HousingCost of living D
More households in Fettercairn live in social housing than in Co. Dublin’s towns or Irish towns: 41%
Private tenants account for 14% of households. 44% of households own their home, lower than both Co. Dublin’s towns (66%) and Irish towns (61%).
€490Kmedian sale priceDCost of living Grade
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Fettercairn€490K
Co. Dublin€450K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| New homes | €490,000 | 64 |
| Second-hand homes | €413,000 | 42 |
| Housing | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households in social housing | 41% | 10% | 13% |
| Households owning their home | 44% | 66% | 61% |
| Median sale price | €490K | €450K | €350K |
| Households renting privately | 14% | 20% | 22% |
44%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
14%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€2,047
a month on new tenancies, its Dublin postal district
6.9
times median household income, County Dublin
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
SafetySafety C−
Homes in Fettercairn see more burglary and damage than in Co. Dublin’s towns or Irish towns: 10.1 per 1,000 a year
Violence came to 7.4 per 1,000 residents a year, higher than both Co. Dublin’s towns (5.3) and Irish towns (5.7). Per 1,000 residents, 80.3 crimes of all kinds are recorded a year. For its size, Fettercairn records more crime per resident than 75% of the 118 Irish towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people.
7.4violent incidents per 1,000 a yearC−Safety Grade
Compared with towns its sizeFewer incidents against residents per 1,000 than 25% of the 118 Irish towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Recorded by type · per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025
Theft26.4
Road traffic13.8
Dangerous acts8.8
Damage7.9
Assault5.8
Public order5.5
Against justice4.2
Drugs3.9
Burglary2.2
Not in the gradeTheft, public order and offences found by Garda checks (drugs, road traffic, dangerous acts) are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence, burglary and damage.
| Per 1,000 a year | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary & damage | 10.1 | 7.5 | 6.4 |
| All recorded crime | 80.3 | 59.2 | 54.3 |
| Theft | 26.4 | 18.5 | 15.3 |
| Violent crime | 7.4 | 5.3 | 5.7 |
7.4
violent incidents per 1,000 a year
10.1
burglary and damage per 1,000 a year
6,651
incidents a year, Tallaght Garda area
17.4
against residents per 1,000, as graded
CSO recorded crime by Garda station, 2023–2025, shared to towns by where residents live · Census 2022 populations
Work & commuteJobs & income C−
Unemployment in Fettercairn, 13%, runs above Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns
61% of commuters drove, between Co. Dublin’s towns (52%) and Irish towns (66%). Employment among 15- to 64-year-olds stood at 63% at the census. Working from home was the norm for nearly one in ten workers at the census.
30%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van61%
Train, DART or Luas13%
Bus8%
Walk7%
Bicycle2%
| Census 2022 | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 13% | 7.3% | 9.2% |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 63% | 71% | 68% |
| Median household income | €62,400 | €72,780 | €57,760 |
| Average trip | 30.8 min | 31.1 min | 27.6 min |
€62,400
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Dublin €71,123
10%
worked mainly from home, 2022
12%
trips of an hour or more
48,940
on the Live Register, County Dublin, September 2026
B+
Walkability: better than 67% of Irish towns
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.
Natural hazardsHazard risk A−
Low radon, steady ground, few homes by big water: Fettercairn is light on natural hazards
For a swim, the nearest bathing water is Sandymount Strand, 14 km from Fettercairn, rated sufficient in 2025. Some 1.7% of homes in the town are estimated to exceed the radon reference level. The ground under Fettercairn carries no high landslide susceptibility.
0%of homes in high-radon areasA−Hazard risk Grade
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 | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-lying near a river | 0% | 0% | 0.5% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
14 km
to Sandymount Strand bathing water (sufficient)
3,872
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Schools
Few single-sex secondaries around Fettercairn: 19%, below Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns
72 schools lie within 3 km of Fettercairn: 51 primary schools, 16 secondary schools and 5 special schools. Irish-medium schools make up 11%, above Co. Dublin’s towns (7%) and Irish towns (8%) alike. The nearest secondary, St Aidan's Community School, is 0.6 km away.
72schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Family National SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 671 | Catholic |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · Community school | Post-primary · Community school | 1,024 | Inter-denominational |
| Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain GaelscoilTeaches through IrishPrimary | Primary | 445 | Catholic |
| St Marks Community School DEISIn the DEIS schemePost-primary · Community school | Post-primary · Community school | 931 | Inter-denominational |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic50
Multi-denominational13
Church of Ireland1
Inter-denominational8
| Schools within 3 km | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-sex secondaries | 19% | 40% | 39% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 50% | 40% | 35% |
| Teach through Irish | 11% | 7% | 8% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +2% | +4% | +4% |
25,995
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+2%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.4 km
to the nearest primary school
0.6 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · Results by school aren’t published in Ireland, so the cards carry none.
Climate
Winter nights bite in Fettercairn: January lows of 2.1°C, colder than Co. Dublin’s towns or Irish towns
A year brings 826 mm of rain, between Co. Dublin’s towns (770 mm) and Irish towns (937 mm). Across the year, Fettercairn averages 9.8°C. In July, daytime highs in Fettercairn average 19.7°C.
19.7°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.3°C
Spring12.8°C
Summer19.1°C
Autumn13.8°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 2.1°C | 2.9°C | 2.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.8°C | 10.3°C | 10.3°C |
| July high | 19.7°C | 19.9°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 826 mm | 770 mm | 937 mm |
19.7°C
July high
2.1°C
January low
826 mm
Rain a year
92 mm
Wettest month
36
Air frosts
1,397 hrs
Sunshine
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Outdoors
More paths cross Fettercairn than Co. Dublin’s towns or Irish towns: 7.0 km per km²
Within 1 km, 3.5% of the land is woodland, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (2.2%) and Irish towns (2.7%). Green space comes to 16.2 ha for every 1,000 people in Fettercairn. 7 parks, 210 ha of green space: that is the measure of the town’s parkland.
94%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Fettercairn16.2 ha
Co. Dublin7.6 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paths per km² of town | 7.0 km per km² | 5.4 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Green space per 1,000 residents | 16.2 ha | 7.6 ha | 4.1 ha |
| Woodland within 1 km | 3.5% | 2.2% | 2.7% |
| Near a park | 94% | 100% | 92% |
94%
Near a park
16.2 ha
Green space
156 km
Footpaths
0.4%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Fettercairn’s outlook today: light showers, peaking at 11 degrees
Fettercairn’s November pattern is steady: afternoons average 10°C, nights 4°C. Around 1 mm of rain is due today, on a breeze of up to 23 km/h, with a low of 8°C. By December, a normal day reaches 8°C and a normal night 2°C.
11°C / 8°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 | 214 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 172 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 197 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 243 mm |
11°C / 8°C
Today
1.1 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
15 km/h
Wind
83%
Humidity
9 h 18 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Children make up 24% of Fettercairn, above Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns
Over-65s are 8.9% of the population. 15% of residents are 15 to 24, above Co. Dublin’s towns (12%) and Irish towns (12%) alike. Graduates make up 27% of adults.
32.5median age
FettercairnCo. DublinIreland
Ages · share of residents
15%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none14%
Lower secondary17%
Leaving Cert37%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher27%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.5% of Fettercairn
6,677 women and 6,293 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 24% | 17% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 34% | 30% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 18% | 24% | 24% |
| 65+ | 8.9% | 14% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 14% | 8.4% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 17% | 11% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 37% | 30% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 27% | 44% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Dublin and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Turnout in Fettercairn trails Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns: 32% at the local elections
With 10 of 40 seats, Independent are the largest group on South Dublin County Council, short of the 21 a majority needs. 56% voted at the general election. Fettercairn is split between local electoral areas: 87% of its residents are in Tallaght-South, most of the rest in Tallaght-Central.
10/40seats held by Independent
Seats on South Dublin County · June 2024
Independent10
Fine Gael9
Fianna Fáil5
Sinn Féin5
People Before Profit–Solidarity4
Labour Party3
Social Democrats2
Independent Ireland1
| Turnout | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 32% | 42% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 56% | 57% | 59% |
5
Councillors
10/40
Independent seats on South Dublin County, the largest party
32%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Dublin Mid-West
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Fettercairn has 12 buildings on the national inventory, each of regional importance
Scaled to its population, Fettercairn has 9 inventory buildings per 10,000 people, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (10) and Irish towns (48). Homes from before 1919 make up 0.4% of the total. Archaeologists have recorded 7 sites here.
12inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional12
Among them
- Belgard Castle 1765
- Stables, Naas Road 1770
- Milestone, Brownsbarn 1795
- Brownstown House 1810
1765
earliest dated inventory building
0%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
1
places pictured on the history page
| Heritage | Fettercairn | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 9 | 10 | 48 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 0.4% | 1.2% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Drimnagh Castle and 3 more in and around Fettercairn
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Fettercairn. Best known first.
CastleDrimnagh Castle3.8 km outside town, to the northeast
CastleTully's Castle900 m outside town, to the northArt galleryArt galleryRUA RED South Dublin Arts Centre1 km outside town, to the eastHistoric siteHistoric siteClondalkin Round Tower1.1 km outside town, to the 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 (2)
- Drimnagh Castle: Ericlevik, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tully's Castle: Ian Paterson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fettercairn
15pages on Fettercairn
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 12 buildings in Fettercairn, each of regional importance. Archaeologists have recorded 7 sites here.
Famous people from around Fettercairn
No notable person born in Fettercairn is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
Photo credits
Robbie Keane: Michael Kranewitter, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Richard Dunne: Tomasz Przechlewski, CC BY 2.0 · Graham Norton: PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0 · Aidan Turner: Aidan_Turner_(3773120406).jpg : Rach from Tadcaster, York, England derivative work: RanZag, CC BY 2.0 · Kenny Egan: Vakars2001, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mary Kennedy: Iora Rua, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fettercairn’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
JobstownTallaghtSaggartOld BawnClondalkinKilnamanaghFettercairn
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fettercairn | 12,970 | — | D− | D | C− | D |
| Jobstown | 23,437 | 1.2 | D− | C | C− | D |
| Tallaght | 15,588 | 2.1 | B− | B | D | B− |
| Saggart | 4,573 | 2.9 | B | C+ | C+ | B+ |
| Old Bawn | 18,758 | 3.1 | C− | C | D | C− |
| Clondalkin | 22,788 | 3.4 | B− | B | D | B |
| Kilnamanagh | 11,703 | 3.8 | D | C− | D | C− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Fettercairn
Is Fettercairn growing?
Fettercairn had 12,970 people at the 2022 census, up from 10,072 in 2016: 28.8% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Fettercairn a young town or an old one?
The median age in Fettercairn is 32.5, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Fettercairn
Neighbourhood in Dublin
12,970 people live in Fettercairn, in the area of South Dublin County Council. TownRatings splits Dublin into neighbourhoods made from the CSO’s Electoral Divisions, named from Tailte Éireann’s gazetteer, so each has figures of its own.
Built from Tailte Éireann’s boundaries and the CSO’s Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0)
- Population
- 12,970 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Dublin
- Council
- South Dublin County Council
- Local electoral area
- Tallaght South
- Dáil constituency
- Dublin Mid-West
- Area
- 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km²)
- CSO code
- ED:SD:TALLAGHT-FETTERCAIRN
Sources: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (CC BY 4.0) · Tailte Éireann, Urban Areas and Electoral Divisions 2022 (CC BY 4.0) · TownRatings grades, run #544 (Irish towns only). 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).