Cluain Bú’s story
Cluain Bú: 5 buildings on the National Inventory
The record adds 6 archaeological sites.
Homes built before 1919: 4%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1780House, Castlequarter (Clare By)
- 1780House, Cloonboo
Cluain BúCo. Galway
The town, home to 484 people, lies in Co. Galway.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Mike Searle · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
484
CSO, Census 2022 · Galway County Council
Median age
45.3
20% are 65+ · Co. Galway 12%
Degree level
36%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
2%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Cluain Bú a good place to live?
A median €372,600 buys a home here, 5.5 years of what the median household earns. On the way to work, 2% walk, cycle or take the bus or train. Just over half of households own their home outright. A fifth of residents are 65 or over.
There are no grades for Cluain Bú: Irish towns need 1,000 residents for them.
What makes Cluain Bú stand out
The 3 things Cluain Bú does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
2% walk, cycle or ride
Against 23% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Own outright
Housing
51% own outright
Against 32% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
20% are 65 or over
Against 14% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Cluain Bú.
Natural hazards
Radon is the hazard to test for in Cluain Bú: an estimated 48% of homes are above the reference level
Ballyloughane Beach, 12 km from Cluain Bú, is the closest bathing water; it was rated good in 2025. Radon: 100% of homes are in high-radon areas, near Co. Galway’s towns (100%) and higher than Irish towns (0%). Landslides: none of Cluain Bú lies in a high-susceptibility zone.
100%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas100%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0% | 0% |
48%
of homes over the radon level
12 km
to Ballyloughane Beach bathing water (good)
262
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Rain in Cluain Bú: 1,200 mm a year, against 1,261 mm in Co. Galway’s towns and 937 mm in Irish towns
Here July highs average 19.3°C, about level with Co. Galway’s towns (19.3°C) and below Irish towns (19.9°C). December is the wettest month in Cluain Bú, with 135 mm of rain on average. The nearest weather station is Athenry, 18 km away.
19.3°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter9.0°C
Spring13.4°C
Summer18.9°C
Autumn14.2°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 19.3°C | 19.3°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,200 mm | 1,261 mm | 937 mm |
19.3°C
July high
2.9°C
January low
1,200 mm
Rain a year
135 mm
Wettest month
41
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
For its ages, Cluain Bú reports less bad health than Co. Galway’s towns or Irish towns: 20 per 100 expected
90% of Cluain Bú’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, above Co. Galway’s towns (88%) and Irish towns (88%) alike. Disability, age-adjusted: 85 for every 100 expected locally. In the HSE West and North West health region, 34% of people hold a medical card. At the census, 0.4% of people here described their health as bad or very bad.
90%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health20
Disability85
Co. Galway110
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 90%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 0%
| Census 2022 | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 0.4% | 1.9% | 2% |
| With a disability | 19% | 22% | 22% |
| Unpaid carers | 4.5% | 5% | 5.4% |
| Good or very good health | 90% | 88% | 88% |
20
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Galway 110
85
disability per 100 expected · Co. Galway 106
84.5 · 79.7
life expectancy, women · men, the West 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
Most households in Cluain Bú own their home: 85%, more than in both Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
Private renters make up 14% of households.
€373Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Cluain Bú€373K
Co. Galway€373K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 85% | 52% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 0% | 10% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 14% | 36% | 22% |
85%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
14%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,637
a month on new tenancies, County Galway
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area H91, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Fewer homes in Cluain Bú sit near green space: 61% within 400 m, below Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
Protected sites cover 16% of the land within 5 km, above both Co. Galway’s towns (14%) and Irish towns (1.8%). Per 1,000 residents, Cluain Bú has 0.2 ha of green space.
61%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Cluain Bú0.2 ha
Co. Galway5.5 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 61% | 80% | 92% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 16% | 14% | 1.8% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.0 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Woodland within 1 km | 4.3% | 1.8% | 2.7% |
61%
Near a park
0.2 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
16%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Tomorrow in Cluain Bú: partly cloudy and 10 degrees at best
Tuesday stands out as the wet day ahead, with roughly 8 mm. In November a normal day reaches 11°C and a normal night 5°C; the forecast for Cluain Bú below sets each day against them. Nothing falls from the sky tomorrow, by the look of it; the wind keeps to 19 km/h or less, and the low is 5°C.
10°C / 5°CTomorrow
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November11°C
December9°C
January9°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 9°C | 3°C | 355 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 236 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 269 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 340 mm |
10°C / 5°C
Tomorrow
None
Rain, next 24 hours
19 km/h
Wind
94%
Humidity
9 h 17 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Short commutes are rarer in Cluain Bú: 12% of trips take under 15 minutes, below Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
At the census, 89% of commuters went by car. Commutes averaged 30.6 min, above Co. Galway’s towns (23.8 min) and Irish towns (27.6 min) alike. Unemployment runs at 6.1%.
2%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van89%
Walk1%
Bicycle1%
Bus1%
| Census 2022 | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 12% | 37% | 31% |
| Average trip | 30.6 min | 23.8 min | 27.6 min |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% | 9.6% | 9.2% |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 72% | 68% | 68% |
€67,160
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Galway €59,641
8%
worked mainly from home, 2022
6%
trips of an hour or more
11,344
on the Live Register, County Galway, 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
Most of Cluain Bú was born here: only 14% come from abroad, fewer than in both Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
Degrees are held by 36% of adults, about level with Irish towns (36%) and below Co. Galway’s towns (47%). Over-65s are 20% of the population. The share of residents under 15 is 14%.
45.3median age
Cluain BúCo. GalwayIreland
Ages · share of residents
20%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none6%
Lower secondary15%
Leaving Cert39%
Diploma or cert4%
Degree or higher36%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.8% of Cluain Bú
241 women and 243 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 17% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 13% | 14% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 31% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 22% | 24% |
| 65+ | 20% | 12% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 6.1% | 7.4% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 15% | 10% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 39% | 29% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 4.1% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 36% | 47% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Galway and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Cluain Bú turns out to vote: 53% at the last local elections, above Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
Galway County Council has no ruling majority: Fine Gael hold 13 of its 39 seats, short of the 20 needed. Cluain Bú sits in the Athenry-Oranmore local electoral area, which elects 7 councillors. In the Dáil, Cluain Bú is part of Galway West, which elects 5 TDs.
13/39seats held by Fine Gael
Seats on Galway County · June 2024
Fine Gael13
Fianna Fáil11
Independent7
Independent Ireland6
Sinn Féin2
| Turnout | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 53% | 45% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 58% | 58% | 59% |
7
Councillors
13/39
Fine Gael seats on Galway County, the largest party
53%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Galway West
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
The national inventory counts 103 buildings per 10,000 residents in Cluain Bú, more than in both Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
The Sites and Monuments Record lists 6 sites here, below Co. Galway’s towns (19) and Irish towns (11) alike. 4% of homes were built before 1919. The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 5 buildings in Cluain Bú, each rated of regional importance.
5inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional5
Among them
- House, Castlequarter (Clare By) 1780
- House, Cloonboo 1780
- House, Cloonboo 1780
- House, Cloonboo 1780
6
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1780
earliest dated inventory building
4%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 103 | 33 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 6 | 19 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 4% | 1.7% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Schools
Irish-medium schooling is strong around Cluain Bú: 50% of schools, above Co. Galway’s towns and Irish towns
2 schools lie within 3 km of Cluain Bú: 2 primary schools. Pupil numbers changed −6% since 2019/20, below Co. Galway’s towns (+2%) and Irish towns (+4%) alike.
2schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoil Bhrige agus Bhreandain NaofaLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 281 | Catholic |
| S.N. N Breandain Gaeltacht schoolTeaches through IrishPrimary | Primary | 129 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Cluain Bú | Co. Galway | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 50% | 15% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 27% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −6% | +2% | +4% |
410
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−6%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
2.9 km
to the nearest primary school
7.2 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · Ireland publishes no results school by school, so these cards carry no letters or results.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Claregalway Friary and 13 more within 40 km
2 places to visit are mapped within 5 km of Cluain Bú; with them, the best known within 40 km.
Abbey or prioryClaregalway Friary4.9 km outside town, to the southeast
CathedralGalway Cathedral11 km south
MuseumGalway City Museum12 km south · 162K visitors a year (2011)
CastleAughnanure Castle18 km west
CathedralCathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary19 km northeast
CastleAthenry Castle20 km southeastPlaces: 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)
- Claregalway Friary: Charles Mount/ Cmount, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Galway Cathedral: Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Galway City Museum: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aughnanure Castle: The original uploader was Miguev at English Wikipedia ., CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: TuamRCCathedral.jpg : JohnArmagh derivative work: Rabanus Flavus, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Athenry Castle: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cluain Bú
15pages on Cluain Bú
Landmarks
The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 5 buildings in Cluain Bú, each rated of regional importance. 6 archaeological sites are on the record here.
Famous people from around Cluain Bú
No notable person born in Cluain Bú is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
G
Gerry HealyIrish Trotskyist (1913-1989) · born in BallybaneE
Evan McGuireAthlete, Voice actor · born in Baile Chláir · born 1995J
Joe ConnollyIrish hurler · born in Castlegar · born 1956M
Michael ConnollyIrish hurler · born in Castlegar · born 1954M
Michael HealyIrish hurler · born in Castlegar · born 1978M
Mick KingIrish hurler · born in Castlegar · 1905–1961Cluain Bú’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Baile ChláirCastlegarBallinfoile and TerrylandMervueBallybaneDanganCluain Bú
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cluain Bú | 484 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Baile Chláir | 1,632 | 6.5 | — | C− | A+ | A+ |
| Castlegar | 4,315 | 9 | D− | C− | C− | D |
| Ballinfoile and Terryland | 5,851 | 9.3 | D | D | C− | B− |
| Mervue | 4,126 | 10 | C | C+ | C− | C− |
| Ballybane | 15,082 | 10 | C+ | B | C+ | C+ |
| Dangan | 4,621 | 11 | D− | D | C− | C |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Cluain Bú
How old are the people of Cluain Bú?
The median age in Cluain Bú is 45.3, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
How many people speak Irish in Cluain Bú?
2% of residents speak Irish every day outside school, against 1.1% in the median of Irish towns; 55% can speak it.
Is Cluain Bú growing?
Cluain Bú had 484 people at the 2022 census, up from 459 in 2016: 5.4% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
About Cluain Bú
Urban area in Co. Galway
484 people live in Cluain Bú, in the area of Galway 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
- 484 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Galway
- Council
- Galway County Council
- Local electoral area
- Athenry-Oranmore
- Dáil constituency
- Galway West
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:27293
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).