Fenit’s story
Fenit has nothing on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage yet
Homes built before 1919: 7%, against 3% across Irish towns.
Explore the history →
FenitCo. Kerry
619 people live in this town in Co. Kerry.
2 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Den Donovan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
619
CSO, Census 2022 · Kerry County Council
Median age
46.5
19% are 65+ · Co. Kerry 18%
Degree level
41%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
4%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Fenit a good place to live?
Home prices sit at a median €241,500, which is 4 years of the town’s median household income. People aged 65 and over make up nearly a fifth of residents.
At under 1,000 residents, Fenit is too small for the grades Irish towns get.
What makes Fenit stand out
The 3 things Fenit does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
4% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Median sale price
Housing
35% below the median of Irish towns, €372,600
Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
19% are 65 or over
The median of Irish towns: 14%
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Fenit.
Natural hazards
The sea sets the flood risk in Fenit: 4.4% of homes stand low near the coast, more than in Co. Kerry’s towns and across Irish towns
The EPA estimates that nearly two in five homes in Fenit are above the radon reference level. Radon: 100% of homes are in high-radon areas, higher than both Co. Kerry’s towns (0%) and Irish towns (0%). For a swim, the nearest bathing water is Fenit, 0.6 km from Fenit, rated excellent in 2025.
100%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
Low-lying beside water4.4%
In high-radon areas100%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
Low-lying near a river0%
Low-lying near the coast4.4%
| Share of homes | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Low-lying near the coast | 4.4% | 0% | 0% |
| Low-lying near a river | 0% | 9.2% | 0.5% |
39%
of homes over the radon level
0.6 km
to Fenit bathing water (excellent)
406
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Winters are mild in Fenit: January nights hold at 4.4°C, above Co. Kerry’s towns and Irish towns
The mean temperature over a year in Fenit is 11.2°C. Here July highs average 19.1°C, below both Co. Kerry’s towns (19.6°C) and Irish towns (19.9°C). The town gets 1,136 mm of rain a year.
19.1°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter10.1°C
Spring13.6°C
Summer18.7°C
Autumn14.9°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 4.4°C | 3.7°C | 2.9°C |
| July high | 19.1°C | 19.6°C | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 11.2°C | 10.9°C | 10.3°C |
| Rain a year | 1,136 mm | 1,339 mm | 937 mm |
19.1°C
July high
4.4°C
January low
1,136 mm
Rain a year
133 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Fewer people in Fenit are in bad health than its ages would predict: 88 per 100 expected, under Co. Kerry’s towns and Irish towns
Unpaid carers make up 11% of residents, above Co. Kerry’s towns (5.8%) and Irish towns (5.4%) alike. Weighed against its ages, disability in Fenit runs at 96 per 100 expected. Asked at the census, 87% of residents of Fenit said they were in good or very good health.
87%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health88
Disability96
Co. Kerry106
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 11% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Good or very good health | 87% | 86% | 88% |
| With a disability | 23% | 24% | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2% | 2.3% | 2% |
88
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Kerry 106
96
disability per 100 expected · Co. Kerry 105
83.2 · 79.1
life expectancy, women · men, the South-West region, 2016
28%
hold a medical card, HSE South 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 own their home in Fenit than in Co. Kerry’s towns or across Irish towns: 79%
Private renters make up nearly one in ten households, below Co. Kerry’s towns (27%) and Irish towns (22%) alike. Just over one in ten households rent from a council or housing body.
€242Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Fenit€242K
Co. Kerry€232K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 79% | 53% | 61% |
| Households renting privately | 9% | 27% | 22% |
| Households in social housing | 11% | 18% | 13% |
| Median sale price | €242K | €232K | €350K |
79%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
9%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,182
a month on new tenancies, County Kerry
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area V92, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Protected nature surrounds Fenit: 17% of the land within 5 km, more than in Co. Kerry’s towns and across Irish towns
The sea makes up 65% of the area within 5 km, higher than both Co. Kerry’s towns (0%) and Irish towns (0%). Protected nature near Fenit includes Akeragh. Just over two thirds of homes are a short walk (400 m) from green space.
68%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Fenit2.5 ha
Co. Kerry2.9 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea within 5 km | 65% | 0% | 0% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 17% | 12% | 1.8% |
| Near a park | 68% | 77% | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 0.4% | 2.4% | 2.7% |
68%
Near a park
2.5 ha
Green space
2 km
Footpaths
17%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Fenit, today: partly cloudy, and the thermometer reaches 11 degrees
In a typical November, days climb to about 12°C and nights sink to 7°C, the yardstick for Fenit’s forecast. No rain is due today, though a breeze picks up to 27 km/h; the low is 5°C. December follows with normal highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C.
11°C / 5°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November12°C
December10°C
January10°C
February10°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 10°C | 5°C | 352 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 6°C | 217 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 12°C | 226 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 9°C | 341 mm |
11°C / 5°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
19 km/h
Wind
97%
Humidity
9 h 24 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Fewer commuters in Fenit walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Co. Kerry’s towns or Irish towns: 4.4%
30% of trips took under 15 minutes, below Co. Kerry’s towns (53%) and close to Irish towns (31%). At the census, four in five commuters went by car. Unemployment runs at 5.7%.
4%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van80%
Walk3%
Bicycle1%
Train, DART or Luas0%
| Census 2022 | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 11% | 9.2% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 30% | 53% | 31% |
| Median household income | €59,940 | €42,580 | €57,760 |
| Average trip | 24.7 min | 21.7 min | 27.6 min |
€59,940
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Kerry €48,320
14%
worked mainly from home, 2022
5%
trips of an hour or more
4,870
on the Live Register, County Kerry, 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
2.7% of Fenit speaks Irish every day outside school, more than Co. Kerry’s towns
Over-65s are 19% of the population. Born abroad: 13% of residents, lower than both Co. Kerry’s towns (25%) and Irish towns (22%). Among adults, 41% have a degree.
46.5median age
FenitCo. KerryIreland
Ages · share of residents
12%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none10%
Lower secondary15%
Leaving Cert29%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher41%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.4% of Fenit
318 women and 301 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 18% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 18% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 33% | 25% | 24% |
| 65+ | 19% | 18% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 9.6% | 11% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 15% | 15% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 29% | 37% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 5.5% | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 41% | 31% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Kerry and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
52% of Fenit’s voters turned out at the local elections (Co. Kerry towns 62%, Irish towns 46%)
General election turnout: 65%, about level with Co. Kerry’s towns (65%) and above Irish towns (59%). Kerry County Council is the one council for Fenit; Ireland has no town or county councils between it and the government. In the Dáil, Fenit is part of Kerry, which elects 5 TDs.
11/33seats held by Independent
Seats on Kerry County · June 2024
Independent11
Fianna Fáil9
Fine Gael6
Sinn Féin4
Labour Party2
Kerry Independent Alliance1
| Turnout | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 52% | 62% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 65% | 65% | 59% |
7
Councillors
11/33
Independent seats on Kerry County, the largest party
52%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Kerry
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
Schools
Few schools around Fenit teach through Irish: 0%, below Co. Kerry’s towns and Irish towns
One school lies within 3 km of Fenit. 43 pupils attend the one school within 3 km of the town.
1schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Brendans N.S. Special classesLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 43 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Fenit | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 11% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 29% | 35% |
43
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
0.3 km
to the nearest primary school
9.3 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · Ireland publishes no school-by-school results, which is why these cards have no letters.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Samphire Island and 12 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of Fenit; with it, the best known within 40 km.
IslandIslandSamphire Island400 m outside town, to the southwest
Cathedral · Office of Public WorksArdfert Cathedral7.7 km northeast
FortCaherconree9.1 km south
CathedralSt Mary's Cathedral Killarney34 km southeast
CastleRoss Castle35 km southeast
Castle · Office of Public WorksListowel Castle31 km northeast
Cathedral · Office of Public WorksArdfert Cathedral7.7 km northeastFortCaherconree9.1 km southCathedralSt Mary's Cathedral Killarney34 km southeastCastleRoss Castle35 km southeastCastle · Office of Public WorksListowel Castle31 km northeastPlaces: 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)
- Ardfert Cathedral: JohnArmagh, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Caherconree: Stephen Murphy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St Mary's Cathedral Killarney: Romeparis, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ross Castle: Dumphasizer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Listowel Castle: Larsoner~commonswiki, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fenit
15pages on Fenit
Famous people from around Fenit
2 notable people were born in Fenit; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
B
Brendan the NavigatorIrish monastic saint · 486–577D
Dermot HannafinIrish Gaelic footballer · ?–2012R
Rea GarveyIrish singer, songwriter, record produc… · born in Tralee · born 1973T
Timothy V. MurphyIrish actor · born in Tralee · born 1960D
Dick SpringIrish politician · born in Tralee · born 1950
Photo credits
Robert D. FitzGerald: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Fenit’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Questions about Fenit
Is Fenit a young town or an old one?
The median age in Fenit is 46.5, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns. 17% of residents are under 15 and 19% are 65 or over.
Do people in Fenit drive to work?
14% mostly work from home, and 30% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Has Fenit grown?
Fenit had 619 people at the 2022 census, up from 600 in 2016: 3.2% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
About Fenit
Urban area in Co. Kerry
Fenit has 619 people, in the area of Kerry 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
- 619 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Kerry
- Council
- Kerry County Council
- Local electoral area
- Tralee
- Dáil constituency
- Kerry
- Name in Irish
- An Fhianait
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:19857
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).