Kilgarvan’s story
Kilgarvan: 8 archaeological sites on the record
8 archaeological sites are on the record here too.
14% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.
Explore the history →
KilgarvanCo. Kerry
264 residents make their home in this town in Co. Kerry.
2 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: P L Chadwick · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
264
CSO, Census 2022 · Kerry County Council
Median age
45
18% are 65+ · Co. Kerry 18%
Degree level
22%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
5%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Kilgarvan a good place to live?
Prices run to a median €302,300, 6.4 times local household income. Of those who commute, 5% go on foot, by bike or by public transport. A degree is held by just over a fifth of adults.
With fewer than 1,000 residents, Kilgarvan falls below the line for grades among Irish towns.
What makes Kilgarvan stand out
The 3 things Kilgarvan does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
5% walk, cycle or ride
Against 23% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Unemployment rate, Census 2022
Work
5% unemployment
Of the labour force, Census 2022 (the median of Irish towns: 9%)
63% of residents 15 and over are at work.
Degree or higher, residents 15+
Education
Against 36% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Kilgarvan.
Natural hazards
Low radon and steady ground in Kilgarvan; flooding isn’t measured here
By estimate, fewer than one home in a hundred in Kilgarvan has radon above the reference level. Landslides: none of Kilgarvan lies in a high-susceptibility zone. Few of its homes stand low beside water.
0%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0% | 0% |
50
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Rain is part of life in Kilgarvan: 1,993 mm a year, more than in Co. Kerry’s towns and across Irish towns
Here July highs average 19.8°C, about level with both Co. Kerry’s towns (19.6°C) and Irish towns (19.9°C). The mean temperature over a year in Kilgarvan is 10.9°C. Winter lows in Kilgarvan average 3.7°C in January.
19.8°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter9.9°C
Spring13.9°C
Summer19.3°C
Autumn14.9°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain a year | 1,993 mm | 1,339 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.9°C | 10.9°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 3.7°C | 3.7°C | 2.9°C |
| July high | 19.8°C | 19.6°C | 19.9°C |
19.8°C
July high
3.7°C
January low
1,993 mm
Rain a year
240 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
For its ages, Kilgarvan reports less bad health than Co. Kerry’s towns or Irish towns: 19 per 100 expected
Allowing for its ages, Kilgarvan has 76 residents with a disability per 100 expected, below both Co. Kerry’s towns (105) and Irish towns (106). 17% of residents in Kilgarvan live with a disability. Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 0.4% of the town.
90%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health19
Disability76
Co. Kerry106
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 90%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 0%
| Census 2022 | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 0.4% | 2.3% | 2% |
| Unpaid carers | 2.7% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| With a disability | 17% | 24% | 22% |
| Good or very good health | 90% | 86% | 88% |
19
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Kerry 106
76
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 in Kilgarvan live in social housing than in Co. Kerry’s towns or Irish towns: 20%
57% of households are owner-occupiers.
€302Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Kilgarvan€302K
Co. Kerry€232K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households in social housing | 20% | 18% | 13% |
| Median sale price | €302K | €232K | €350K |
| Households renting privately | 21% | 27% | 22% |
| Households owning their home | 57% | 53% | 61% |
57%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
21%
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 V93, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Green space is close to home in Kilgarvan: 100% of homes are within 400 m of some, more than in Co. Kerry’s towns and across Irish towns
Within 5 km, 4.2% of the land is protected nature, lower than Co. Kerry’s towns (12%) yet higher than Irish towns (1.8%). Green space in Kilgarvan works out at 6.1 ha per 1,000 people. 2 waymarked trails and greenways begin within 5 km.
100%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Kilgarvan6.1 ha
Co. Kerry2.9 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 100% | 77% | 92% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 4.2% | 12% | 1.8% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 4.7% | 2.4% | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.0 km per km² | 0.6 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
100%
Near a park
6.1 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
4.2%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Weather in Kilgarvan: 11 degrees and light rain today
Around 1 mm of rain is due today, on a breeze of up to 23 km/h, with a low of 5°C. The forecast for Kilgarvan beside its normal weather: a typical November day reaches 12°C and drops to 6°C at night. December follows with normal highs of 10°C and lows of 4°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 | 4°C | 656 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 6°C | 399 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 12°C | 349 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 8°C | 589 mm |
11°C / 5°C
Today
0.5 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
14 km/h
Wind
97%
Humidity
9 h 26 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Work is widespread in Kilgarvan: 81% of 15 to 64s are in a job, above Co. Kerry’s towns and Irish towns
87% of commuters drove to work at the census. Unemployment stood at 4.9%, lower than both Co. Kerry’s towns (11%) and Irish towns (9.2%). On average, the journey to work lasts 27.7 min.
5%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van87%
Walk5%
| Census 2022 | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In work, 15 to 64 | 81% | 67% | 68% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 11% | 9.2% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 38% | 53% | 31% |
| Average trip | 27.7 min | 21.7 min | 27.6 min |
€47,340
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Kerry €48,320
8%
worked mainly from home, 2022
12%
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
Few people in Kilgarvan are 15 to 24: 6.8%, fewer than in Co. Kerry’s towns and across Irish towns
Degrees are held by 22% of adults, below Co. Kerry’s towns (31%) and Irish towns (36%) alike. Over-65s are 18% of the population.
45median age
KilgarvanCo. KerryIreland
Ages · share of residents
18%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none12%
Lower secondary20%
Leaving Cert40%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher22%
Women and men · all residents
49.2% of Kilgarvan’s residents are women
130 women and 134 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 18% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 6.8% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 25% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 25% | 24% |
| 65+ | 18% | 18% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 12% | 11% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 40% | 37% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 6.2% | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 22% | 31% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Kerry and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Kenmare had one of the highest turnouts at the 2024 local elections
There is just one council for Kilgarvan, Kerry County Council: Ireland has only one tier of local government. 63% of voters turned out at the last local elections, close to Co. Kerry’s towns (62%) and above Irish towns (46%). Turnout at the general election came to 65%. No party holds a majority on Kerry County Council: Independent lead with 11 of 33 seats, short of the 17 needed.
11/33seats held by Independent
Seats on Kerry County · June 2024
Independent11
Fianna Fáil9
Fine Gael6
Sinn Féin4
Labour Party2
Kerry Independent Alliance1
| Turnout | Kilgarvan | Co. Kerry | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 63% | 62% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 65% | 65% | 59% |
6
Councillors
11/33
Independent seats on Kerry County, the largest party
63%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Kerry
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Michael J Quill Centre and 13 more within 40 km
2 places to visit are mapped within 5 km of Kilgarvan; with them, the best known within 40 km.
MuseumMuseumMichael J Quill Centre800 m outside town, to the west
CathedralSt Mary's Cathedral Killarney18 km north
CastleRoss Castle16 km north
MuseumMuckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms13 km north
Abbey or prioryMuckross Friary14 km north
AttractionLadies View12 km northwest
CathedralSt Mary's Cathedral Killarney18 km northCastleRoss Castle16 km northMuseumMuckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms13 km northAbbey or prioryMuckross Friary14 km northAttractionLadies View12 km northwestPlaces: 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)
- St Mary's Cathedral Killarney: Romeparis, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ross Castle: Dumphasizer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms: Emmett.Hume, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Muckross Friary: Daviddphotos, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ladies View: Tony Hall, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kilgarvan
15pages on Kilgarvan
Famous people from Kilgarvan
6 notable people were born in Kilgarvan.
Kilgarvan’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Questions about Kilgarvan
Has Kilgarvan grown?
Kilgarvan had 264 people at the 2022 census, up from 223 in 2016: 18.4% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Do people in Kilgarvan drive to work?
8% mostly work from home, and 38% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
How old are the people of Kilgarvan?
The median age in Kilgarvan is 45, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns. 18% of residents are under 15 and 18% are 65 or over.
About Kilgarvan
Urban area in Co. Kerry
Kilgarvan has 264 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
- 264 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Kerry
- Council
- Kerry County Council
- Local electoral area
- Kenmare
- Dáil constituency
- Kerry
- Name in Irish
- Cill Gharbháin
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:19835
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).