Kilmacow’s story
Kilmacow: 10 buildings on the National Inventory
Homes built before 1919: 8%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1740Mill (water), Kilmacow Upper
- 1800Saint Senan's Catholic Church
- 1815Building misc, Kilmacow Upper
KilmacowCo. Kilkenny
671 residents make their home in this town in Co. Kilkenny.
Population
671
CSO, Census 2022 · Kilkenny County Council
Median age
44.2
23% are 65+ · Co. Kilkenny 14%
Degree level
30%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
4%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Kilmacow a good place to live?
A median €250,000 buys a home here, 4.1 years of what the median household earns. On the way to work, 4% walk, cycle or take the bus or train. Its architectural heritage runs to 10 buildings on the national inventory. 8% of residents were born outside Ireland.
With fewer than 1,000 residents, Kilmacow falls below the line for grades among Irish towns.
What makes Kilmacow stand out
The 3 things Kilmacow does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
4% walk, cycle or ride
Against 23% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents
History
10 buildings on the national inventory
3.1 times the median of Irish towns for its size, all of regional importance.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Born outside Ireland
Who lives here
Against 22% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Kilmacow.
Schools
The nearest secondary school to Kilmacow is 5.2 km away
One school lies within 3 km of Kilmacow. Pupil numbers changed +2% since 2019/20, below both Co. Kilkenny’s towns (+4%) and Irish towns (+4%). The one school within 3 km of Kilmacow has 176 pupils.
1schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Senan's National SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 176 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 11% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +2% | +4% | +4% |
176
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+2%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.6 km
to the nearest primary school
5.2 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.
Natural hazards
Radon in Kilmacow: an estimated 6.1% of homes are above the reference level
No part of Kilmacow is mapped as high landslide susceptibility. Its homes mostly stand clear of low ground by 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 | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 84% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0% | 0% |
6.1%
of homes over the radon level
369
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Kilmacow has some of the warmest summer afternoons among Irish towns
Kilmacow gets 1,042 mm of rain a year. Here July highs average 20.3°C, about level with Co. Kilkenny’s towns (20.2°C) and above Irish towns (19.9°C). Its year-round mean comes to 10.6°C.
20.3°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter9.3°C
Spring13.6°C
Summer19.7°C
Autumn14.6°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature over the year | 10.6°C | 10.2°C | 10.3°C |
| July high | 20.3°C | 20.2°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,042 mm | 906 mm | 937 mm |
| January low | 2.9°C | 2.3°C | 2.9°C |
20.3°C
July high
2.9°C
January low
1,042 mm
Rain a year
115 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Disability is more common in Kilmacow than in Co. Kilkenny’s towns or across Irish towns: 26% of residents
For its ages, Kilmacow has 95 people in bad health for every 100 expected, near Co. Kilkenny’s towns (98) and lower than Irish towns (113). Disability, age-adjusted: 110 for every 100 expected locally. Asked at the census, 88% of residents of Kilmacow said they were in good or very good health.
88%good or very good health
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 88%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| With a disability | 26% | 23% | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 88% | 88% | 88% |
95
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Kilkenny 98
110
disability per 100 expected · Co. Kilkenny 107
83.1 · 79.3
life expectancy, women · men, the South-East region, 2016
27%
hold a medical card, HSE Dublin and South East
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
Housing
Kilmacow is a town of owners: 79% of households own their home, above Co. Kilkenny’s towns and Irish towns
Social housing holds 10% of households. 11% rent privately, below both Co. Kilkenny’s towns (19%) and Irish towns (22%).
€250Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Kilmacow€250K
Co. Kilkenny€289K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Second-hand homes | €250,000 | 43 |
| Housing | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 79% | 60% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 10% | 19% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 11% | 19% | 22% |
| Median sale price | €250K | €289K | €350K |
79%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
11%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,207
a month on new tenancies, County Kilkenny
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
Outdoors
Kilmacow has 4 waymarked trails within 5 km
Walkers have 0.1 km per km² of paths and tracks, lower than both Co. Kilkenny’s towns (0.8 km per km²) and Irish towns (2.1 km per km²). Protected sites cover 1.5% of the land within 5 km, below both Co. Kilkenny’s towns (2.4%) and Irish towns (1.8%).
0%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Kilmacow2.8 ha
Co. Kilkenny3.5 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 0% | 96% | 92% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.1 km per km² | 0.8 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Woodland within 1 km | 4% | 3.8% | 2.7% |
2.8 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
1.5%
Protected for nature
4%
Woodland
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Kilmacow’s November turns cool today: 9 degrees
Kilmacow’s averages for November set the scene: the usual high is 11°C, the usual low 5°C. Some 2 mm of rain falls today; the wind stays gentle at 14 km/h, and the low reaches 6°C. Of the days after that, Wednesday brings the most rain: about 26 mm.
9°C / 6°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November11°C
December9°C
January9°C
February10°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 9°C | 3°C | 287 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 5°C | 215 mm |
| Summer | 20°C | 11°C | 231 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 7°C | 309 mm |
9°C / 6°C
Today
1.5 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
11 km/h
Wind
93%
Humidity
9 h 17 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Kilmacow than in Co. Kilkenny’s towns or Irish towns: 4.3%
4.9% of workers worked mainly from home, lower than both Co. Kilkenny’s towns (8.5%) and Irish towns (11%). Among people aged 15 to 64, 72% were working at the census. Unemployment runs at 6.1%.
4%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van90%
Walk2%
Bicycle2%
Bus0%
| Census 2022 | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% | 10% | 9.2% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 24% | 39% | 31% |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 72% | 68% | 68% |
| Average trip | 25.2 min | 23.8 min | 27.6 min |
€60,260
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Kilkenny €58,186
5%
worked mainly from home, 2022
4%
trips of an hour or more
2,100
on the Live Register, County Kilkenny, 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
Older residents shape Kilmacow: 23% are 65 or over, above Co. Kilkenny’s towns and Irish towns
Children under 15 make up 17%, lower than both Co. Kilkenny’s towns (24%) and Irish towns (20%). Young adults of 15 to 24 account for 9.8% of the town. 8.2% of residents were born outside the country.
44.2median age
KilmacowCo. KilkennyIreland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none11%
Lower secondary22%
Leaving Cert32%
Diploma or cert5%
Degree or higher30%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 49.0% of Kilmacow
329 women and 342 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 24% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 9.8% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 29% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 24% | 24% |
| 65+ | 23% | 14% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 11% | 9.4% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 22% | 14% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 32% | 37% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 5.2% | 6.1% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 30% | 31% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Kilkenny and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Fianna Fáil holds 11 of Kilkenny County Council’s 24 seats, one of the largest groups on any council
No party holds a majority on Kilkenny County Council: Fianna Fáil lead with 11 of 24 seats, short of the 13 needed. There is just one council for Kilmacow, Kilkenny County Council: Ireland has only one tier of local government. Turnout at the last local elections was 50%, close to Co. Kilkenny’s towns (50%) and above Irish towns (46%).
11/24seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Kilkenny County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil11
Fine Gael7
Independent2
Labour Party2
Sinn Féin1
Green Party1
| Turnout | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 50% | 50% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 58% | 58% | 59% |
5
Councillors
11/24
Fianna Fáil seats on Kilkenny County, the largest party
50%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Carlow-Kilkenny
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Kilmacow has 149 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents (Co. Kilkenny towns 216, Irish towns 48)
The pre-1919 share of homes is 8%. Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 10 buildings in Kilmacow, each of regional importance.
10inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional10
Among them
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1740
earliest dated inventory building
8%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Kilmacow | Co. Kilkenny | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 149 | 216 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 84 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 8% | 4.5% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Granagh Castle and 12 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of Kilmacow; with it, the best known within 40 km.
CastleCastleGranagh Castle3 km outside town, to the south
CathedralCathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford7.6 km southeast
MuseumReginald's Tower7.9 km southeast
CathedralChrist Church Cathedral7.9 km southeast
Castle · Office of Public WorksOrmond Castle16 km west
CastleKilkenny Castle38 km north
CathedralCathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford7.6 km southeastMuseumReginald's Tower7.9 km southeastCathedralChrist Church Cathedral7.9 km southeastCastle · Office of Public WorksOrmond Castle16 km westCastleKilkenny Castle38 km 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 (5)
- Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford: Merlante, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Reginald's Tower: Nmwalsh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Christ Church Cathedral: Merlante, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ormond Castle: Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kilkenny Castle: Tolivero~commonswiki, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kilmacow
15pages on Kilmacow
The big questions
Out and about
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 10 buildings in Kilmacow, each of regional importance.
Famous people from Kilmacow
3 notable people were born in Kilmacow.
Kilmacow’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
MooncoinCleaboyLisdugganWaterford City CentreFerrybankPoleberryKilmacow
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilmacow | 671 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mooncoin | 1,184 | 5.5 | — | A | A+ | C |
| Cleaboy Waterford | 3,454 | 6.8 | C | C+ | D | C+ |
| Lisduggan Waterford | 6,216 | 7.6 | D | C+ | D | C− |
| Waterford City Centre Waterford | 9,031 | 7.8 | D | C+ | D | C |
| Ferrybank | 5,766 | 7.8 | B+ | A− | B− | B |
| Poleberry Waterford | 4,875 | 8.1 | D− | C+ | D | D− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Kilmacow
Do people in Kilmacow drive to work?
5% mostly work from home, and 24% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Has Kilmacow grown?
Kilmacow had 671 people at the 2022 census, up from 646 in 2016: 3.9% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
How old are the people of Kilmacow?
The median age in Kilmacow is 44.2, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Kilmacow
Urban area in Co. Kilkenny
Kilmacow has 671 people, in the area of Kilkenny 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
- 671 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Kilkenny
- Council
- Kilkenny County Council
- Local electoral area
- Piltown
- Dáil constituency
- Carlow-Kilkenny
- Name in Irish
- Cill Mhic Bhúith
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:07654
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).