Killenard’s story
Killenard has nothing on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage yet
Homes built before 1919: 3%, against 3% across Irish towns.
Explore the history →KillenardCo. Laois
Some 741 people live in this town, in Co. Laois. The population grew 14% between 2016 and 2022.
Population
741
CSO, Census 2022 · Laois County Council
Median age
40.6
12% are 65+ · Co. Laois 10%
Degree level
58%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
12%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Killenard a good place to live?
Buying the median home, at €277,300, takes 4 times the town’s median household income. Walking, cycling and public transport carry just over one in ten commuters. Unemployment stood at 5% of the labour force in 2022. 58% of adults are graduates.
Killenard isn’t graded: grades for Irish towns begin at 1,000 residents.
What makes Killenard stand out
The 3 things Killenard does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Unemployment rate, Census 2022
Work
5% unemployment
Of the labour force, Census 2022 (the median of Irish towns: 9%)
61% of residents 15 and over are at work.
Degree or higher, residents 15+
Education
The median of Irish towns: 36%
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Killenard.
Schools
Pupil numbers around Killenard moved −16% since 2019, below Co. Laois’ towns and Irish towns
3 schools lie within 3 km of Killenard: 3 primary schools.
3schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoil Phadraig BoysLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 521 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −16% | +10% | +4% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 15% | 35% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 0% | 8% |
1,391
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−16%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.1 km
to the nearest primary school
5 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.
Natural hazards
Killenard has low radon and steady ground, but its flood exposure isn’t measured
By estimate, 1.3% of homes in Killenard carry radon above the reference level. Landslides: none of Killenard lies in a high-susceptibility zone. Low ground by water holds almost none of its homes.
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 | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0% | 0% |
248
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Winter nights bite in Killenard: January lows of 1.7°C, colder than Co. Laois’ towns or Irish towns
In July, daytime highs in Killenard average 20.2°C. The year’s mean temperature is 9.8°C, close to Co. Laois’ towns (9.9°C) and below Irish towns (10.3°C). The town gets 895 mm of rain a year.
20.2°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.4°C
Spring13.4°C
Summer19.6°C
Autumn14.0°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 1.7°C | 2.0°C | 2.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.8°C | 9.9°C | 10.3°C |
| July high | 20.2°C | 20.1°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 895 mm | 938 mm | 937 mm |
20.2°C
July high
1.7°C
January low
895 mm
Rain a year
94 mm
Wettest month
35
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Killenard has 66 people with a disability for every 100 its ages predict, fewer than Co. Laois’ towns or Irish towns
A disability affects 13% of people in Killenard. 94% of the town’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, above both Co. Laois’ towns (87%) and Irish towns (88%). Weighed against its ages, bad health in the town runs at 58 per 100 expected.
94%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health58
Disability66
Co. Laois154
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 94%Fair 5%Bad or very bad 1%
| Census 2022 | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 94% | 87% | 88% |
| With a disability | 13% | 25% | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 1% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Unpaid carers | 6.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
58
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Laois 154
66
disability per 100 expected · Co. Laois 126
83.2 · 80
life expectancy, women · men, the Midland 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
Housing
Most households in Killenard own their home: 87%, more than in Co. Laois’ towns or across Irish towns
Council and housing-body homes hold 3% of households. 11% rent privately, lower than both Co. Laois’ towns (19%) and Irish towns (22%).
€277Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Killenard€277K
Co. Laois€251K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| The last 12 months | €435,000 | 35 |
| Housing | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 87% | 63% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 3% | 16% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 11% | 19% | 22% |
| Median sale price | €277K | €251K | €350K |
87%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
11%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,235
a month on new tenancies, County Laois
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area R32, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Killenard has fewer homes a short walk from green space than Co. Laois’ towns or Irish towns: 53%
Its paths and tracks come to 1.5 km per km², higher than Co. Laois’ towns (0.6 km per km²) yet lower than Irish towns (2.1 km per km²). Every 1,000 residents of Killenard share 0.5 ha of green space. 3 waymarked trails and greenways begin within 5 km.
53%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Killenard0.5 ha
Co. Laois1.4 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 53% | 71% | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 4.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 1.5 km per km² | 0.6 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
53%
Near a park
0.5 ha
Green space
11 km
Footpaths
2.3%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
What today holds for Killenard: partly cloudy, up to 12 degrees
The coming days top out somewhere between 7°C and 11°C; Thursday looks warmest. Killenard’s forecast, set beside its normal weather: in November a typical day reaches 11°C, and nights drop to 4°C. A dry day with a stiff breeze lies ahead today: wind building to 20 km/h, then a low of 5°C.
12°C / 5°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November11°C
December8°C
January8°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 2°C | 236 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 4°C | 183 mm |
| Summer | 20°C | 10°C | 220 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 6°C | 257 mm |
12°C / 5°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
11 km/h
Wind
93%
Humidity
9 h 19 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
More people in Killenard worked from home than in Co. Laois’ towns or Irish towns: 18%
71% of 15 to 64s were in work, above Co. Laois’ towns (63%) and Irish towns (68%) alike. At the census, 12% of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train. Workers spend 36.6 min getting to work, on average.
12%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van70%
Train, DART or Luas5%
Walk4%
Bicycle2%
Bus1%
| Census 2022 | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 12% | 9.2% |
| Average trip | 36.6 min | 30.4 min | 27.6 min |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 71% | 63% | 68% |
| Median household income | €68,500 | €52,817 | €57,760 |
€68,500
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Laois €59,521
18%
worked mainly from home, 2022
23%
trips of an hour or more
3,032
on the Live Register, County Laois, 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 Killenard were born abroad: 15%, fewer than in Co. Laois’ towns and Irish towns
Young adults of 15 to 24 account for just over a tenth of the town. 22% are under 15, about level with Co. Laois’ towns (23%) and above Irish towns (20%). People 65 and over make up 12% of the town.
40.6median age
KillenardCo. LaoisIreland
Ages · share of residents
12%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none3%
Lower secondary7%
Leaving Cert25%
Diploma or cert7%
Degree or higher58%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 53.7% of Killenard
398 women and 343 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 22% | 23% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 29% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 24% | 24% |
| 65+ | 12% | 10% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 3.2% | 11% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 7.1% | 17% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 25% | 41% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 6.9% | 6.3% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 58% | 23% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Laois and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Killenard sends 6 councillors to Laois County Council and 3 TDs to parliament
Laois County Council has no ruling majority: Fianna Fáil hold 6 of its 19 seats, short of the 10 needed. Killenard is run by Laois County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government. 51% of voters turned out at the last local elections, close to Co. Laois’ towns (51%) and above Irish towns (46%).
6/19seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Laois County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil6
Fine Gael5
Independent5
Sinn Féin2
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Killenard | Co. Laois | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 51% | 51% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 58% | 58% | 59% |
6
Councillors
6/19
Fianna Fáil seats on Laois County, the largest party
51%
turnout, June 2024
3
TDs elected for Laois
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Emo Court and 13 more within 40 km
2 places to visit are mapped within 5 km of Killenard; with them, the best known within 40 km.
Museum · Office of Public WorksEmo Court3.9 km outside town, to the southwest
CastleLea Castle1.8 km outside town, to the north
CastleRock of Dunamase12 km south
CastleCarlow Castle36 km southeast
CastleTinnakill Castle6.9 km west
Historic houseRussborough House and Parklands39 km eastPlaces: 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)
- Emo Court: AnTuisealGinideach, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lea Castle: Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rock of Dunamase: Meinirland.eu, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Carlow Castle: Age Bosma, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tinnakill Castle: Garry Dickinson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Russborough House and Parklands: Ramón, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Killenard
15pages on Killenard
Famous people from around Killenard
One notable person was born in Killenard; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
P
Peter O'LearyGaelic football player · born 1985
M
Michael NoonanIrish association football player · born in Rathangan · born 2008Photo credits
Robert Sheehan: Luigi Novi, CC BY 4.0 · Willoughby James Hamilton: Robinson (Photographer), Public domain · George Pomeroy Colley: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain · Charles Flanagan: Department of Children and Youth Affairs, CC BY 2.0
Killenard’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
PortarlingtonMonasterevinMountmellickStradballyPortlaoiseRathanganKillenard
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killenard | 741 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Portarlington | 9,288 | 3.9 | C | A | C+ | D |
| Monasterevin Kildare | 5,307 | 6.3 | B+ | A− | B | C |
| Mountmellick | 4,905 | 12 | C+ | A | B− | D− |
| Stradbally | 1,404 | 13 | — | A− | B− | D |
| Portlaoise | 23,494 | 14 | C− | B+ | D | C− |
| Rathangan Kildare | 3,263 | 14 | A+ | A | A | B |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Killenard
Is Killenard growing?
Killenard had 741 people at the 2022 census, up from 648 in 2016: 14.4% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Killenard a young town or an old one?
The median age in Killenard is 40.6, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns. 22% of residents are under 15 and 12% are 65 or over.
About Killenard
Urban area in Co. Laois
741 people live in Killenard, in the area of Laois 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
- 741 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Laois
- Council
- Laois County Council
- Local electoral area
- Graiguecullen-Portarlington
- Dáil constituency
- Laois
- Name in Irish
- Coill an Aird
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:08163
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).