Drumshanbo’s story
Drumshanbo has 23 buildings on the National Inventory
5% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.
- 1760Bridge, Hill Road, Drumshanbo
- 1800Bank of Ireland
- 1800Conway
DrumshanboCo. Leitrim
This town in Co. Leitrim has a population of 1,240. It grew by 18% between the 2016 and 2022 censuses.
4 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Sarah777 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,240
CSO, Census 2022 · Leitrim County Council
Median age
39.2
19% are 65+ · Co. Leitrim 14%
Degree level
26%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
10%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Drumshanbo a good place to live?
Homes are affordable: it takes 4.7 years of the median household income to buy the median home, at €200,000. Recorded crime is low: gardaí record 3.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year, and 4 burglaries and acts of criminal damage. Its weakest subject is walkability. 10% of commuters walk, cycle or take the bus or train (the typical Irish town: 23%). It also trails on health — for every 100 its ages would predict, 148 residents are in bad health and 113 have a disability.
Figures: prices, Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025 · incomes, CSO · crime, CSO recorded crime, 2023 to 2025 · commuting and health, CSO Census 2022. Irish towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Drumshanbo has subject grades only.
Rents for this town aren't published on their own, so its Cost Grade uses the county's average rent. Health less sure: few enough residents report bad health that the town's figure could be well above or below its true level.
What makes Drumshanbo stand out
The 3 things Drumshanbo does most differently from other towns.
Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents
History
23 buildings on the national inventory
3.9 times the median of Irish towns for its size, all of regional importance.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Median sale price
Housing
€183,400 median home
51% below the median of Irish towns, €372,600
Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025.
How Drumshanbo grades
Each subject compares Drumshanbo with Irish towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
Irish towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Drumshanbo has subject grades only.
WalkabilityIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →Health113 with a disability per 100 predictedC−Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnA−Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsB+Open →Jobs & income67% of 15-to-64s in work; 12% unemployedC+Open →Hazard riskAlmost no homes are above the radon reference levelB−Open →
SchoolsNot graded in Ireland: schools’ exam results aren’t published school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)–
How TownRatings grades Irish towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Drumshanbo.
HealthHealth C−
More people in Drumshanbo report bad health than its ages would predict
At the census, 86% of people in Drumshanbo called their health good or very good, below Irish towns (88%). Weighed against its ages, disability in the town runs at 113 per 100 expected. In the HSE West and North West health region, just over a third of people hold a medical card. 2.8% of residents report bad or very bad health.
86%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health148
Disability113
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 86%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2022 | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 6.7% | – | 5.4% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.8% | – | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 86% | – | 88% |
| With a disability | 25% | – | 22% |
148
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Leitrim –
113
disability per 100 expected · Co. Leitrim –
83.5 · 79.5
life expectancy, women · men, the Border 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
HousingCost of living A−
Social housing is more common in Drumshanbo than in Irish towns, at 18% of households
Private renters make up 17% of households, lower than Irish towns (22%). Owners make up 62% of households, in line with Irish towns (61%).
€200Kmedian sale priceA−Cost of living Grade
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Drumshanbo€200K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Second-hand homes | €200,000 | 75 |
| Housing | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | €200K | – | €350K |
| Households in social housing | 18% | – | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 17% | – | 22% |
17%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€992
a month on new tenancies, County Leitrim
4.4
times median household income, County Leitrim
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
Schools
Pupil numbers around Drumshanbo grew +46% since 2019, above Irish towns
2 schools lie within 3 km of Drumshanbo: 1 primary school and 1 secondary school. The nearest secondary, Drumshanbo Vocational School, is 0.8 km away.
2schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Patricks N.S. Special classesLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 243 | Catholic |
| Drumshanbo Vocational SchoolLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · ETB | Post-primary · ETB | 509 | Multi-denominational |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic1
Multi-denominational1
| Schools within 3 km | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +46% | – | +4% |
| Single-sex secondaries | 0% | – | 39% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | – | 35% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | – | 8% |
752
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+46%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.3 km
to the nearest primary school
0.8 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · These schools carry no letter or result: Ireland doesn’t release them school by school.
SafetySafety B+
Less crime is recorded per resident in Drumshanbo than in Irish towns, at 18 per 1,000 a year
Assaults and harassment topped the graded crimes in Drumshanbo (2023–2025). Thefts came to 1.4 per 1,000 a year (not part of the grade), below Irish towns (15.3).
3.7violent incidents per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with towns its sizeFewer incidents against residents per 1,000 than 46% of the 156 Irish towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Recorded by type · per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025
Assault3.4
Road traffic3.3
Damage2.6
Dangerous acts2.2
Public order1.6
Theft1.4
Burglary1.3
Drugs1.1
Against justice0.5
Not in the gradeTheft, public order and offences found by Garda checks (drugs, road traffic, dangerous acts) are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence, burglary and damage.
| Per 1,000 a year | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All recorded crime | 18 | – | 54.3 |
| Theft | 1.4 | – | 15.3 |
| Burglary & damage | 4 | – | 6.4 |
| Violent crime | 3.7 | – | 5.7 |
3.7
violent incidents per 1,000 a year
4
burglary and damage per 1,000 a year
80
incidents a year, Drumshanbo Garda area
7.6
against residents per 1,000, as graded
CSO recorded crime by Garda station, 2023–2025, shared to towns by where residents live · Census 2022 populations
Work & commuteJobs & income C+
50% of trips to work from Drumshanbo take under 15 minutes, more than in Irish towns
Getting to work takes 23.2 min on average. Unemployment stood at 12%, higher than Irish towns (9.2%). The average household earns €42,800 a year before tax.
10%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van78%
Walk8%
Bus1%
Train, DART or Luas1%
| Census 2022 | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 50% | – | 31% |
| Average trip | 23.2 min | – | 27.6 min |
| Median household income | €42,800 | – | €57,760 |
| Unemployment rate | 12% | – | 9.2% |
€42,800
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Leitrim €45,267
7%
trips of an hour or more
1,436
on the Live Register, County Leitrim, September 2026
D
Walkability: better than 14% of Irish towns
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.
Climate
Drumshanbo has colder winters than Irish towns: January lows of 1.9°C
A year brings 1,260 mm of rain to Drumshanbo. July afternoons reach 19.2°C here, lower than Irish towns (19.9°C). Over twelve months, Drumshanbo averages 9.6°C.
19.2°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.1°C
Spring13.0°C
Summer18.7°C
Autumn13.5°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 19.2°C | – | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.6°C | – | 10.3°C |
| January low | 1.9°C | – | 2.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,260 mm | – | 937 mm |
19.2°C
July high
1.9°C
January low
1,260 mm
Rain a year
135 mm
Wettest month
52
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Outdoors
Drumshanbo has fewer homes a short walk from green space than Irish towns: 48%
Its paths and tracks come to 0.7 km per km², below Irish towns (2.1 km per km²). Green space in Drumshanbo works out at 1.2 ha per 1,000 people. 6 waymarked trails and greenways begin within 5 km.
48%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Drumshanbo1.2 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 48% | – | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 9% | – | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.7 km per km² | – | 2.1 km per km² |
| Green space per 1,000 residents | 1.2 ha | – | 4.1 ha |
48%
Near a park
1.2 ha
Green space
9 km
Footpaths
2.5%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Who lives here
Older residents shape Drumshanbo: 19% are 65 or over, above Irish towns
Young adults of 15 to 24 are just over a tenth of the population. 23% are under 15, above Irish towns (20%). Degrees are held by 26% of adults.
39.2median age
DrumshanboCo. LeitrimIreland
Ages · share of residents
19%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none14%
Lower secondary15%
Leaving Cert38%
Diploma or cert8%
Degree or higher26%
Women and men · all residents
53.2% of Drumshanbo’s residents are women
660 women and 580 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 23% | – | 20% |
| 15–24 | 11% | – | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | – | 29% |
| 45–64 | 21% | – | 24% |
| 65+ | 19% | – | 14% |
| Primary or none | 14% | – | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 15% | – | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 38% | – | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 7.5% | – | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 26% | – | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Leitrim and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
More people in Drumshanbo vote than in Irish towns: 66% turnout at the local elections
Leitrim County Council runs Drumshanbo: Ireland has one tier of local government, with no town council below it. General election turnout: 61%, higher than Irish towns (59%). Fianna Fáil lead Leitrim County Council with 6 of 18 seats, but no party has a majority: 10 are needed.
6/18seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Leitrim County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil6
Independent5
Sinn Féin4
Fine Gael3
| Turnout | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 66% | – | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 61% | – | 59% |
6
Councillors
6/18
Fianna Fáil seats on Leitrim County, the largest party
66%
turnout, June 2024
4
TDs elected for Sligo-Leitrim
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
185 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents put Drumshanbo above Irish towns for heritage
Homes from before 1919 make up 5.4% of the total, above Irish towns (3.4%). 23 of Drumshanbo’s buildings made the national inventory of architectural heritage, all at regional importance.
23inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional23
Among them
- Bridge, Hill Road, Drumshanbo 1760
- Bank of Ireland 1800
- Conway 1800
- House, Main Street, Drumshanbo 1800
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1760
earliest dated inventory building
5%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 185 | – | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | – | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 5.4% | – | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Natural hazardsHazard risk B−
The ground is the thing to check in Drumshanbo: 1.5% of homes stand on high landslide susceptibility, more than Irish towns
Under 1% of homes in Drumshanbo are estimated to have radon above the reference level. Low-lying near a river: 2.6% of homes, higher than Irish towns (0.5%).
0%of homes in high-radon areasB−Hazard risk Grade
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
Low-lying beside water2.6%
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility1.5%
Low-lying near a river2.6%
Low-lying near the coast0%
| Share of homes | Drumshanbo | Co. Leitrim | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 1.5% | – | 0% |
| Low-lying near a river | 2.6% | – | 0.5% |
743
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Sliabh An Iarainn Visitor Centre and 12 more within 40 km
One place to visit is mapped within 5 km of Drumshanbo; with it, the best known within 40 km.
MuseumMuseumSliabh An Iarainn Visitor Centrein town
Abbey or priory · Office of Public WorksBoyle Abbey19 km southwest
MuseumArigna Mining Experience6.6 km northwest
Castle · Office of Public WorksParke's Castle31 km northwest
CathedralSt. Mel's Cathedral39 km southeast
CastleBallinafad Castle20 km west
Abbey or priory · Office of Public WorksBoyle Abbey19 km southwestMuseumArigna Mining Experience6.6 km northwestCastle · Office of Public WorksParke's Castle31 km northwestCathedralSt. Mel's Cathedral39 km southeastCastleBallinafad Castle20 km westPlaces: 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)
- Boyle Abbey: Digital Eye, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arigna Mining Experience: RTG, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Parke's Castle: John Darcy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St. Mel's Cathedral: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ballinafad Castle: Daniel Waters, Co. Sligo, Ireland from Ireland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Drumshanbo
15pages on Drumshanbo
The big questions
Out and about
Landmarks
23 of Drumshanbo’s buildings made the national inventory of architectural heritage, all at regional importance.
Famous people from around Drumshanbo
One notable person was born in Drumshanbo; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
I
Ita DalyNovelist · born 1945
J
Joe McCartinIrish politician · born in Ballinamore · born 1939P
Patrick Francis SheehanNigerian catholic bishop (1932-2012) · born in BoylePhoto credits
Maureen O'Sullivan: Russell Ball, Public domain · Chris O'Dowd: Christopher William Adach from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Margaret Cousins: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Drumshanbo’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Carrick-On-ShannonBallinamoreMohillBoyleDrumshanbo
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drumshanbo | 1,240 | — | — | A− | B+ | C− |
| Carrick-On-Shannon | 4,743 | 11 | B− | B+ | C− | B− |
| Ballinamore | 1,112 | 15 | — | A | B− | B |
| Mohill | 1,027 | 18 | — | A | B− | C+ |
| Boyle Roscommon | 2,915 | 19 | B+ | A+ | B | B− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Drumshanbo
Is Drumshanbo growing?
Drumshanbo had 1,240 people at the 2022 census, up from 1,055 in 2016: 17.5% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Drumshanbo a young town or an old one?
The median age in Drumshanbo is 39.2, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Drumshanbo
Urban area in Co. Leitrim
1,240 people live in Drumshanbo, in the area of Leitrim 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
- 1,240 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Leitrim
- Council
- Leitrim County Council
- Local electoral area
- Ballinamore
- Dáil constituency
- Sligo-Leitrim
- Name in Irish
- Droim Seanbhó
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:28130
Sources: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (CC BY 4.0) · Tailte Éireann, Urban Areas and Electoral Divisions 2022 (CC BY 4.0) · TownRatings grades, run #544 (Irish towns only). 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).