Baltray’s story
Old homes in Baltray: 21% built before 1919
The register holds 4 buildings on the National Inventory in Baltray.
- 1760House, Baltray
- 1760Tuí Naomh Áine
- 1800Lane House
BaltrayCo. Louth
With 150 residents, it is a town in Co. Louth. The population grew 13% between 2016 and 2022.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: Andrew McMahon · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
150
CSO, Census 2022 · Louth County Council
Median age
47.3
21% are 65+ · Co. Louth 14%
Degree level
36%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
4%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Baltray a good place to live?
The median sale, €356,800, comes to 4.6 times what the median household here earns. 4% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. 52% of households have paid off their home.
Grades start at 1,000 residents for Irish towns, so Baltray has none.
What makes Baltray stand out
The 3 things Baltray 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
Unemployment rate, Census 2022
Work
4% unemployment
Of the labour force, Census 2022 (the median of Irish towns: 9%)
55% of residents 15 and over are at work.
Own outright
Housing
52% own outright
The median of Irish towns: 32%
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Baltray.
Schools
Schools around Baltray are filling: pupils +12% since 2019, more than in both Co. Louth’s towns and Irish towns
Within 3 km of Baltray there are 3 schools (2 primary schools and 1 secondary school).
3schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Cheile Educate Together NSLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 383 | Multi-denominational |
| Drogheda Grammar School Fee-payingLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | Post-primary · Voluntary secondary | 557 | Quaker |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic1
Multi-denominational1
Other1
| Schools within 3 km | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 39% | 35% |
| Single-sex secondaries | 0% | 25% | 39% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 3% | 8% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +12% | +9% | +4% |
1,247
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+12%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
2.3 km
to the nearest primary school
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.
Natural hazards
The river sets the flood risk in Baltray: 64% of homes stand low beside it, more than in both Co. Louth’s towns and Irish towns
The nearest bathing water to Baltray is Seapoint, 2.8 km away, rated excellent in 2025. The ground under Baltray carries no high landslide susceptibility. Under 1% of homes locally are estimated to have radon above the reference level.
0%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
Low-lying beside water64%
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
Low-lying near a river64%
Low-lying near the coast0%
| Share of homes | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-lying near a river | 64% | 35% | 0.5% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | under 0.1% | 0% |
2.8 km
to Seapoint bathing water (excellent)
89
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Baltray has milder winters than Co. Louth’s towns or Irish towns: January lows of 3.2°C
July afternoons reach 19.6°C here, about level with Co. Louth’s towns (19.8°C) and below Irish towns (19.9°C). A year brings 789 mm of rain to Baltray. The annual mean locally is 10.4°C.
19.6°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.8°C
Spring12.8°C
Summer18.9°C
Autumn14.1°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 3.2°C | 2.7°C | 2.9°C |
| July high | 19.6°C | 19.8°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 789 mm | 826 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.4°C | 10.2°C | 10.3°C |
19.6°C
July high
3.2°C
January low
789 mm
Rain a year
84 mm
Wettest month
35
Air frosts
1,468 hrs
Sunshine
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
More people in Baltray live with a disability than in Co. Louth’s towns or across Irish towns: 29%
At the census, 2.7% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, higher than both Co. Louth’s towns (2.3%) and Irish towns (2%). 8% of residents in Baltray care, unpaid, for a relative or friend. Ages taken into account, Baltray counts 122 people with a disability for every 100 predicted.
87%good or very good health
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2022 | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| With a disability | 29% | 23% | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 87% | 87% | 88% |
119
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Louth 133
122
disability per 100 expected · Co. Louth 109
84 · 80.3
life expectancy, women · men, the Mid-East region, 2016
27%
hold a medical card, HSE Dublin and North East
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 Baltray own their home: 81%, more than in both Co. Louth’s towns and Irish towns
12% rent privately, below both Co. Louth’s towns (20%) and Irish towns (22%).
€357Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Baltray€357K
Co. Louth€305K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households in social housing | 0% | 19% | 13% |
| Households owning their home | 81% | 60% | 61% |
| Households renting privately | 12% | 20% | 22% |
| Median sale price | €357K | €305K | €350K |
81%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
12%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,433
a month on new tenancies, County Louth
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area A92, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Protected nature surrounds Baltray: 6.5% of the land within 5 km, more than in both Co. Louth’s towns and Irish towns
Protected nature near Baltray includes Boyne Coast. The sea makes up nearly a third of the area within 5 km, above both Co. Louth’s towns (5.5%) and Irish towns (0%).
0%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Baltray0.0 ha
Co. Louth1.1 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 0% | 74% | 92% |
| Sea within 5 km | 32% | 5.5% | 0% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 6.5% | 3.6% | 1.8% |
| Paths per km² of town | 1.1 km per km² | 1.0 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
6 km
Footpaths
6.5%
Protected for nature
2.2%
Woodland
32%
The sea
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Weather in Baltray: a windy day today, with a high of 12 degrees
Expect about 1 mm of rain with it today, the wind at 40 km/h and a low of 11°C. Later in the week, highs run between 9°C and 11°C, peaking on Thursday. Baltray’s November average makes a useful yardstick: afternoons reach 11°C, nights fall to 5°C.
12°C / 11°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November11°C
December9°C
January9°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 9°C | 3°C | 200 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 6°C | 164 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 12°C | 197 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 8°C | 228 mm |
12°C / 11°C
Today
2.7 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
33 km/h
Wind
78%
Humidity
9 h 15 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Fewer commuters in Baltray walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Co. Louth’s towns or Irish towns: 4.2%
Short trips: 42% under 15 minutes, near Co. Louth’s towns (41%) and higher than Irish towns (31%). Driving is how 84% of commuters got to work at the census. Of those in the labour force, 4.1% are unemployed.
4%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van84%
Walk1%
Bus1%
Train, DART or Luas1%
| Census 2022 | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 12% | 9.2% |
| Median household income | €77,520 | €48,907 | €57,760 |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 74% | 63% | 68% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 42% | 41% | 31% |
€77,520
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Louth €54,600
12%
worked mainly from home, 2022
17%
trips of an hour or more
7,233
on the Live Register, County Louth, 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
Baltray skews older, with 21% of residents 65 or over, more than in both Co. Louth’s towns and Irish towns
Born abroad: 14% of residents, lower than both Co. Louth’s towns (25%) and Irish towns (22%). Children under 15 make up 15% of residents. Young adults of 15 to 24 account for nearly a tenth of the town.
47.3median age
BaltrayCo. LouthIreland
Ages · share of residents
21%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none11%
Lower secondary9%
Leaving Cert36%
Diploma or cert7%
Degree or higher36%
Women and men · all residents
52.0% of Baltray’s residents are women
78 women and 72 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 9.3% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 29% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 33% | 24% | 24% |
| 65+ | 21% | 14% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 11% | 13% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 9.1% | 16% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 36% | 36% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 36% | 30% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Louth and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
12 candidates stood for 4 seats in Drogheda Rural, one of the most contested ballots at the 2024 local elections
With 7 of 29 seats, Sinn Féin are the largest group on Louth County Council, short of the 15 a majority needs. One council serves Baltray: Louth County Council. At the general election 61% voted, about level with Co. Louth’s towns (61%) and above Irish towns (59%).
7/29seats held by Sinn Féin
Seats on Louth County · June 2024
Sinn Féin7
Independent7
Fine Gael6
Fianna Fáil6
Labour Party2
Green Party1
| Turnout | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| General election, November 2024 | 61% | 61% | 59% |
| Local elections, June 2024 | 46% | 48% | 46% |
4
Councillors
7/29
Sinn Féin seats on Louth County, the largest party
46%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Louth
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
More buildings in Baltray are on the national inventory than in Co. Louth’s towns or Irish towns: 267 per 10,000 residents
21.2% of its homes were built before 1919, above both Co. Louth’s towns (4.5%) and Irish towns (3.4%). 4 of Baltray’s buildings made the national inventory of architectural heritage, all at regional importance.
4inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional4
Among them
- House, Baltray 1760
- House, Baltray 1760
- Tuí Naomh Áine 1760
- Lane House 1800
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1760
earliest dated inventory building
21%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Baltray | Co. Louth | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 267 | 88 | 48 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 21.2% | 4.5% | 3.4% |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 105 | 11 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Termonfeckin Castle and 13 more within 40 km
2 places to visit are mapped within 5 km of Baltray; with them, the best known within 40 km.
CastleTermonfeckin Castle2.3 km outside town, to the north
Historic houseMonasterboice High Cross and Round Tower11 km northwest
Abbey or priory · Office of Public WorksOld Mellifont Abbey13 km west
CastleSlane Castle19 km west
Castle · Office of Public WorksTrim Castle40 km southwest
CastleMalahide Castle33 km southPlaces: 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)
- Termonfeckin Castle: code poet, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Monasterboice High Cross and Round Tower: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Old Mellifont Abbey: Hopmans at nl.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Slane Castle: Sitomon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Trim Castle: Billy Irwin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Malahide Castle: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Baltray
15pages on Baltray
Landmarks
4 of Baltray’s buildings made the national inventory of architectural heritage, all at regional importance.
Famous people from around Baltray
No notable person born in Baltray is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
P
Pierce BrosnanIrish actor (born 1953) · born in DroghedaE
Evanna LynchIrish actress (born 1991) · born in Termonfeckin
Photo credits
Steve Staunton: Jonesy702, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Colin O'Donoghue: vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0 · Mairead McGuinness: Photographer: Christophe Licoppe, CC BY 4.0 · Ian Harte: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Baltray’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
TermonfeckinLaytown-Bettystown-Mornington-DonacarneyDroghedaClogherheadTullyallenStamullenBaltray
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltray | 150 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Termonfeckin | 1,983 | 2.8 | — | C− | C | C+ |
| Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-Donacarney Meath | 15,642 | 4.1 | C+ | B | C | B− |
| Drogheda | 44,135 | 5.6 | C− | C | C | C+ |
| Clogherhead | 2,275 | 6.3 | — | C+ | A | B− |
| Tullyallen | 1,697 | 9.5 | — | C− | C | A− |
| Stamullen Meath | 3,720 | 12 | B+ | B+ | C | A |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Baltray
Has Baltray grown?
Baltray had 150 people at the 2022 census, up from 133 in 2016: 12.8% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Baltray a young town or an old one?
The median age in Baltray is 47.3, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Baltray
Urban area in Co. Louth
150 people live in Baltray, in the area of Louth 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
- 150 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Louth
- Council
- Louth County Council
- Local electoral area
- Drogheda Rural
- Dáil constituency
- Louth
- Name in Irish
- Baile Trá
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:10003
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).