Belcarra’s story
Belcarra: 1 building on the National Inventory
2% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.
- 1912Heneghan's
BelcarraCo. Mayo
With 164 residents, it is a town in Co. Mayo.
Population
164
CSO, Census 2022 · Mayo County Council
Median age
37.6
11% are 65+ · Co. Mayo 14%
Degree level
33%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
5%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Belcarra a good place to live?
Homes sell for a median €243,500, about 3.7 times what a household here earns in a year. On the way to work, 5% walk, cycle or take the bus or train.
At under 1,000 residents, Belcarra is too small for the grades Irish towns get.
What makes Belcarra stand out
The 2 things Belcarra does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Belcarra.
Schools
Schools around Belcarra have lost ground: pupils −30% since 2019, below Co. Mayo’s towns and Irish towns
Families in Belcarra have 2 schools within 3 km to choose from: 2 primary schools.
2schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.N. Beal CaradhLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 109 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −30% | +10% | +4% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 18% | 35% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 4% | 8% |
130
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−30%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.5 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 · No school here carries a letter or a result: Ireland publishes neither for individual schools.
Natural hazards
Radon in Belcarra: an estimated 8% of homes are above the reference level
9.1% of its homes sit in high-radon areas, between Co. Mayo’s towns (97%) and Irish towns (0%). No part of Belcarra is mapped as high landslide susceptibility. Few of its homes stand low beside water.
9.1%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas9.1%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 9.1% | 97% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | 0.1% | 0% |
8%
of homes over the radon level
77
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Belcarra sits near the bottom of Irish towns for July heat
The year’s mean temperature is 10.0°C, about level with Co. Mayo’s towns (9.9°C) and below Irish towns (10.3°C). Midsummer afternoons in Belcarra peak at about 18.9°C. The town gets 1,339 mm of rain a year.
18.9°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.7°C
Spring13.2°C
Summer18.5°C
Autumn13.8°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 18.9°C | 18.7°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,339 mm | 1,314 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.0°C | 9.9°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 2.6°C | 2.6°C | 2.9°C |
18.9°C
July high
2.6°C
January low
1,339 mm
Rain a year
154 mm
Wettest month
36
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
For its ages, fewer people in Belcarra live with a disability than in Co. Mayo’s towns or Irish towns: 54 per 100 expected
0.6% of residents report bad or very bad health. Allowing for its ages, Belcarra has 41 residents in bad health per 100 expected, lower than both Co. Mayo’s towns (130) and Irish towns (113). Asked at the census, 98% of residents of Belcarra said they were in good or very good health. In the HSE West and North West health region, 34% of people hold a medical card.
98%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health41
Disability54
Co. Mayo130
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 98%Fair 2%Bad or very bad 1%
| Census 2022 | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 98% | 87% | 88% |
| With a disability | 10% | 21% | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 0.6% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Unpaid carers | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
41
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Mayo 130
54
disability per 100 expected · Co. Mayo 100
84.5 · 79.7
life expectancy, women · men, the West 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
Housing
More households own their home in Belcarra than in Co. Mayo’s towns or across Irish towns: 76%
Social housing holds 2% of households. 20% rent privately, below both Co. Mayo’s towns (34%) and Irish towns (22%).
€244Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Belcarra€244K
Co. Mayo€190K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 76% | 54% | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 2% | 12% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 20% | 34% | 22% |
| Median sale price | €244K | €190K | €350K |
76%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
20%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,117
a month on new tenancies, County Mayo
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area F23, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
6 waymarked trails start within 5 km of Belcarra
Woodland covers 1.5% of the land within 1 km, below both Co. Mayo’s towns (3.2%) and Irish towns (2.7%). 100% of homes are within 400 m of green space. Among the protected sites near Belcarra is River Moy SAC.
100%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Belcarra6.2 ha
Co. Mayo2.6 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 100% | 85% | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 1.5% | 3.2% | 2.7% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.3 km per km² | 0.6 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 3.7% | 3.4% | 1.8% |
100%
Near a park
6.2 ha
Green space
2 km
Footpaths
3.7%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Weather in Belcarra: 11 degrees and sunny today
The warmest afternoon ahead comes on Friday, at 10°C; the coolest tops out at 6°C. Belcarra’s November average makes a useful yardstick: afternoons reach 11°C, nights fall to 5°C. A dry day with a stiff breeze lies ahead today: wind building to 22 km/h, then a low of 6°C.
11°C / 6°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November11°C
December9°C
January8°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 9°C | 3°C | 423 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 265 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 272 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 7°C | 379 mm |
11°C / 6°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
17 km/h
Wind
94%
Humidity
9 h 15 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Only 4.5% of commuters in Belcarra go to work without a car, fewer than in both Co. Mayo’s towns and Irish towns
On average, the journey to work lasts 17.8 min. 83% of commuters drove, above both Co. Mayo’s towns (74%) and Irish towns (66%). What’s more, the census counted just over one in ten workers working mainly from home.
5%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van83%
Walk2%
Bicycle2%
Bus2%
| Census 2022 | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 17.8 min | 20.8 min | 27.6 min |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 52% | 55% | 31% |
| Median household income | €66,080 | €49,791 | €57,760 |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 71% | 67% | 68% |
€66,080
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Mayo €48,665
12%
worked mainly from home, 2022
3%
trips of an hour or more
4,861
on the Live Register, County Mayo, 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
Children make up 31% of Belcarra, above Co. Mayo’s towns and Irish towns
Over-65s are 11% of the population. 9.8% of the population is aged 15 to 24, lower than both Co. Mayo’s towns (11%) and Irish towns (12%). One measure of its mix: 18% of residents were born abroad.
37.6median age
BelcarraCo. MayoIreland
Ages · share of residents
10%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none8%
Lower secondary13%
Leaving Cert38%
Diploma or cert9%
Degree or higher33%
Women and men · all residents
53.0% of Belcarra’s residents are women
87 women and 77 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 31% | 21% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 9.8% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | 30% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 23% | 24% | 24% |
| 65+ | 11% | 14% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 7.6% | 9.5% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 13% | 13% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 38% | 40% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 8.7% | 5.8% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 33% | 31% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Mayo and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Castlebar had one of the highest turnouts at the 2024 local elections
Mayo County Council is the one council for Belcarra; Ireland has no town or county councils between it and the government. 58% of voters turned out at the last local elections. General election turnout: 64%, close to Co. Mayo’s towns (64%) and above Irish towns (59%). Fine Gael lead Mayo County Council with 10 of 30 seats, but no party has a majority: 16 are needed.
10/30seats held by Fine Gael
Seats on Mayo County · June 2024
Fine Gael10
Fianna Fáil10
Independent7
Sinn Féin1
Independent Ireland1
Aontú1
| Turnout | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 58% | 60% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 64% | 64% | 59% |
7
Councillors
10/30
Fine Gael seats on Mayo County, the largest party
58%
turnout, June 2024
5
TDs elected for Mayo
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
One building in Belcarra is on the national inventory
Relative to its size, Belcarra keeps 61 buildings on the inventory per 10,000 residents. Before 1919: that is when 1.8% of homes were built. Belcarra’s built heritage counts one inventory entry, of regional standing.
1inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional1
Among them
- Heneghan's 1912
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1912
earliest dated inventory building
2%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Belcarra | Co. Mayo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 61 | 85 | 48 |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 21 | 11 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 1.8% | 4.4% | 3.4% |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Belcarra Eviction Cottage and 2 more in and around Belcarra
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Belcarra. Best known first.
MuseumMuseumBelcarra Eviction Cottage600 m outside town, to the northMuseumMuseumClogher Heritage Complex4.1 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric houseHistoric houseDempsey Eviction Cottage2.5 km outside town, to the east
Places: Fáilte Ireland open data (CC BY 4.0) · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Belcarra
15pages on Belcarra
The big questions
Out and about
Famous people from around Belcarra
One notable person was born in Belcarra; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.
J
Joseph BlowickIrish politician (1903-1970)E
Enda KennyIrish poliitician (* 1951) · born in Castlebar
C
Charles Haughey7th Taoiseach from 1979 to 1981; 1982; … · born in Castlebar · 1925–2006L
Louis WalshIrish music manager and television pers… · born in Kiltimagh · born 1952
Photo credits
Sally Rooney: Frank Barat, CC BY 4.0 · John D'Alton: Rolls Press (Popperfoto), Public domain
Belcarra’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
CastlebarKiltimaghClaremorrisBelcarra
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belcarra | 164 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Castlebar | 13,054 | 8.1 | B | B | B | B− |
| Kiltimagh | 1,232 | 15 | — | A− | B+ | B+ |
| Claremorris | 3,857 | 16 | A+ | A− | B | A− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Belcarra
Has Belcarra grown?
Belcarra had 164 people at the 2022 census, up from 153 in 2016: 7.2% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
How old are the people of Belcarra?
The median age in Belcarra is 37.6, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Belcarra
Urban area in Co. Mayo
Belcarra has 164 people, in the area of Mayo 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
- 164 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Mayo
- Council
- Mayo County Council
- Local electoral area
- Castlebar
- Dáil constituency
- Mayo
- Name in Irish
- Baile na Cora
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:29324
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).