#1Carndonagh
Donegal · 2,768 peopleOverall B−·#156 of 320
Strongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D
Carndonagh, #1 on this list · Photo: Rossographer (CC BY-SA 2.0)Ireland · 2026
Towns with the coolest summers in Ireland
Rathfarnham, the median town on the list, is at 20°C (68°F). Furthest down the list is Enniscorthy, at 21°C (69°F). The list’s top ten come from 3 different counties. First place goes to Carndonagh, Donegal, with 18°C (64°F). In second place is Westport, at 18°C (65°F); in third, Buncrana, at 18°C (65°F).
Average July high, Met Éireann’s 1991–2020 grid How grades work
#118°C (64°F) July high
#2Westport
Mayo · 6,872 peopleOverall A·#33 of 320
Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
#3Buncrana
Donegal · 6,971 peopleOverall C+·#187 of 320
Strongest: cost of living A, health B−·lowest: walkability D
The top 100 of 321
Ranked by its measure (July high), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
100 towns
#TownJuly highGrade · national rankWhat drives it
1CarndonaghDonegal · 2,768 people18°C (64°F)B−#156 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D
2WestportMayo · 6,872 people18°C (65°F)A#33 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
3BuncranaDonegal · 6,971 people18°C (65°F)C+#187 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B−·lowest: walkability D
4BundoranDonegal · 2,599 people18°C (65°F)C#217 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: jobs & income C−
5BallinaMayo · 10,556 people19°C (65°F)C+#193 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C+·lowest: hazard risk C−
6ClaremorrisMayo · 3,857 people19°C (66°F)A+#15 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C
7DonegalDonegal · 2,749 people19°C (66°F)A−#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability B−
8CastlebarMayo · 13,054 people19°C (66°F)B#117 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety B, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk C
9SligoSligo · 20,608 people19°C (66°F)C#226 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk D
10BallyhaunisMayo · 2,773 people19°C (66°F)B+#83 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income D
11LetterkennyDonegal · 22,549 people19°C (66°F)D#282 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D
12HowthDublin · 8,192 people19°C (66°F)B#126 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
13KnocknacarraGalway · 18,398 people19°C (66°F)B+#88 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
14BoyleRoscommon · 2,915 people19°C (66°F)B+#106 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, safety B·lowest: jobs & income D
15BallybaneGalway · 15,082 people19°C (66°F)C+#178 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk C−
16BailieboroughCavan · 2,974 people19°C (66°F)B+#95 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C−
17MurroughGalway · 2,909 people19°C (66°F)C+#182 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
18KilrushClare · 2,649 people19°C (66°F)C+#197 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk A−·lowest: health D
19Ballybofey-StranorlarDonegal · 5,406 people19°C (66°F)C+#200 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety C+·lowest: walkability D
20MervueGalway · 4,126 people19°C (66°F)C#238 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk C−
21Taylor's HillGalway · 3,141 people19°C (66°F)C−#242 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, safety B·lowest: cost of living D
22DanganGalway · 4,621 people19°C (66°F)D−#308 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability B−, health C·lowest: cost of living D
23CrosshavenCork · 3,263 people19°C (67°F)A#40 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
24AthenryGalway · 4,603 people19°C (67°F)A−#69 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
25BallinrobeMayo · 3,148 people19°C (67°F)B+#98 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B·lowest: hazard risk C−
26BlessingtonWicklow · 5,611 people19°C (67°F)C+#186 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, health B·lowest: walkability C−
27CastleblayneyMonaghan · 3,926 people19°C (67°F)C+#188 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, safety C+·lowest: jobs & income C−
28RahoonGalway · 3,486 people19°C (67°F)C+#195 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, safety B·lowest: cost of living D
29Ballinfoile and TerrylandGalway · 5,851 people19°C (67°F)D#298 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability B−, health B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
30CastlegarGalway · 4,315 people19°C (67°F)D−#306 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B−, walkability B−·lowest: health D
31SalthillGalway · 5,445 people19°C (67°F)A#20 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
32SkibbereenCork · 2,903 people19°C (67°F)A#35 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living A−·lowest: health C
33KinsaleCork · 5,991 people19°C (67°F)A#36 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D−
34OranmoreGalway · 5,819 people19°C (67°F)A−#62 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk D
35KingscourtCavan · 2,955 people19°C (67°F)B+#101 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
36LoughreaGalway · 6,322 people19°C (67°F)B#143 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D
37NewtownmountkennedyWicklow · 3,539 people19°C (67°F)C+#192 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, safety B+·lowest: cost of living D
38Eyre SquareGalway · 6,801 people19°C (67°F)C#213 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk D
39WexfordWexford · 21,524 people19°C (67°F)C#237 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living B·lowest: safety D
40SkerriesDublin · 10,743 people19°C (67°F)A−#64 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A−, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C−
41MonaghanMonaghan · 7,894 people19°C (67°F)A−#80 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability C+
42BallyjamesduffCavan · 2,917 people19°C (67°F)B+#91 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: health C
43BallybrackDublin · 2,872 people19°C (67°F)B+#108 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
44RushDublin · 10,875 people19°C (67°F)B#119 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C
45TramoreWaterford · 11,277 people19°C (67°F)B−#146 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
46Carrick-On-ShannonLeitrim · 4,743 people19°C (67°F)B−#169 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B·lowest: safety C−
47ListowelKerry · 4,794 people19°C (67°F)C+#208 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income D
48TuamGalway · 9,647 people19°C (67°F)C#210 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, safety C+·lowest: hazard risk C−
49CladdaghGalway · 2,755 people19°C (67°F)C#218 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk D
50Woodquay and Nuns IslandGalway · 4,948 people19°C (67°F)C−#246 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D
51Frankfield and GrangeCork · 7,687 people20°C (67°F)A#20 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
52StepasideDublin · 22,796 people20°C (67°F)A#41 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
53GortGalway · 2,870 people20°C (67°F)A#44 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income C
54RoscommonRoscommon · 6,555 people20°C (67°F)A−#53 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
55ClonakiltyCork · 5,112 people20°C (67°F)A−#56 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
56LuskDublin · 8,806 people20°C (67°F)B+#84 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
57CobhCork · 14,148 people20°C (67°F)B#116 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D
58Dún LaoghaireDublin · 17,994 people20°C (67°F)B#125 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
59VirginiaCavan · 3,211 people20°C (67°F)B#140 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B+, safety B−·lowest: walkability C
60BallyvolaneCork · 8,707 people20°C (67°F)B−#163 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: hazard risk D−
61CharlevilleCork · 3,970 people20°C (67°F)B−#174 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk A·lowest: health C−
62BalbrigganDublin · 24,322 people20°C (67°F)C−#256 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: health D
63TraleeKerry · 26,079 people20°C (67°F)C−#263 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability C+·lowest: hazard risk D
64NewcastleGalway · 4,032 people20°C (67°F)D#300 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health C+·lowest: cost of living D
65PortmarnockDublin · 10,750 people20°C (67°F)A+#8 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
66SandyfordDublin · 8,844 people20°C (67°F)A−#55 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
67Newcastle WestLimerick · 7,209 people20°C (67°F)A−#58 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
68KenmareKerry · 2,566 people20°C (67°F)A−#59 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C+
69FoxrockDublin · 12,163 people20°C (67°F)A−#60 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
70DonabateDublin · 9,669 people20°C (67°F)A−#71 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C−
71KanturkCork · 2,803 people20°C (67°F)A−#72 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C−
72RathcooleDublin · 5,792 people20°C (67°F)A−#79 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: safety C+
73StamullenMeath · 3,720 people20°C (67°F)B+#90 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
74LehenaghCork · 4,154 people20°C (67°F)B+#96 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
75SallynogginDublin · 13,245 people20°C (67°F)B+#110 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
76SaggartDublin · 4,573 people20°C (67°F)B#134 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, health B+·lowest: safety C+
77DalkeyDublin · 8,275 people20°C (67°F)B#142 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
78BrayWicklow · 33,512 people20°C (67°F)B−#159 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health B·lowest: cost of living C
79EnnisClare · 27,923 people20°C (67°F)B−#165 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D
80ShankillDublin · 11,009 people20°C (67°F)C+#177 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, health B·lowest: cost of living D
81Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-DonacarneyMeath · 15,642 people20°C (67°F)C+#180 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C−
82MullingarWestmeath · 22,667 people20°C (67°F)C+#201 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living B+·lowest: safety C−
83CavanCavan · 11,741 people20°C (67°F)C#223 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living A−·lowest: safety C−
84YoughalCork · 8,564 people20°C (67°F)C#231 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C·lowest: hazard risk D−
85KnocknaheenyCork · 5,592 people20°C (67°F)D#293 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B·lowest: health D−
86JobstownDublin · 23,437 people20°C (67°F)D−#305 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D
87CastleislandKerry · 2,536 people20°C (67°F)A+#11 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C+
88MacroomCork · 4,096 people20°C (67°F)A#24 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C+
89Kinsealy-DrinanDublin · 7,526 people20°C (67°F)A#27 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
90StillorganDublin · 18,212 people20°C (67°F)A#28 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
91MalahideDublin · 18,608 people20°C (67°F)A#30 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D−
92BallinteerDublin · 16,038 people20°C (67°F)A−#50 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
93SwordsDublin · 40,776 people20°C (67°F)A−#51 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living C
94FirhouseDublin · 12,254 people20°C (67°F)A−#63 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
95BantryCork · 2,929 people20°C (67°F)A−#65 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: health C
96DundrumDublin · 16,570 people20°C (67°F)A−#68 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
97Greystones-DelganyWicklow · 22,009 people20°C (67°F)A−#73 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D−
98SuttonDublin · 5,789 people20°C (67°F)B+#89 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
99CabinteelyDublin · 15,864 people20°C (67°F)B+#94 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
100RahenyDublin · 8,734 people20°C (67°F)B+#107 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
Method
How this list is made
Average July high, Met Éireann’s 1991–2020 grid. Towns of 2,500 or more in Ireland are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work
Rankings
More lists across Ireland
County by county
Best places to live, county by county
Photos: Carndonagh, Rossographer (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Westport, Marathon (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Buncrana, dan kearney (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Irish towns against each other only, run #58 of 4 November 2026. 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).