Ballincar’s story
Ballincar has 2 buildings on the National Inventory
5 archaeological sites are on the record here too.
4% of its homes were built before 1919, against 3% in the median of Irish towns.
- 1880Rossaville
- 1880Saint Helen's
BallincarCo. Sligo
A town in Co. Sligo, home to 423 people.
Population
423
CSO, Census 2022 · Sligo County Council
Median age
47.2
32% are 65+ · Co. Sligo 14%
Degree level
58%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
7%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Ballincar a good place to live?
The median home here went for €233,300, 3.2 times the median household income. Public transport, bikes and feet take 7% of commuters to work. It skews older: 32% of residents are 65 or over. Mortgage-free owners make up 73% of households.
Ballincar isn’t graded: grades for Irish towns begin at 1,000 residents.
What makes Ballincar stand out
The 3 things Ballincar does most differently from other towns.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo and 13 more in and around Ballincar
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Ballincar. Best known first.
CathedralCathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo2.9 km outside town, to the southeast
Abbey or priory · Office of Public WorksSligo Abbey3 km outside town, to the southeast
CathedralSt John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo2.9 km outside town, to the southeast
Art galleryModel Arts and Niland Gallery2.9 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumSligo County Museum2.8 km outside town, to the southeastMuseumMuseum · Office of Public WorksCarrowmore Megalithic Cemetery5 km outside town, to the 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 (5)
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo: JohnArmagh, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sligo Abbey: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo: Bob Embleton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Model Arts and Niland Gallery: Val, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sligo County Museum: Djedi Guy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ballincar.
Schools
Single-sex secondaries are more common around Ballincar than in Irish towns: 50%
The nearest secondary, Ursuline College, is 3.7 km away. 9 schools lie within 3 km of Ballincar: 5 primary schools, 2 secondary schools and 2 special schools. Since 2019/20, pupils changed +6%, above Irish towns (+4%).
9schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.N. UrsulaLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 439 | Catholic |
| Ursuline College GirlsLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | Post-primary · Voluntary secondary | 603 | Catholic |
| Ballinode College DEISIn the DEIS schemePost-primary · ETB | Post-primary · ETB | 258 | Multi-denominational |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic8
Multi-denominational1
| Schools within 3 km | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach through Irish | 0% | – | 8% |
| Single-sex secondaries | 50% | – | 39% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +6% | – | +4% |
2,181
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+6%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
2.8 km
to the nearest primary school
3.7 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · Results by school aren’t published in Ireland, so the cards carry none.
Natural hazards
About 22% of Ballincar’s homes are estimated to hold more radon than the reference level allows
94% of its homes sit in high-radon areas, above Irish towns (0%). Rosses Point Beach, 3.9 km from Ballincar, is the closest bathing water; it was rated excellent in 2025. Landslides: none of Ballincar lies in a high-susceptibility zone.
94%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas94%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 94% | – | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | – | 0% |
22%
of homes over the radon level
3.9 km
to Rosses Point Beach bathing water (excellent)
216
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Summers stay cool in Ballincar: July afternoons reach 18.4°C, below Irish towns
1,231 mm of rain falls in a year, higher than Irish towns (937 mm). Over twelve months, Ballincar averages 9.9°C. The nearest weather station is Markree, 15 km away.
18.4°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.5°C
Spring12.6°C
Summer17.9°C
Autumn13.5°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 18.4°C | – | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,231 mm | – | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.9°C | – | 10.3°C |
18.4°C
July high
2.9°C
January low
1,231 mm
Rain a year
133 mm
Wettest month
52
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Ballincar has 11 people in bad health for every 100 its ages predict, fewer than Irish towns
Allowing for its ages, Ballincar has 76 residents with a disability per 100 expected, lower than Irish towns (106). Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 0.3% of the town. Just over a third of people in the HSE West and North West health region hold a medical card. Asked at the census, 92% of residents of Ballincar said they were in good or very good health.
92%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health11
Disability76
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 92%Fair 8%Bad or very bad 0%
| Census 2022 | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 0.3% | – | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 92% | – | 88% |
| With a disability | 20% | – | 22% |
11
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Sligo –
76
disability per 100 expected · Co. Sligo –
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
Housing
Few households rent privately in Ballincar: 4%, fewer than in Irish towns
€233Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Ballincar€233K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households owning their home | 94% | – | 61% |
| Households in social housing | 0% | – | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 4% | – | 22% |
| Median sale price | €233K | – | €350K |
94%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
4%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,156
a month on new tenancies, County Sligo
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area F91, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Ballincar has fewer homes a short walk from green space than Irish towns: 55%
Among the protected sites near Ballincar is Cummeen Strand SPA. The sea makes up 26% of the area within 5 km, higher than Irish towns (0%). Walkers have 6 waymarked trails and greenways starting within 5 km.
55%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Ballincar0.0 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 55% | – | 92% |
| Sea within 5 km | 26% | – | 0% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 9.7% | – | 1.8% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.0 km per km² | – | 2.1 km per km² |
55%
Near a park
0.0 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
9.7%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Work & commute
Short commutes are common in Ballincar: 56% of trips take under 15 minutes, above Irish towns
The average trip to work took 19.7 min, lower than Irish towns (27.6 min). 77% of people aged 15 to 64 were in work at the census. At the census, nearly a quarter of workers worked mainly from home.
7%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van70%
Walk4%
Bicycle2%
Bus2%
| Census 2022 | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 56% | – | 31% |
| Average trip | 19.7 min | – | 27.6 min |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 77% | – | 68% |
| Median household income | €73,880 | – | €57,760 |
€73,880
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Sligo €50,438
23%
worked mainly from home, 2022
6%
trips of an hour or more
2,120
on the Live Register, County Sligo, 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
More people in Ballincar hold a degree than in Irish towns: 58%
12% were born abroad, lower than Irish towns (22%). People 65 and over make up nearly a third of the town. Young adults of 15 to 24 are 8% of the population.
47.2median age
BallincarCo. SligoIreland
Ages · share of residents
32%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none5%
Lower secondary8%
Leaving Cert22%
Diploma or cert8%
Degree or higher58%
Women and men · all residents
53.9% of Ballincar’s residents are women
228 women and 195 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | – | 20% |
| 15–24 | 8% | – | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | – | 29% |
| 45–64 | 20% | – | 24% |
| 65+ | 32% | – | 14% |
| Primary or none | 5% | – | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 7.9% | – | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 22% | – | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 7.5% | – | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 58% | – | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Sligo and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
More people in Ballincar vote than in Irish towns: 55% turnout at the local elections
No party holds a majority on Sligo County Council: Fianna Fáil lead with 6 of 18 seats, short of the 10 needed. General election turnout: 61%, above Irish towns (59%). Ballincar is run by Sligo County Council, its only council: Ireland has one tier of local government.
6/18seats held by Fianna Fáil
Seats on Sligo County · June 2024
Fianna Fáil6
Fine Gael4
Independent4
Sinn Féin2
People Before Profit–Solidarity1
Labour Party1
| Turnout | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 55% | – | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 61% | – | 59% |
5
Councillors
6/18
Fianna Fáil seats on Sligo County, the largest party
55%
turnout, June 2024
4
TDs elected for Sligo-Leitrim
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
2 inventory buildings stand in Ballincar, each of regional importance
5 archaeological sites are on the record, lower than Irish towns (11). Per 10,000 residents, Ballincar counts 47 inventory buildings, about level with Irish towns (48).
2inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional2
Among them
- Rossaville 1880
- Saint Helen's 1880
1880
earliest dated inventory building
| Heritage | Ballincar | Co. Sligo | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeological sites on the record | 5 | – | 11 |
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 47 | – | 48 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ballincar
15pages on Ballincar
Landmarks
Ballincar’s built heritage counts 2 inventory entries, each of regional standing. 5 recorded monuments and archaeological sites lie here.
Famous people from around Ballincar
No notable person born in Ballincar is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
N
Neil JordanIrish filmmaker and fiction writer · born in Sligo · born 1950
D
Dave KennedyIrish racing driver · born in Sligo · born 1953
Photo credits
Shane Filan: Harrywad, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mark Feehily: Can't stop shooting film from Nha Trang, Vietnam, CC BY 2.0 · Kian Egan: Harrywad, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Michael J. Ryan: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, CC BY 2.0
Ballincar’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
SligoStrandhillBallysadareCollooneyCoolaneyBallincar
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballincar | 423 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sligo | 20,608 | 4.6 | C | B+ | C− | C− |
| Strandhill | 1,982 | 6.6 | — | C− | C− | A+ |
| Ballysadare | 1,747 | 10 | — | B+ | A− | B+ |
| Collooney | 1,797 | 14 | — | B+ | A− | C+ |
| Coolaney | 1,155 | 16 | — | A− | A+ | B |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Ballincar
Is Ballincar growing?
Ballincar had 423 people at the 2022 census, down from 439 in 2016: 3.6% fewer, while the median of Irish towns grew 7.6%.
About Ballincar
Urban area in Co. Sligo
423 people live in Ballincar, in the area of Sligo 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
- 423 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Sligo
- Council
- Sligo County Council
- Local electoral area
- Sligo-Drumcliff
- Dáil constituency
- Sligo-Leitrim
- Name in Irish
- Baile an Chartha
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:31145
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).