Portlaw’s story
Portlaw: 16% of homes built before 1919
The register holds 66 buildings on the National Inventory in Portlaw, 3 of them of national importance.
- 1770Portlaw Bridge
- 1790The Manor
- 1805Saint Joseph's Convent
PortlawCo. Waterford
A town in Co. Waterford, home to 1,881 people.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: David Hawgood · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,881
CSO, Census 2022 · Waterford City and County Council
Median age
38.8
14% are 65+ · Co. Waterford 16%
Degree level
20%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
7%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Portlaw a good place to live?
Buying a home costs less than in most towns: homes sell for a median €195,000, about 4.1 times what a household here earns in a year. Safety is a strength too: 4.4 violent crimes and 3.1 burglaries and acts of criminal damage recorded per 1,000 residents a year. Where it falls short is health (C): for every 100 its ages would predict, 117 residents are in bad health and 118 have a disability. Hazard risk is higher than most: an estimated 20% of its homes exceed the radon reference level.
Figures: prices, Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025 · incomes, CSO · crime, CSO recorded crime, 2023 to 2025 · health, CSO Census 2022 · radon, EPA. Portlaw has subject grades but no overall grade: Irish towns get one from 2,500 residents.
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. This town's Hazard risk Grade uses radon and landslides only: open LiDAR heights don't cover enough of its homes to measure flooding, so flood isn't counted for or against it.
WeakestC−Hazard risk
How Portlaw grades
Each subject compares Portlaw with Irish towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.
Portlaw has subject grades but no overall grade: Irish towns get one from 2,500 residents.
Hazard riskBelow the middle of the towns comparedC−Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnB+Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsB+Open →Walkability7% walk, cycle or take a bus or train to workCOpen →Health118 with a disability per 100 predictedCOpen →Jobs & income67% of 15-to-64s in work; 9% unemployedC+Open →
SchoolsNot graded in Ireland: schools’ exam results aren’t published school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)–
How TownRatings grades Irish towns →
What makes Portlaw stand out
The 3 things Portlaw does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
7% walk, cycle or ride
The median of Irish towns: 23%
CSO, Census 2022
Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents
History
66 buildings on the national inventory
Of national importance: 3. 7.3 times the median of Irish towns for its size.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Degree or higher, residents 15+
Education
The median of Irish towns: 36%
CSO, Census 2022
Landmarks
Portlaw has 66 buildings on the national inventory of architectural heritage, 3 of them rated of national or international importance.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Portlaw.
Natural hazardsHazard risk C−
Radon is the hazard to know in Portlaw: 100% of homes sit in high-radon areas, more than in Co. Waterford’s towns and across Irish towns
100%of homes in high-radon areasC−Hazard risk Grade
0.4% of homes stand on ground with high landslide susceptibility, about level with both Co. Waterford’s towns (0.2%) and Irish towns (0%). Next to none of its homes lie low beside a river or the sea.
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas100%
On high landslide susceptibility0.4%
| Share of homes | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 100% | 69% | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0% |
20%
of homes over the radon level
817
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
HousingCost of living B+
More households own their home in Portlaw than in Co. Waterford’s towns or across Irish towns: 67%
€195Kmedian sale priceB+Cost of living Grade
14% of households are private tenants. Social housing holds 18% of households, between Co. Waterford’s towns (19%) and Irish towns (13%).
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Portlaw€195K
Co. Waterford€294K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Second-hand homes | €195,000 | 51 |
| Housing | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | €195K | €294K | €350K |
| Households owning their home | 67% | 59% | 61% |
| Households renting privately | 14% | 16% | 22% |
| Households in social housing | 18% | 19% | 13% |
67%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
14%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,247
a month on new tenancies, County Waterford
3.8
times median household income, County Waterford
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
SafetySafety B+
Homes in Portlaw see less burglary and damage than in Co. Waterford’s towns or Irish towns: 3.1 per 1,000 a year
4.4violent incidents per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Theft, shown but not graded, ran at 2.6 per 1,000 a year, lower than both Co. Waterford’s towns (22) and Irish towns (15.3). Assaults and harassment topped the graded crimes in Portlaw (2023–2025). Also worth knowing: recorded crime of every kind runs at 58.3 per 1,000 residents a year.
Compared with towns its sizeFewer incidents against residents per 1,000 than 47% 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
Drugs37
Assault4.1
Road traffic3.9
Dangerous acts3.8
Damage2.7
Theft2.6
Public order2
Against justice1.5
Burglary0.4
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 | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary & damage | 3.1 | 9.7 | 6.4 |
| Theft | 2.6 | 22 | 15.3 |
| Violent crime | 4.4 | 10.6 | 5.7 |
| All recorded crime | 58.3 | 85 | 54.3 |
4.4
violent incidents per 1,000 a year
3.1
burglary and damage per 1,000 a year
200
incidents a year, Portlaw Garda area
7.5
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
HealthHealth C
Portlaw has 118 people with a disability for every 100 its ages predict, more than in Co. Waterford’s towns and across Irish towns
87%good or very good healthCHealth Grade
A quarter of residents have a disability, near Co. Waterford’s towns (24%) and higher than Irish towns (22%). Unpaid caring falls to 6.6% of Portlaw’s residents. Self-reported good health: 87% of the town’s residents.
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health117
Disability118
Co. Waterford132
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2022 | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers | 6.6% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| With a disability | 25% | 24% | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 87% | 87% | 88% |
117
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Waterford 132
118
disability per 100 expected · Co. Waterford 111
83.1 · 79.3
life expectancy, women · men, the South-East region, 2016
27%
hold a medical card, HSE Dublin and South East
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
Schools
More schools around Portlaw are in DEIS, the support scheme, than in Co. Waterford’s towns or across Irish towns: 100%
1schools within 3 km
One school lies within 3 km of Portlaw. Since 2019/20, pupils changed −23%, below both Co. Waterford’s towns (+4%) and Irish towns (+4%). 214 pupils attend the one school within 3 km of the town.
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portlaw N.S. DEISLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 214 | Catholic |
| Schools within 3 km | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the DEIS scheme | 100% | 41% | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −23% | +4% | +4% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 6% | 8% |
214
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−23%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.4 km
to the nearest primary school
4.7 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · No letters, no results: Irish schools aren’t ranked one by one.
Climate
Summer runs warm in Portlaw: July highs of 20.4°C, above Co. Waterford’s towns and Irish towns
20.4°CJuly afternoon high
Expect January lows of around 3.0°C in Portlaw. The year’s mean temperature is 10.7°C, close to Co. Waterford’s towns (10.8°C) and above Irish towns (10.3°C). The town gets 1,133 mm of rain a year.
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter9.5°C
Spring13.7°C
Summer19.9°C
Autumn14.8°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 20.4°C | 20.2°C | 19.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,133 mm | 1,022 mm | 937 mm |
| Average temperature over the year | 10.7°C | 10.8°C | 10.3°C |
| January low | 3.0°C | 3.4°C | 2.9°C |
20.4°C
July high
3.0°C
January low
1,133 mm
Rain a year
125 mm
Wettest month
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Outdoors
More woodland lies at the edge of Portlaw than Co. Waterford’s towns or Irish towns: 32% of the land within 1 km
100%of homes near green space
Within 400 m of green space: 100% of homes. Among the protected sites near Portlaw is Lower River Suir SAC. Protected sites cover 7.5% of the land within 5 km, above both Co. Waterford’s towns (5.5%) and Irish towns (1.8%).
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Portlaw0.5 ha
Co. Waterford4.0 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland within 1 km | 32% | 1% | 2.7% |
| Near a park | 100% | 80% | 92% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 7.5% | 5.5% | 1.8% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.5 km per km² | 1.1 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
100%
Near a park
0.5 ha
Green space
7 km
Footpaths
7.5%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Cool weather for November reaches Portlaw today, at 8 degrees
8°C / 8°CToday
Set beside Portlaw’s forecast, a normal November runs from 5°C at night to 12°C by day. Expect roughly 2 mm of rain today, wind picking up to 24 km/h, and a low of 8°C. Plan indoor things for Monday, when about 9 mm of rain is forecast.
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November12°C
December10°C
January9°C
February10°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 10°C | 3°C | 327 mm |
| Spring | 14°C | 6°C | 237 mm |
| Summer | 20°C | 11°C | 237 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 8°C | 333 mm |
8°C / 8°C
Today
2.1 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
22 km/h
Wind
96%
Humidity
9 h 03 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer people in Portlaw hold a degree than in Co. Waterford’s towns or Irish towns: 20%
38.8median age
The share of residents under 15 is 22%. 11% were born abroad, below both Co. Waterford’s towns (19%) and Irish towns (22%). Those 65 and older account for 14% of residents.
PortlawCo. WaterfordIreland
Ages · share of residents
12%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none14%
Lower secondary26%
Leaving Cert35%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher20%
Women and men · all residents
51.0% of Portlaw’s residents are women
960 women and 921 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 22% | 19% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 27% | 28% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 25% | 25% | 24% |
| 65+ | 14% | 16% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 14% | 12% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 26% | 18% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 35% | 36% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 6% | 6% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 20% | 29% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Waterford and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Waterford had one of the lowest turnouts at the 2024 general election
8/32seats held by Independent
At the general election 56% voted, about level with Co. Waterford’s towns (56%) and below Irish towns (59%). Local government for Portlaw is Waterford City and County Council alone; Ireland has a single tier. Just over half of voters turned out at the last local elections. Independent lead Waterford City and County Council with 8 of 32 seats, but no party has a majority: 17 are needed.
Seats on Waterford City and County · June 2024
Independent8
Fine Gael8
Sinn Féin7
Fianna Fáil5
Labour Party3
Social Democrats1
| Turnout | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 51% | 48% | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 56% | 56% | 59% |
5
Councillors
8/32
Independent seats on Waterford City and County, the largest party
51%
turnout, June 2024
4
TDs elected for Waterford
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Portlaw is dense with heritage: 351 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents, more than in Co. Waterford’s towns and across Irish towns
66inventory buildings
Portlaw has 66 buildings on the national inventory of architectural heritage, 3 of them rated of national or international importance. 15.5% of homes date from before 1919.
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National3
Regional63
Among them
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1770
earliest dated inventory building
16%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
| Heritage | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 351 | 34 | 48 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 15.5% | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 10 | 11 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Work & commuteJobs & income C+
Only 6.7% of commuters in Portlaw go to work without a car, fewer than in Co. Waterford’s towns and across Irish towns
7%walk, cycle or take transit
The average trip to work took 26.8 min, higher than Co. Waterford’s towns (20.4 min) and near Irish towns (27.6 min). Driving is how 85% of commuters got to work at the census. Households take home €47,529 a year before tax, on average.
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van85%
Walk4%
Bus2%
Bicycle0%
| Census 2022 | Portlaw | Co. Waterford | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trips under 15 minutes | 24% | 47% | 31% |
| Average trip | 26.8 min | 20.4 min | 27.6 min |
| Median household income | €47,529 | €48,421 | €57,760 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.4% | 11% | 9.2% |
€47,529
median household income, 2022 · Co. Waterford €51,539
9%
worked mainly from home, 2022
4%
trips of an hour or more
9,918
on the Live Register, County Waterford, September 2026
C
Walkability: better than 28% 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.
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Portlaw
15pages on Portlaw
The big questions
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Portlaw Heritage Centre and 4 more in and around Portlaw
Castles, abbeys, gardens, museums and days out in and near Portlaw. Best known first.
MuseumMuseumPortlaw Heritage Centrein town
CastleCurraghmore2.3 km outside town, to the westGardenGardenCurraghmore House & Gardens300 m outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumFairbrook House Garden and Museum4.1 km outside town, to the southeastAttractionAttractionWaterford & Suir Valley Railway4.3 km outside town, to the southeast
CastleCurraghmore2.3 km outside town, to the westGardenGardenCurraghmore House & Gardens300 m outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumFairbrook House Garden and Museum4.1 km outside town, to the southeastAttractionAttractionWaterford & Suir Valley Railway4.3 km outside town, to the southeastPlaces: 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 (1)
- Curraghmore: MainlyTwelve, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Famous people from Portlaw
3 notable people were born in Portlaw.
About Portlaw
Urban area in Co. Waterford
Portlaw has 1,881 people, in the area of Waterford City and 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
- 1,881 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Waterford
- Council
- Waterford City and County Council
- Local electoral area
- Portlaw-Kilmacthomas
- Dáil constituency
- Waterford
- Name in Irish
- Port Lách
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:25677
Portlaw’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
MooncoinPiltownCarrick-on-SuirBallybegCleaboyLisdugganPortlaw
Questions about Portlaw
How do people in Portlaw get to work?
9% mostly work from home, and 24% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Is Portlaw growing?
Portlaw had 1,881 people at the 2022 census, up from 1,810 in 2016: 3.9% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
Is Portlaw a young town or an old one?
The median age in Portlaw is 38.8, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
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).