Shillelagh’s story
Shillelagh: 18% of homes built before 1919
31 buildings on the National Inventory inside Shillelagh.
- 1750Bendemere (house)
- 1825The Old Rectory
- 1825Worker's house, 1 Main Street, Shillelagh
ShillelaghCo. Wicklow
390 people call this town in Co. Wicklow home.
6 places within 19 kmMap →
Photo: David Purchase · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
390
CSO, Census 2022 · Wicklow County Council
Median age
42.2
17% are 65+ · Co. Wicklow 14%
Degree level
23%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
13%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Shillelagh a good place to live?
The median sale, €287,000, comes to 6 times what the median household here earns. 31 of its buildings are on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Born outside Ireland: one in ten residents. Of those who commute, 13% go on foot, by bike or by public transport.
With fewer than 1,000 residents, Shillelagh falls below the line for grades among Irish towns.
What makes Shillelagh stand out
The 3 things Shillelagh does most differently from other towns.
Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents
History
31 buildings on the national inventory
16.5 times the median of Irish towns for its size, all of regional importance.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Born outside Ireland
Who lives here
Against 22% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
13% walk, cycle or ride
Against 23% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Shillelagh.
Schools
Schools around Shillelagh have lost ground: pupils −17% since 2019, below Co. Wicklow’s towns and Irish towns
2 schools lie within 3 km of Shillelagh: 2 primary schools.
2schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoil Mhuire na nAirdLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 73 | Catholic |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic1
Church of Ireland1
| Schools within 3 km | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils since 2019/20 | −17% | +12% | +4% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | 9% | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 0% | 20% | 35% |
96
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
−17%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.6 km
to the nearest primary school
5.5 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.
Natural hazards
The ground is the thing to check in Shillelagh: 4.9% of homes stand on high landslide susceptibility, more than in Co. Wicklow’s towns and across Irish towns
Under 1% of homes in Shillelagh are estimated to have radon above the reference level. Very few of its homes sit on low ground by water.
0%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas0%
On high landslide susceptibility4.9%
| Share of homes | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| On high landslide susceptibility | 4.9% | 0.4% | 0% |
| In high-radon areas | 0% | 0% | 0% |
142
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Winter nights bite in Shillelagh: January lows of 1.9°C, colder than Co. Wicklow’s towns or Irish towns
1,074 mm of rain falls in a year, higher than both Co. Wicklow’s towns (988 mm) and Irish towns (937 mm). The mean temperature over a year in Shillelagh is 9.7°C. Across the year, Shillelagh now averages 0.2°C more than it did in 1981–2010.
19.9°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.4°C
Spring12.9°C
Summer19.2°C
Autumn13.9°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 1.9°C | 3.3°C | 2.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.7°C | 10.5°C | 10.3°C |
| Rain a year | 1,074 mm | 988 mm | 937 mm |
| July high | 19.9°C | 19.7°C | 19.9°C |
19.9°C
July high
1.9°C
January low
1,074 mm
Rain a year
124 mm
Wettest month
35
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
Bad health runs low in Shillelagh for a town of its ages, at 41 per 100 expected, less than in Co. Wicklow’s towns and across Irish towns
Allowing for its ages, Shillelagh has 116 residents with a disability per 100 expected, above Co. Wicklow’s towns (111) and Irish towns (106) alike. Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 0.8% of the town. Disability touches 25% of the town’s population.
91%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health41
Disability116
Co. Wicklow111
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 91%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 1%
| Census 2022 | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad or very bad health | 0.8% | 1.8% | 2% |
| Good or very good health | 91% | 90% | 88% |
| With a disability | 25% | 24% | 22% |
| Unpaid carers | 5.1% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
41
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Wicklow 111
116
disability per 100 expected · Co. Wicklow 111
84 · 80.3
life expectancy, women · men, the Mid-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
Housing
Social housing is more common in Shillelagh than in Co. Wicklow’s towns or across Irish towns, at 19% of households
Two thirds of households own their home, between Co. Wicklow’s towns (71%) and Irish towns (61%). Renting privately is how just over one in ten households live.
€287Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Eircode area, 2023–2025
Shillelagh€287K
Co. Wicklow€440K
Irish towns€350K
| Housing | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | €287K | €440K | €350K |
| Households in social housing | 19% | 14% | 13% |
| Households renting privately | 12% | 16% | 22% |
| Households owning their home | 67% | 71% | 61% |
67%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
12%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,730
a month on new tenancies, County Wicklow
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure · The price is for the postcode area Y14, not the town alone: too few sales inside the town carry a full address.
Outdoors
Fewer homes in Shillelagh sit near green space: 47% within 400 m, below Co. Wicklow’s towns and Irish towns
Among the protected sites near Shillelagh is Slaney River Valley SAC. Woodland covers just over a tenth of the land within 1 km, higher than both Co. Wicklow’s towns (5.7%) and Irish towns (2.7%). 2 waymarked trails and greenways start within 5 km.
47%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Shillelagh3.4 ha
Co. Wicklow1.5 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 47% | 75% | 92% |
| Woodland within 1 km | 11% | 5.7% | 2.7% |
| Sea within 5 km | 0% | 34% | 0% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.2 km per km² | 1.2 km per km² | 2.1 km per km² |
47%
Near a park
3.4 ha
Green space
1 km
Footpaths
1.5%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Shillelagh’s outlook today: partly cloudy, peaking at 10 degrees
The heaviest rain of the week is due on Tuesday, around 8 mm. In a typical November, days climb to about 11°C and nights sink to 4°C, the yardstick for Shillelagh’s forecast. It should stay dry today, with a fresh breeze of up to 27 km/h and a low near 8°C.
10°C / 8°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November11°C
December8°C
January8°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 2°C | 293 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 219 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 237 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 6°C | 324 mm |
10°C / 8°C
Today
None
Rain, next 24 hours
21 km/h
Wind
88%
Humidity
9 h 21 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Households in Shillelagh earn less than in Co. Wicklow’s towns and across Irish towns: €47,670 a year
The jobless rate is 11%. Just over two in five trips took under 15 minutes, higher than both Co. Wicklow’s towns (36%) and Irish towns (31%). At the census, 78% of commuters went by car.
13%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van78%
Walk10%
Bicycle3%
Bus1%
| Census 2022 | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | €47,670 | €64,387 | €57,760 |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 42% | 36% | 31% |
| Unemployment rate | 11% | 8.9% | 9.2% |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 66% | 69% | 68% |
€47,670
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Wicklow €64,077
9%
worked mainly from home, 2022
15%
trips of an hour or more
4,688
on the Live Register, County Wicklow, 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
Most of Shillelagh was born here: only 9.9% come from abroad, fewer than in Co. Wicklow’s towns and across Irish towns
9.5% of residents are 15 to 24, below both Co. Wicklow’s towns (13%) and Irish towns (12%). Among adults, 23% have a degree. The 65-and-over age group makes up 17% of residents.
42.2median age
ShillelaghCo. WicklowIreland
Ages · share of residents
17%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none11%
Lower secondary21%
Leaving Cert39%
Diploma or cert6%
Degree or higher23%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 50.8% of Shillelagh
198 women and 192 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 21% | 24% | 20% |
| 15–24 | 9.5% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 26% | 29% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 26% | 24% |
| 65+ | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Primary or none | 11% | 10% | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 21% | 15% | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 39% | 36% | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 5.8% | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 23% | 32% | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Wicklow and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
Wicklow County Council runs on one of the smallest budgets per resident of any council
There is no majority on Wicklow County Council; Independent have the most seats, 10 of 32, short of 17. General election turnout: 61%, between Co. Wicklow’s towns (68%) and Irish towns (59%). At the last local elections, 55% of voters went to the polls.
10/32seats held by Independent
Seats on Wicklow County · June 2024
Independent10
Fine Gael9
Fianna Fáil4
Social Democrats3
Sinn Féin2
Green Party2
Labour Party1
Independent Ireland1
| Turnout | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| General election, November 2024 | 61% | 68% | 59% |
| Local elections, June 2024 | 55% | 54% | 46% |
6
Councillors
10/32
Independent seats on Wicklow County, the largest party
55%
turnout, June 2024
3
TDs elected for Wicklow-Wexford
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Shillelagh is dense with heritage: 795 inventory buildings per 10,000 residents, more than in Co. Wicklow’s towns and across Irish towns
Homes from before 1919 make up 17.8% of the total, above Co. Wicklow’s towns (5.5%) and Irish towns (3.4%) alike.
31inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional31
Among them
0
sites on the Sites and Monuments Record
1750
earliest dated inventory building
18%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
2
places pictured on the history page
| Heritage | Shillelagh | Co. Wicklow | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 795 | 54 | 48 |
| Homes built before 1919 | 17.8% | 5.5% | 3.4% |
| Archaeological sites on the record | 0 | 14 | 11 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Glendalough and 11 more within 40 km
Nothing to visit is mapped within 5 km of Shillelagh; these are the best known within 40 km.
Abbey or prioryGlendalough32 km northeast
National parkWicklow Mountains National Park31 km north
CastleBallyloughan Castle18 km northwest
CastleHuntington Castle and Gardens9.7 km southwest
CastleCarlow Castle28 km west
CastleBallymoon Castle25 km westPlaces: 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)
- Glendalough: Schcambo at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wicklow Mountains National Park: Joe King, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ballyloughan Castle: VisionsofthePast, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Huntington Castle and Gardens: Liam Hughes from Milwaukee, WI, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Carlow Castle: Age Bosma, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ballymoon Castle: Poleary91, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Shillelagh
15pages on Shillelagh
Landmarks
The national inventory of architectural heritage lists 31 buildings in Shillelagh, each rated of regional importance.
Famous people from around Shillelagh
No notable person born in Shillelagh is on our list; these were born in the towns around it.
A
Anne DoyleIrish journalist · born in Ferns · born 1952P
Pat DeeringIrish politician · born in Rathvilly · born 1967P
Paudge BrennanIrish politician (1922–1998) · born in Carnew
M
Michael KeoghIrish soldier (1891-1964) · born in TullowPhoto credits
Frederick Keppel: Frederick Keppel, photographer unknown., Public domain · Bernard Jackman: Fanny Schertzer, CC BY 3.0
Shillelagh’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
CarnewTinahelyBunclodyTullowRathvillyFernsShillelagh
Questions about Shillelagh
How do people in Shillelagh get to work?
9% mostly work from home, and 42% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
Is Shillelagh growing?
Shillelagh had 390 people at the 2022 census, up from 363 in 2016: 7.4% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
How old are the people of Shillelagh?
The median age in Shillelagh is 42.2, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Shillelagh
Urban area in Co. Wicklow
Shillelagh has 390 people, in the area of Wicklow 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
- 390 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Wicklow
- Council
- Wicklow County Council
- Local electoral area
- Baltinglass
- Dáil constituency
- Wicklow-Wexford
- Name in Irish
- Síol Éalaigh
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:15394
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).