Delvin is a charming village in north-east County Westmeath, approximately 20km from Mullingar, where medieval history meets modern rural life. The village centres around the striking curved tower walls of Delvin Castle, a Norman stronghold built by Hugh de Lacy that still dominates the main street, offering visitors a tangible connection to Ireland's medieval heritage. It's a tight-knit community where locals take pride in their historic sites, outdoor spaces like Lough Lene for wild swimming, and the surrounding countryside dotted with ancient ruins and forests.
Overview
CSO Census 2022 · Small Area Population Statistics
Population
714
Census 2022
Owner occupied
62.3%
National: 65.9%
Crime rate per 1,000
23.9
National avg: 54.1
With a population of just 714, Delvin is a small, intimate village where most people own their homes (62.3%), creating a stable, rooted community. The crime rate of 23.9 per 1,000 is less than half the national average, reflecting the safety and low-crime character typical of rural Irish villages.
Age Profile
CSO Census 2022 · Table 1 population by age
Age distribution
Delvin vs national average (%)
Delvin
National
The community skews slightly younger than the national average, with over a fifth of residents under 14, suggesting families are choosing to raise children here despite its rural location.
Under 14
21.1%
National: 19.7%
65 and over
15.4%
National: 15.1%
Male / Female
47.2% / 52.8%
National: 49.4% / 50.6%
Economic Status
CSO Census 2022 · Table 8 principal economic status (aged 15+)
Economic status
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
vs national average
At work
Retired
Student
Looking after home/family
Employment is lower than the national average at 47.6%, with a notably higher proportion of people working from home (6.7%) and a significantly higher reliance on car commuting, indicating this is primarily a rural economy where remote work and self-employment may be more common than traditional office-based jobs.
Third Level Education
CSO Census 2022 · Table 10 highest level of education completed
vs national average
Third level education
Third-level education attainment at 25% is substantially below the national average of 39.2%, suggesting the community has a more traditional, practical skills-based character rather than a university-educated demographic.
Crime & Safety
CSO Recorded Crime Statistics · Garda subdistrict level · 2024
Crime rate per 1,000
23.9
National avg: 54.1
vs national average
56% below national average
2024 recorded crime
3-year avg rate
27.5
Per 1,000 · 2022–2024
Lower than average crime: The Delvin Garda subdistrict, which covers Delvin, records a crime rate of 23.9 per 1,000 — 56% below the national average of 54.06.
Crime rate is based on recorded incidents in the Delvin Garda subdistrict (population 4,770), which covers Delvin and surrounding areas. Data: CSO Recorded Crime Statistics.
Commuting
CSO Census 2022 · Table 11 departure times & travel mode
Departure time for work / school
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
How people travel to work
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
vs national average
Work from home
Public transport
Car / van
This is decidedly car-dependent territory—77.9% of workers drive to work compared to the national average of 62.4%, and only 4.1% use public transport. If you work outside the village, you'll need reliable transport and a comfortable relationship with driving.
Nationality & Ethnicity
CSO Census 2022 · Table 2 nationality and ethnicity
Citizenship / nationality
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
Ethnicity
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
vs national average
Irish citizen
White Irish ethnicity
Religion
CSO Census 2022 · Table 4 religion
Religion
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
vs national average
Catholic
No religion
Irish Language
CSO Census 2022 · Table 3 Irish speakers aged 3 and over
Can speak Irish
27.1%
National: 39.83%
Speak Irish daily outside school
0.3%
National: 4.11%
vs national average
Can speak Irish
Daily outside school
Delvin comes from the Irish 'Dealbhna', a name with roots in Ireland's ancient Gaelic past, though the village itself was shaped by Norman settlement when Hugh de Lacy established his stronghold here in medieval times. The name reflects the area's deep historical layers, from pre-Norman Irish territory to Anglo-Norman conquest, making it a place where Irish and Norman heritage intertwine in the landscape and architecture.
Housing & Tenure
CSO Census 2022 · Table 6 type of occupancy and accommodation
Owner occupied
62.3%
National: 65.9%
Private renting
16.3%
National: 18.0%
Social housing
14.3%
National: 10.0%
Ownership breakdown
Owned with mortgage
Owned outright
Dwelling type
House/Bungalow
Flat/Apartment
Cars per household
No car
Two or more cars
The housing stock is overwhelmingly traditional houses rather than apartments (only 2.4% flats compared to 13% nationally), with strong owner-occupation and very limited rental availability, making it a place where buying a family home is the norm.
Health
CSO Census 2022 · Table 12 self-reported general health
Good or very good health
79.1%
National: 82.9%
Fair health
11.6%
National: 8.6%
Bad or very bad health
3.1%
National: 1.7%
Smokers
18.8%
National: 17.03%
Self-reported health
Delvin vs National (%)
Delvin
National
Health outcomes are slightly below the national average at 79.1%, though still solid, and the high proportion of car-dependent commuting suggests a lifestyle that's more sedentary than in more walkable communities.