Place profile · Dunkineely, Co. Donegal

Is Dunkineely a good place to live?

Dunkineely, Co. Donegal scores 50/100 for quality of life, #103 of the 108 Irish areas BuyerIQ ranks, and its fundamentals are rated “stagnating”. The median home sells for €272,500 (most €128,125–€388,750), it scores 71/100 for safety (44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents), 352 people live here, down 3.8% since 2016. It's strongest on affordability and family & community, weakest on schools & education.

Updated August 2026 · Property Price Register + 20+ official sources, refreshed daily

Dunkineely is stagnating.

Below average today — improving in absolute terms, but falling behind the national trend.

↓ Unemployment fell 13% → 8%, in line with nationally↓ Population fell 3.8% since 2016↑ Prices up 271.4%

Where Dunkineely sits.

Co. Donegal · 2 bus stops · no rail.

189 min
drive to Galway

#103 of 108 for quality of life in Ireland.

50/100
#103 liveability#93 value
Affordability100
Family & community83
Environment74
Safety71
Local economy28
Transport & services22
Schools & education20

Ranked on quality of life alone — cost of living excluded, so the genuinely best areas rank top even though they cost more. Factor in price and Dunkineely is #93 of 108 for value for money (most quality of life per euro).

Homes sell for €272,500.

€128,125€388,750
↑ +271.4%0% new-build18 sales / 2yr
€€

Affordable for its access.

100/100
Affordability score

Good for families.

83/100
Family & community score

Clean, green surrounds.

74/100
Environment score

Quiet and safe.

71/100
44.8/1,000 · Donegal

The community here.

352 people, down 3.8% since 2016.

Who lives here.

25%
third-level
25%
professional
10.4%
unemployment
Affluence: disadvantaged

Mostly owner-occupied.

72.9% own6.9% rent15.5% social

For sale in Dunkineely right now.

Get a full report on any Dunkineely property →

The honest trade-offs.

↓ Transport & services 22/100↓ Schools & education 20/100

Compare with nearby towns.

Dunkineely vs DonegalDunkineely vs LetterkennyDunkineely vs LiffordDunkineely vs BundoranDunkineely vs BuncranaDunkineely vs Ballybofey-StranorlarIs Donegal a good place to live?Is Letterkenny a good place to live?Is Lifford a good place to live?Is Bundoran a good place to live?

Dunkineely: common questions

Is Dunkineely a good place to live?

Dunkineely, Co. Donegal, scores 50/100 on BuyerIQ's Quality of Life composite (cost of living excluded) — #103 of the 108 areas we rank. It's strongest on affordability and family & community.

Is Dunkineely safe?

Dunkineely scores 71/100 on safety, ~44.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Dunkineely?

The median sale price in Dunkineely over the last 24 months was €272,500, most between €128,125 and €388,750 (Property Price Register).

Is Dunkineely on the up?

Dunkineely is rated "Stagnating" — unemployment fell 13% → 8%, in line with nationally, population fell 3.8% since 2016, prices up 271.4%.

Are there new builds in Dunkineely?

New builds are rare in Dunkineely — under 1% of recent sales (Property Price Register).

Is there much new development or planning activity in Dunkineely?

3 planning applications were lodged within Dunkineely in the last 12 months, covering 1 residential unit (17 on record) — measured per town, not just at county level.

Is Dunkineely good for families?

Dunkineely scores 83/100 for families and community.

What are the schools like in Dunkineely?

Dunkineely scores 20/100 for schools and education, with 1 school in the area.

What is the commute like from Dunkineely?

Dunkineely is about 189 minutes by road from Galway.

Sale prices from the Property Price Register (rolling 24 months). Quality of Life averages seven equal-weighted dimensions from 40+ metrics across 13 public datasets (CSO census + SAPS, Garda crime, SEAI, EPA, DES schools, GTFS). Population is CSO Census 2022; the “on the up” trajectory compares 2016→2022. Figures refresh daily · an area assessment, not advice on a specific property. Updated August 2026.