General
Location
Buncrana is situated on the west of the very scenic Inishowen Peninsula, in County Donegal, with spectacular panoramic views of Lough Swilly. The name Buncrana, (or Bun Cranncha in Irish), translates to the bottom of the Crana , the river adjacent to the town.
Buncrana or the Gateway to Inishowen , is on the R238 Regional Road, which is connected to both Derry and Letterkenny via the N13 National Primary road.
Buncrana is in close proximity to other urban centres as Table 1 below outlines. Its proximity to Derry City, which is the fourth largest city in Ireland, at just 14 miles, ensures access to an unlimited range of commercial, retail and transport services there. Letterkenny, County Donegal s largest town is located at a distance of just 27 miles from Buncrana.
Table 1 - Distance to Major Towns and Cities
|
Derry
|
14 miles (20 minsmins)
|
Belfast
|
85 miles (117 minsmins)
|
|
Letterkenny
|
27 miles (39 minsmins)
|
Sligo
|
93 miles (130 minsmins)
|
|
Ballybofey
|
37 miles (53 minsmins)
|
Dublin
|
164 miles (222 minsmins)
|
|
Donegal Town
|
54 miles (77 minsmins)
|
Galway
|
180 miles (249 minsmins)
|
Source: http://www.theaa.com/
Population
|
Town
|
Persons 1996
|
Persons 2002
|
Percentage Change in PopPop 96-02
|
|
Letterkenny
|
11996
|
15231
|
26.9%
|
|
Buncrana
|
4805
|
5271
|
9.7%
|
|
Ballybofey/Stranorlar
|
3047
|
3603
|
18.3%
|
|
Ballyshannon
|
2775
|
2715
|
-2.2%
|
|
Donegal Town
|
2296
|
2453
|
6.8%
|
Source: CSO, Census of Population 2002
As Table 2 above displays, Buncrana is the second largest town in County Donegal, with the population increasing from 4805 to 5271 persons, illustrating a significant growth rate of 9.7%, over the period 1996 - 2002.
Table 3 below displays the population for both Buncrana Town and Buncrana Environs, with the latters population increasing more since 1996. The population figures indicate that there are no significant variations in relation to gender in both the town and its environs.
|
Town
|
1996
|
2002
|
Actual Change in PopPop 96 - 02
|
|
Persons
|
Persons
|
|
Total
|
Total
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Buncrana Town
|
3312
|
3420
|
1688
|
1732
|
108 (3.3%)
|
|
Buncrana Environs
|
1493
|
1851
|
924
|
927
|
358 (24%)
|
|
Town
|
Total
|
0 - 14 yrs
|
15 - 24 yrs
|
25 - 44 yrs
|
45 - 64 yrs
|
65+ yrs
|
|
Buncrana Town
|
3420
|
846 (24.7%)
|
463 (13.6%)
|
948 (27.7%)
|
722 (21.1%)
|
441 (12.9%)
|
|
Buncrana Environs
|
1851
|
507 (27.3%)
|
309 (16.7%)
|
564 (30.5%)
|
342 (18.5%)
|
129 (7.0%)
|
Source: CSO, Census of Population 2002
Both Buncrana town and its environs have a relatively young population. An analysis of the age structure, as depicted in Table 4 above, shows that both Buncrana town and its environs, have significant concentrations in the 0 - 14 year and 25 - 44 year categories. 38% in Buncrana town are under 24 years, while 44% in the environs are under 24 years.
The lowest percentage category is in older age bracket of 65+ years. Only 12.9% in the town and 7% in the environs of Buncrana are over 65.
Table 5 below depicts the percentages in each Socio-economic group in Buncrana town and its environs. The largest percentages of the population are involved in Manual skilled , Employers and Manager , Non-Manual and All others gainfully occupied and unknown groups; 12.1%, 14.8%, 15.0% and 21.4% respectively. The lowest percentages are in Agricultural , Farmers and Higher Professional .
Council / Other Government offices
Buncrana Urban District Council Offices are located on StSt Oran s Road, Buncrana.
As part of Donegal County Councils decentralisation programme, five Public Service Centres have been established in County Donegal to date, one of which is located in Carndonagh, which serves the Inishowen Electoral Area. The full range of Council facilities are delivered there, some 18 miles away from Buncrana.
There is a FÁS placement services clinic in Buncrana.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs has a Social Welfare Local Office in Castle Avenue, Buncrana.
Council / Other Government offices
Buncrana Urban District Council Offices are located on StSt Oran s Road, Buncrana.
As part of Donegal County Councils decentralisation programme, five Public Service Centres have been established in County Donegal to date, one of which is located in Carndonagh, which serves the Inishowen Electoral Area. The full range of Council facilities are delivered there, some 18 miles away from Buncrana.
There is a FÁS placement services clinic in Buncrana.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs has a Social Welfare Local Office in Castle Avenue, Buncrana.