Harold’s Cross is a typical urban parish in 21st century Ireland – tending to the younger age group and racially/culturally diverse demographic. It is younger in age than the national average and has a dynamic population. In 2008, over 50% had been in the parish for less than five years.

Of those who have moved in, the majority are under 35 years and 19% of the parish population are of foreign nationality – over 40 different nationalities were represented in a 2008 survey. The proportion of households with families is 25%.

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• Spread across at least 6 electoral wards and 2 Dáil constituencies.
• Stretching from the Grand Canal to Terenure.
• Directly adjacent to 6 other parishes (Rathgar, Rathmines, Terenure, Mount Argus, Drimnagh, Harrington St).
• The population of Harold’s Cross is heavily skewed towards the young adult age brackets.
• 48% of our parishioners are aged 20-39 years (census 2011).
• 47% of parishioners live in private rental accommodation, compared with a national average of 29% – indicating a transient population.
• Two out of three people (67%) in Harold’s Cross are single.
• 1,530 families live in our parish.
• 25% of households include children.
• Children from the parish attend over 30 different schools.
• St Louis is the most frequently attended school: 15.5% of children attend either the primary or secondary schools at St Louis Rathmines.
• 19% of people in the area are foreign nationals.
• In 2008, individuals from 41 different nationalities were living in Harold’s Cross.
• 67% of the respondents in Harold’s Cross stated their religion as Catholic in the 2011 census. This is lower than the national figure of 84%, reflecting the urban nature of the parish.
• 18% of parishioners state that they have no religion, a proportion three times greater than the national average (6%). This large discrepancy may be partly explained by the high percentage of young adults in Harold’s Cross and a growing reluctance to be publicly committed to a particular lifestyle, image or institution. The preference for many is to be independent and able to embrace or reject specific aspects at will.
• There is a comparatively low level of unemployment (8%) in our parish, compared with the national average (14%). 60% of parishioners aged 15 years and over are at work, 13% are students, 11% are retired and 5% are looking after the home or family. 3% are unable to work due to disability or long-term illness.

The National Census of Ireland in 2011 provided data for each parish in the country. More information is available on the results for Harold’s Cross.