Cherry Orchard is a close-knit, working-class suburb in west Dublin, nestled between Ballyfermot and Clondalkin, known for its strong community spirit amid ongoing regeneration efforts like the massive Cherry Orchard Point development bringing affordable homes, shops, creches, and parks. It's a place with a real local vibe—think kids playing in Cherry Orchard Park, families heading to St Ultan's School or the community centre, and residents supporting Cherry Orchard F.C., though it's faced challenges like higher crime and past issues with anti-social behaviour that groups like the Cherry Orchard Development Group are tackling head-on. With the Park West-Cherry Orchard train station, it's buzzing with potential as new builds mix with established estates, creating a vibrant, family-oriented spot that's evolving fast.
Overview
CSO Census 2022 · Small Area Population Statistics
Population
8,280
Census 2022
Owner occupied
27.3%
National: 65.9%
Crime rate per 1,000
67.4
National avg: 54.1
Home to 8,280 people, Cherry Orchard is a compact, densely populated community where low home ownership at 27.3% reflects a reliance on social housing and renting, paired with a crime rate of 67.4 per 1,000 that's higher than the national average of 54.1, suggesting a resilient neighbourhood working through some urban challenges but benefiting from major investments in regeneration.
Age Profile
CSO Census 2022 · Table 1 population by age
Age distribution
Cherry Orchard vs national average (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
With 20.3% under 14 and just 6.8% over 65, Cherry Orchard has a youthful, family-focused community full of energy from kids and working parents, less weighted towards retirees than the national picture.
Under 14
20.3%
National: 19.7%
65 and over
6.8%
National: 15.1%
Male / Female
54.9% / 45.1%
National: 49.4% / 50.6%
Economic Status
CSO Census 2022 · Table 8 principal economic status (aged 15+)
Economic status
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
vs national average
At work
Retired
Student
Looking after home/family
Slightly more than half (51.3%) are at work, with low retirement (6.4%) and work-from-home (4.5%) rates pointing to a hands-on, blue-collar economic character where folks are out earning a living in local jobs or commutes.
Third Level Education
CSO Census 2022 · Table 10 highest level of education completed
vs national average
Third level education
Third-level education at 16.9% is below the national 39.2%, indicating a practical, community-driven area where many prioritise hands-on skills and local training over university paths, supported by nearby schools and creches.
Crime & Safety
CSO Recorded Crime Statistics · Garda subdistrict level · 2024
Crime rate per 1,000
67.4
National avg: 54.1
vs national average
25% above national average
2024 recorded crime
3-year avg rate
64.5
Per 1,000 · 2022–2024
Higher than average crime: The Ballyfermot Garda subdistrict records a crime rate of 67.4 per 1,000 — 25% above the national average of 54.06. This is typical of busy urban or commercial areas where higher footfall drives more recorded incidents.
Crime rate is based on recorded incidents in the Ballyfermot Garda subdistrict (population 32,849), which covers Cherry Orchard and surrounding areas. Data: CSO Recorded Crime Statistics.
Commuting
CSO Census 2022 · Table 11 departure times & travel mode
Departure time for work / school
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
How people travel to work
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
vs national average
Work from home
Public transport
Car / van
It's not overly car-dependent despite 41.9% driving (below the 62.4% average), thanks to strong public transport use at 17.2%—double the national rate—bolstered by the Park West-Cherry Orchard station, though 26.7% have no car, making buses and trains essential for getting around.
Nationality & Ethnicity
CSO Census 2022 · Table 2 nationality and ethnicity
Citizenship / nationality
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
Ethnicity
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
vs national average
Irish citizen
White Irish ethnicity
Religion
CSO Census 2022 · Table 4 religion
Religion
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
vs national average
Catholic
No religion
Irish Language
CSO Census 2022 · Table 3 Irish speakers aged 3 and over
Can speak Irish
17.2%
National: 39.83%
Speak Irish daily outside school
0.4%
National: 4.11%
vs national average
Can speak Irish
Daily outside school
'Cherry Orchard' translates from the Irish Gort na Silíní, meaning 'field or garden of the cherries' or 'cherry tree garden,' evoking its rural past as farmland with cherry orchards before mid-20th-century social housing transformed it into the suburb we know today. This nod to its green, fruitful origins contrasts nicely with today's urban renewal bringing back parks and community gardens.
Housing & Tenure
CSO Census 2022 · Table 6 type of occupancy and accommodation
Owner occupied
27.3%
National: 65.9%
Private renting
20.4%
National: 18.0%
Social housing
46.2%
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
Housing leans towards renting (20.4% private, plus significant social stock) over ownership (27.3%), with 36.1% in flats or apartments—way above the 13% average—reflecting modern builds like the new low-rise duplexes and high-density phases in Cherry Orchard Point.
Health
CSO Census 2022 · Table 12 self-reported general health
Good or very good health
69.1%
National: 82.9%
Fair health
10.5%
National: 8.6%
Bad or very bad health
2.6%
National: 1.7%
Smokers
24.1%
National: 17.03%
Self-reported health
Cherry Orchard vs National (%)
Cherry Orchard
National
Good or very good health at 69.1% trails the 82.9% national average, possibly linked to socioeconomic factors, but new parks, playgrounds, and community gardens in the regeneration are fostering healthier, active lifestyles for families.
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