Almost 26,000 people in Tipperary volunteer, according to new census figures

New census data has revealed that 25,936 or 15% of people in Tipperary volunteer.

The set is part of the Central Statistics Office Census of Population 2022 Spotlight Series: Volunteering in Ireland.

Of those who reported volunteering in April 2022, 4,617 took part in more than one volunteer activity.

Sport made up the largest activity group, with 11,881 people in Tipperary helping out.

Community groups benefited to the tune of 9,312 people, while 6,135 people volunteered in social and charitable organisations. Religious volunteers made up 4,258 people.

The set suggested bad news for political parties, with just 613 people reporting involvement in political volunteer activities.

TOWNS

Ballina in north Tipperary was tied with Bearna in Galway for the highest proportion of people volunteering in sport.

Ballina also had the highest percentage of people volunteering when the report focused on towns, with 16% of its population reporting participation in at least one volunteer activity.

This meant 474 people reported taking part in volunteer activities.

Ballina was closely followed by Templemore and Thurles at 15% (300 people) and 14% (1,108 people) respectively.

The lowest percentage of people volunteering was in Cahir and Roscrea , at 9% and 10% or 347 and 552 people, respectively.

In south Tipperary, Clonmel and Fethard were joint highest at 12% or 2,107 and 210 respectively.

It should be noted that the CSO included figures for Waterford in Clonmel’s total.

Eleven percent of people in both Tipperary Town and Cashel reported volunteering or 598 and 543 people respectively.

WHO VOLUNTEERS?

The average age for a volunteer in Tipperary is 48. The 45-64 age group had the highest number of volunteers with 3,035.

Next was the 25-44 group with 2,467 people, followed by the 65 plus age group with 1,886 people.

Predictably, the up to 14 years was the lowest, but this still meant that 318 young people reported taking part in volunteering activities.

More men reported volunteering than women, but the difference was small.

13,479 men reported taking part in volunteer activities compared to 12,457.

Almost 24% of families with children engaged in voluntary activities.

While 20% of families without children take part in volunteer activities.