West Cork: Aidan Morris and Brenda Dodd

West Cork Aidan Morris and his wife Brenda Dodd, both Dubliners, owned and managed a number of fashion retail businesses in the city before they "fell in love with West Cork during a holiday and decided four-bedroom house on an acre in Rossbrin, (population in winter, about 60), situated between Ballydehob and Schull where from "every window of the house" they can see Roaring Water Bay.

In 2002, they opened The Gate Gallery in the centre of Skibbereen, selling an eclectic mix of paintings by local and national artists and shipping to customers around the world (www.thegategallery.com). Sometimes after work, they and their children, Gordon, 14, and Roseanne, 12,"go out on the boat to one of the islands and have tea on a deserted beach". Aidan says, "we came for the place but now believe that the best thing about West Cork is the people".

Brenda was nervous about the children adapting but "they are very happy and their only regret is that relatives in Dublin are so far away".