‘The Irish Times’ is on the hunt for Ireland’s nicest neck-of-the-woods and has invited members of the public to nominate their favourites. Here are four of the pitches written by readers
Helen Gaynor: Wexford town
WHAT JOY to live near an estuary: watch the changing light and seasons, the ebb and flow of tide.
Herons feed in the shallows, waders pick their way awkwardly through mud and weed, banks of cloud build beyond the horizon, and the colours are echoed in the freshly painted boats of the little harbour.
A drift rises like smoke, wild geese on a practise flight beyond the hills of Curracloe. Sun on sandbanks at low tide; a mantle of mist on the far shore; mussel dredgers gliding for home, double-volumed in mirrored reflections. A boatman bales his cot; moonlight shimmers on water: daily reminders of what is good in life.
The front door of my terraced house, in the old seafaring part of Wexford town, opens directly on to the footpath beside a busy road. Traffic trundles past, slowed by the nearby pedestrian lights.
At the back, I could be in the country. Birds warble and trill. A blackbird’s evening call projecting across the neighbourhood is answered from afar.
The garden, a long, irregular plot, extends almost to the top of the cliff overlooking the railway line, its tangle of fuchsia and brambles a haven for birdlife, a pathway winding through fledgling elm grove, hedgerow cut low at one point to see the river. Primroses and bluebells are in bloom.
Narrow streets and sudden squares are hallmarks of the historic town where the Slaney enters the sea.
On the main street, the density of people in limited space makes for a sense of bustle, even in hard times.
“Howya, hun,” the sing-song accent mingles with the now frequent accompaniment of foreign tongues. Walking to town, the seafaring tradition of this place is visible in collections of shells and ships in bottles occupying window sills.
The old ballast bank near the new marina, the handsome Custom House, narrow Keyser’s Lane linking Main Street with the quays, are remnants of the port that was, before the harbour silted up. The reconstructed woodenworks, replaced under protestation, provide a wonderful amenity, enjoyed by young and old.
We have all the essentials and trappings for modern living: schools, shops, supermarkets, swimming pools; bus and rail routes, restaurants, playgrounds; an award winning opera house and an army of volunteers to run it; an Arts Centre, galleries, churches; indeed, all the usual array of sporting and social clubs. It is a good place to meet people.
We are a short distance from the countryside. Around the corner I can see Mount Leinster, a field of yellow rape, Raven Point, the horizon, the Burrow of Rosslare, and the reclaimed land of north and south Slobs, in one wonderful sweep.
Co Wexford has historic locations, miles of sandy beaches, picturesque villages, wonderful parklands and gardens, a wildlife sanctuary, and an international port. Officially, it is the sunniest county in Ireland.
And what is good is free.
David Knox: Ballygowan, Co Down
PEOPLE NORMALLY end up in Ballygowan by mistake. It’s not really en route to anywhere else, and with nothing particularly interesting visible to the naked eye, it often seems like an afterthought between Saintfield and Comber.
Given that no book should be judged by its cover, no town should be judged by the drive in, and Ballygowan is no exception, definitely offering a lot to those who reside in it. The village is as close to a self-sufficient community as is possible in today’s world of global brands and big supermarkets. From goose fat to radiator bleeders, there isn’t much that can’t be found in either the row of small shops on the Belfast Road, or the surprisingly well resourced (and independently owned) petrol station/supermarket just off the roundabout. For anything that Ballygowan’s Victoria Square (the centre of the village) can’t provide, it is sure to be found within a 10-minute drive in one of the neighbouring towns.
With its close proximity to Belfast (10 miles to the city centre), Ballygowan has ease of access to the North’s capital city, where most of the village’s population are employed. However, the village is in the unique position of being the only main residential area on the main arterial route into the city, making traffic problems virtually non-existent.
The Belfast influence, combined with age-old traditions of those whose families have lived in the village for generations, gives anyone who resides in Ballygowan a well-rounded perspective. Enjoying all the benefits of a bustling city close-by, while going to school in the sticks, or vice versa, makes it difficult for one to fall too far into the “culchie” or “yuppie” stereotypes.
A very family-oriented village, both the Presbyterian and Free Presbyterian Churches are packed every Sunday, the local Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade Companies are thriving, and recently both a football team was established and a youth club started in the Village Hall. It is virtually impossible to take a walk into the centre of the village and not bump into someone familiar.
Like every town or village, Ballygowan is not perfect. There is not a great deal of nightlife around the village, with the one restaurant recently closing its doors. Ballygowaners also tend not to appreciate it when frequently asked if their village is the home of Ballygowan water, as it isn’t.
The village may not seem like it has much to offer, but the true testament to its community spirit is that few who are born and bred there ever venture too far from it in later life, while still attracting those from elsewhere who want to live in a handy, healthy and happy place.
Clontarf, Dublin 3: Carmel Lynch
THE BEAUTY OF CLONTARF
How lucky you are if you live in Clontarf on the shores of Dublin Bay
With the beautiful walks in St Anne’s Park only a stone’s throw away
With its garden of roses a scene of delight with yellows and whites and reds
Our eyes rarely see such a colourful sight when the sun beams down on those beds
The numerous trees stand stately and tall with their various tresses of leaves
That change colour and die when comes the fall, and the squirrels invade them like thieves.
To walk the promenade by day and feel the wind blow through your hair
And watch the boats across the bay, sun on cheek what could compare
To savour the smell of the ebbing tide on the salty rough sea bed
Where the seagulls roar and the heron soar and numerous birds are fed
To watch the shining shimmering waves lapping across the bay
And all along the grassy banks the joggers run and the children play
How lucky you are if you live in Clontarf on the shores of Dublin Bay
With its nature reserves and beautiful beach only a stone’s throw away
And the mountains of Dublin and Wicklow clear on a bright sunny morn
Stand stately and high o’er the waters and the hill of Howth there to adorn
In darkness the twinkling lights of Dublin gleam glittering around the shore
A necklace of sparkling diamonds comforting the deep heart’s core.
History was made in 1014 when King Brian slew the Danes
The battle was won and the deed was done as they fought on Clontarf’s plains
How lucky you are if you live in Clontarf on the shores of Dublin Bay
With the beaches, the prom and the city only a stone’s throw away.
Katrina Bouchier: Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary
I MOVED to Cloughjordan in November 2010 from Dublin and was immediately taken by the vibrancy and warmth of the community: those who had been born into this North Tipperary oasis, and those who chose it as the location of the dynamic ecovillage.
After visiting in 2006 I thought North Tipperary people were the nicest and friendliest in Ireland. Now I know that they are. Cloughjordan has it all: fantastic countryside, vibrant arts and cultural pursuits and a marvellous community.
What’s to do in Cloughjordan?
Participate in the community supported agriculture scheme and for a modest monthly fee avail of their wonderful organic, biodynamic vegetables that are produced locally. Help in the organic vegetable garden if time allows and the inclination takes you. Learn the tin whistle. Take pottery lesson. Enjoy a fabulous meal at the local ‘pop-up’ restaurant. Take yoga lessons. Go ballroom dancing. Join the writers’ group. Do fitness circuits. Practise Aikido. Learn Irish. Join the successful local drama group. Buy local produce and crafts at the bi-monthly street market, and, of course, become a member of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association.
Hurling is big in Cloughjordan: the Kilruane MacDonaghs (named after Thomas MacDonagh, one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising who was born in Cloughjordan) won the All-Ireland title in 1986. The sod has just been turned on a new Thomas MacDonagh heritage centre. A cineclub showing local and international arthouse and independent films runs every second Wednesday. There is so much more, and all within a bicycle ride.
What else? Strike out for the historic and vibrant towns of Nenagh, Birr and Roscrea. Roscrea has a new, state-of-the-art leisure centre, with a fantastic swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym: all pristine and within a 20-minute drive or train ride of Cloughjordan.
You can walk the Silvermines or picnic in the Slieve Blooms. Hop on the train (6.20 am direct) to Dublin for business, visiting or shopping, returning on the 5.15pm.
Or go in the opposite direction to Limerick.
But the most important aspect of Cloughjordan is being part of the community, and there are so many ways to engage: the community meal on Friday evenings in the ecovillage; the super local pubs where the music sessions are mighty and everyone knows and talks to everyone else; the local coffee shop with its great coffee and chat; the fabulous food and music festivals that take place in the local parish halls, the concourse of the ecovillage or the front lawn of the local “big house”; the marvellous neighbours.
You can wander into Cloughjordan and see who you’ll meet.
Above all, there is the feeling of great goodwill and of being part of a very special community.
The Irish Times is on the hunt for Ireland's nicest neck-of-the-woods, and invites you to nominate your favourite. It can be a town, suburb, village or remote spot – anywhere that, despite all the problems our little nation is going through, you feel supremely lucky to have landed in. The reason could be the neighbours, social life, scenery, the facilities or none or all of these.
THE PRIZE
The winning "place" will be announced in early summer. The Irish Times will mark the accolade with a plaque for the locality, publish a story on the winning place, and make a short film about it for irishtimes.com.
THE JUDGES
The best place will be chosen by a panel of five judges: Maureen Gaffney, adjunct professor of Psychology and Society in UCD; architect Paul Keogh; statistician Gerard O'Neill from Amárach Research; Irish Times Environment Editor Frank McDonald; and Irish Times journalist Edel Morgan.
YOU
But the process starts with you. We want you to tell us in no more than 500 words why you think your area is the best place to live in Ireland.
Pitch, argue, convince and gush, and explain what gives your neighbourhood the X factor.
There are also some questions about everything from the local schools to the quality of the environment. But don't be put off if you live in an area that doesn't fit all these criteria. Ultimately, the strength of your pitch will count.
See irishtimes.com/bestplace for details on how to submit your entry.
