8 Worst Towns to Live in Northern Ireland
Let us put it in the right context before we take it so far. The expression “worst towns” here is going to be subjective and relative. This is because Northern Ireland is a generally good place to live. Regardless of how good a region is, however, some parts of it will be better than others. On the other hand, those parts of the region that are not regarded as the best are in that context not so good. And if all of the parts of a region are just good, the “least good” among them is invariably the worst. It is in that sense that we now want to show you the 8 worst towns to live in Northern Ireland.
8. Ballymena
Let’s begin with Ballymena, a large town in County Antrim. The town with a population of more than 29,000 is the 8th-largest town in the region by population. But it’s also one of the worst towns to live in Northern Ireland. Gone are those days when the town was prosperous and when a lot of factories were providing job opportunities.
The town has now suffered from a gripping recession that not only deterred investment in manufacturing but also stressed out existing shopping centers. Though some attempts have been made to rejuvenate the town economically, the unemployment rate is still very high. The shopping centers are no longer bustling as they used to be due to badly reduced purchasing power and low demands in the town. Besides, there are several rough areas such as Harryville in the town. Generally, the town that hosts 7 towers lacks prosperity, though it’s one of the safest places to live for people with legitimate business dealings.
7. Lurgan
Lurgan is another large town on this list. It is in County Armagh near the southern shore of Lough Neagh. The town is located about 18 miles southwest of Belfast having been linked together by the M1 motorway. Additionally, the Belfast-Dublin railway line serves this town with a population of 28,634 within the Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon districts.
Even then, it is one of the worst towns. It is divided along the religious line, no thanks to the housing anomaly. This is especially apparent in its worst part. Many of the people born in the town would prefer not to live there if they are not landlords. Houses there are usually up for buying to own not to rent. That is why it’s not a good place to live in Northern Ireland for foreigners. You will get rental areas only on Ardboe Drive and Trasna Way. But in Pollock Drive and Grey Estate, you’re in for a completely different experience.
6. Strabane
We’re now in County Tyrone to find the town named Strabane. Lying on the east bank of the Foyle River, it had a population of 13,172. It is located roughly midway from Omagh, Derry, and Letterkenny. Strabane is also on this list of the 8 worst towns to live in Northern Ireland.
Strabane has remained stuck to that unpopular tag not only in NI but also in the UK as a whole. For instance, out of 317 local authority areas in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is the 8th worst to live, according to the research carried out by Channel 4. The research measured 5 criteria homebuyers always consider namely crime, education, employment, environment, and lifestyle. The town performed woefully in all of them. It has been ranking badly for livability for years on end.
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Local Wild Places | Six Mile Water | iphone5 | Antrim
A walk along the Six Mile River in Antrim following a day of heavy rain.
Amazing things to do in and around BELFAST | N Ireland | Travel Guide
Want a stunning weekend break? Then join us as we show you Belfast and the Causeway Coastal Route, on this Northern Ireland road trip! Amazing things to do in and around BELFAST
Visiting the Game of Thrones Dark Hedges, The Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Titanic, Mount Stewart, sample the nightlife at some of the famous pubs in the Belfast City Centre and much more.
Belfast has stepped it up a gear and is now truly a fantastic destination for a weekend break. With flights from Europe at reasonable prices, you can bag a great deal within a low budget.
We hired a car to allow us to travel further out of the city and within just a 2 hours radius there are many attractions and beautiful and stunning locations/views.
We drove the Causeway coastal route in a loop so that we ended up back in Belfast at the end of the first day. Maps and links are in the video and below.
Setting out at 8am we started at the Dark Hedges, this enabled us to arrive at the Giants Causeway at 9.15am close to opening and to try and avoid the crowds.
We spent a few hours walking the coastal trails before the weather turned so we moved on by 10 miles to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. . Torr Head was our next stop, with views over to Scotland and the Mull of Kintyre.
Back in Belfast for the evening we sampled some Guinness and visited a few of the famous pubs in the Cathedral Quarter. It's very lively here and worth checking out the area. There is lots of choices.
On Sunday we started the day with an Ulster Fry at Maggie May's before driving the Shankill road to look at the murals. The Titanic Museum is £19 and at that price, you want to make sure you give yourself a few hours to see all the artefacts and outdoor locations. Sadly we didn't feel we had enough time to see it all and so passed on the entrance fee and walked around the free open areas. An excuse to come back and do this attraction properly sometimes!
To end our weekend, we had a beer at The Crown pub in the city centre. It's a very famous Victorian pub with all its original fixtures and fittings. See if you can find a free booth to sit and drink in!
Chapters:-
0:00 Intro
0:58 Dark Hedges
2:49 Giants Causeway
6:14 Carrick-A-Rede RopeBridge
8:03 Torr Head
9:38 Belfast Nightlife
10:47 Maggie May Belfast Breakfast
11:34 Shanklin Road
15:10 Titanic Museum
17:34 The Crown Pub
18:26 Next Time
Locations:-
The Dark Hedges
Giants Causeway
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
Torr Head
The Dirty Onion
The Duke of York
The Crown
Maggie May's
Mount Stewart
Scrabo Tower
Titanic Belfast
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Belfast & Northern Ireland as a Business Events Destination
Over a billion pounds has been invested in the city’s tourism product over recent years, from world-class venues and experiences, to brand new hotels, bars and restaurants . The Belfast business tourism product is trusted and the team at Visit Belfast always go the extra mile for clients, that is why Belfast was crowned Best Events destination by C&IT two years in a row.
Lonely Planet hailed the city the ‘Best region to visit in the World’. The city loves winning awards, but the best accolade of all is the happiness and success of clients who place their trust in us to deliver outstanding experiences.
The BEAUTIFUL Antrim Coast by BUS!
The Causeway Coastal Route is world-ramous and considered one of the best road trip journeys in the world. If you don’t have a car, not to worry, you can make the trip quite easily with Translink!
We started off our journey in Larne. This port town is well-connected with regular buses, trains and ferries arriving throughout the day.
Before our bus left from Larne Bus Station, we thought we’d check out one of the most exciting monuments in Larne, the Chaine Memorial Tower, or “the pencil”, as one local told us.
We took a quiet walk along the beachfront and the path leading to the tower.
After that, we headed to Larne Bus Station, where we boarded the bus to Carnlough. It was straightforward to buy our tickets, which you can get either at the information desk at the station or with the driver on the bus.
We got The Rambler bus ticket for (£9.50) which gave us an all-day ticket which is excellent value considering how many places we hopped on and off throughout our journey!
After Carnlough, we visited Cushendun and then the beautiful town of Ballycastle.
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ABOUT IRELAND BEFORE YOU DIE
Ireland Before You Die is the most popular Irish travel and culture website. We highlight the most inspiring experiences Ireland has to offer.
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Hazelbank Park - Newtownabbey, County Antrim - NI
Parks, parks, and more parks, that is what the life in Ireland and Northern Ireland is like , it appreciates those who love nature and give people the chance to have somewhere to walk through and give children the chance to play around as well. Hazelbank park in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, was the place we decided to visit this time.
For those who don't know, Newtownabbey is a large settlement north of Belfast, in county Antrim, Northern Ireland, which is sometimes considered a suburb of Belfast. Being part of Belfast, Newtownabbey is considered a place that people could head to if they are staying in Belfast without having any worries and thus making the idea of visiting Hazelbank Park a very good and possible one.
Hazelbank Park is considered one of the best parks in Newtownabbey - which is why we decided to go and check it ourselves - because it is situated on the shores of Belfast Lough and thus offers a different fantastic and wonderful view of Belfast ( Carrickfergus, and county Down.
In this park, there is a thing for every single person of the family because it offers the kids a place where they could run around and play with their bicycles and scooters and also offers them a kids area, it also give adults the chance to make a picnic where they could enjoy a good meal and relax a little bit, and it also give those swimmers the chance to have a dip in the water during the sunny days of Belfast.
We always appreciate those places and parks which are built and established in a way that would benefits all the types of people and Hazelbank Park is one of those places which is prepared to serve those on wheelchairs and families with pushchairs, and it is also prepared for those who might be coming with their bicycles as well as those who are just coming for a walk - so it is suitable for all the different types of people found out there.
Of course enjoying the place will depend on the time of the year you decided to visit it as well as the weather on the day you have chosen - we were lucky enough because the sun was up and shining so the weather was actually very good. Hazelbank Park opens at different times according to the month; it opens from 8 AM until 8 PM from November to March and closes at 11 PM from April to October.
For us - Irish people living in Belfast :-) - this was considered our trip for the day which we even ended up with eating pizza at home, but for those tourists who are coming to visit Belfast and Newtownabbey, there are other destinations which they could include in their day in addition to visiting Hazelbank Park.
In county Antrim and Newtownabbey, there are other different parks which people could choose from in addition to Hazelbank which we have been visited before, such as the Valley Park for example which we have also been to before ( In addition to the parks, there are other important places to consider, such as Antrim Castle Gardens ( Antrim Round Tower ( Lough Neagh where some scenes from Game of Thrones movie were filmed ( as well as other different places which we still haven't been to yet.
For the love of parks and walking through green areas - sometimes even exploring the different paths or trails which are found there - we have been to different parks throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland and which we enjoyed every single one of them - of course with having those which we might place as our favorite at the end.
Those parks which we have been to include Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland ( the Tollymore Forest Park in Newcastle, Northern Ireland ( Rossmore Forest Park in county Monaghan, Ireland ( Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park which is considered the most famous in Belfast ( the Botanic Gardens in Belfast ( Victoria Park which is also located in Belfast ( and many other parks and gardens which will all take your breath away with their appearance and the beautiful atmosphere and places they could offer.
Are you a park lover? Have you ever been to any of these different parks in Ireland or Northern Ireland? Did you get the chance to visit Hazelbank Park in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland? Share with us your experiences and stories and tell us which one did you enjoy the most.
Those who search will always find a place where they could enjoy their time as a whole family and in Northern Ireland, parks are always the right answer.
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Fundamania Belfast- 5 things YOU NEED to know!
❗*YOU CANNOT PAY AT THE FRONT GATE ANYMORE YOU MUST BOOK ONLINE❗
With Fundamania Belfast just around the corner, I thought I would give 5 tips on how to improve YOUR 2023 visit to Fundamania Belfast!
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Glenwherry Slemish Mountain Co Antrim Northern Ireland
A trip out in the snow to Glenwherry to see Slemish mountain...then a venture on to the Misty Burn Cafe outside Ballyclare...
Waving goodbye to Belfast, Northern Ireland from onboard the Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship 👋🏼
The day George Best played for Ballyclare Comrades at the Ballyclare May Fair 1983
George Best playing for Ballyclare Comrades v Glentoran at Dixon Park, Ballyclare in May 1983.
Blakes of the Hollow, Game of Thrones Door, Enniskillen
We are on Enniskillen's main shopping street, sectionally and confusingly known by 3 names depending where you are standing- Darling street going on to Church street and then moving up on to High street.
We are in the 'Hollow' section where the road/land dips into a hollow. This is one of the most well known and historic buildings in Enniskillen. It is Blakes of the Hollow pub opened in 1887.
Welcome to Blakes of the Hollow. .
' Renowned for its traditional Irish heritage, Blakes of the Hollow Is one of the most famous and well recognised Victorian pubs in Ireland. It is a must see attraction which has graced Co.Fermanagh’s shores for over 125 years.
The bar keeps its tradition to the best of its ability and yet suits all different age groups. The snugs are a testament to this, crowded with groups of people looking for a famously poured pint of Guinness or a delicious Irish coffee.
Live traditional music is played every Friday creating a genuine Irish pub atmosphere that is not one to be missed.
Being one of Co.Fermanaghs oldest pubs, Blakes of the Hollow is heavily linked to Discover Northern Ireland, Ireland’s official tourist board. The pub is also recommended in Georgina Campbell's Jameson Guide and the Rough Guide to Ireland.'
Asteroid-(Martin Slater) offride Cullens Derry September 2020 #Shorts
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Short Video Showing Martin Slaters Asteroid at Cullens Derry.
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BONUS FACT: This ride used to operate at the famous defunct American Adventure Theme Park in Derbyshire, England for the 1992 season.
Filmed in 2020
Exploring Doagh Old Cemetery Co Antrim
I'm passing through the village of Doagh near Ballyclare in search of the famous standing stone holestone. I couldn't resist doing a quick exploration of the old graveyard at the entrance to the village.
'Doagh graveyard is located on the south side of the village. Now in the care of Newtownabbey Borough Council, it was once the site of a medieval church known as the Church of St Mary of Doagh (Ecclesia Ste. Marie de Douach). By the early 1600s this church was in ruins. Only a portion of the west gable, standing to around 7 feet in height, still survives.
Within the graveyard is a low-walled enclosure topped by metal railings marking the resting place of members of the Shaw family. The first name on the large gravestone within the enclosure is that of Edward Shaw who died in 1761 aged 86. His son William predeceased him, dying in 1759 aged 38. William’s son, James Blair Shaw, a linen draper in Doagh, died in 1818 aged 70. In his will of 1816, James Blair Shaw, probably the leading full time resident in the village at that time.'
-Doagh Ancestry and Townlands
Drone Cinematic - THE SILENT VALLEY & SLIEVE BINNIAN, Northern Ireland // DJI Mini 2
The Silent Valley Reservoir, Wee Binnian & Slieve Binnian in the Mourne Mountains Northern Ireland. Shot while making a mountain running vlog, which is to follow.
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Duke of York - Belfast, N. Ireland
The Duke of York is an alleyway filled with historical pubs, art installations, and even a hidden museum. The pub with its namesake was 200 years old, though flattened in 1972 when a bomb accidentally went off. Willie Jack bought it in the 1980s and rebuilt it. A fascinating fact: The historic artifacts you see in the pub were (and are) collected across nine counties of Ulster, by Willie, over the last 30 years (and counting).
For more on my and @blackbeardsadventures ' travels to N. Ireland:
Belfast Wheel at night
Belfast Wheel here for a few months NOW GONE 11-04-10
Taken Sunday 11-11-07
Best Of Belfast and Northern Ireland Drone 2019
Best Of Belfast and Northern Ireland Drone 2019
Belfast Bus station. #shorts #smitvlogs #belfast #busstand
Hazelbank Park Newtownabbey Northern Ireland
Hazelbank Park is one of the best parks in Netownabbey with fantastic view!
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Follow Beezer to the buzzing Belfast streets! 🐝
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