Judges said it was a “supremely practical choice for families”, thanks to its convenient central location, rapidly improving town centre and excellent schools.
But Magherafelt residents don't need a team of judges to tell them what they’ve known for years.
Here are 17 things only Magherafelt people know - or should know - about the town: anecdotes and memories that make up a shared community.
Here are 17 things only Magherafelt people know - or should know - about the town: anecdotes and memories that make up a shared community.
5. Was it intended to be a railway station?
The town's Courthouse on Hospital Road was originally destined to be a railway station in India but, due to some colonial mix up in the plans, it ended up as a Courthouse in Magherafelt. There's no hard evidence that this was the case, but as one of the few attractive historic buildings remaining in the town, it does look a bit like a railway station and would probably look just as well in the Indian subcontinent. Photo: Simon Robinson
6. The Fairy Thorn
The Fairy Thorn bush (which was situated roughly in the centre of this picture) at the junction of Westland Road/Rainey Street stood beside a small stream for as long as one can remember until it was removed as part of a road widening scheme. It caused uproar among locals at the time as many believed it was bad luck to cut one down. The BBC's Stephen Nolan even ran a piece on the bush's demise, featuring an expert on Irish Fairy Thorn's. Photo: National World
7. Art thou real, my ideal?'
The wee town gets a mention on page 348 of James Joyce's epic Ulysses: "Art thou real, my ideal? it was called by Louis J. Walsh, Magherafelt, and after there was something about twilight, wilt thou ever? and ofttimes the beauty of poetry, so sad in its transient loveliness, had misted her eyes with silent tears that the years were slipping by for her, one by one, and but for that one shortcoming she knew she need fear no competition and that was an accident coming down Dalkey hill and she always tried to conceal it." Walsh, a lawyer, writer and politician, was born in Maghera and attended University College Dublin with Joyce. Joyce pictured in 1941. Photo: Getty Images
8. Lovers' lane
Meadow Lane, off the Moneymore Road, was Magherafelt's 'Lovers Lane' for generations. It is now the service entrance to Meadowlane Shopping Centre which was named after the lane. It was secluded from the main road by a line of tall beech trees. In the fading light of the day the sky would turn black as hundreds of noisy crows came home to roost, and in the autumn the ground was blanketed by golden leaves that blew along 'The Pass' and blocked the drains. Photo: Goggle