I believe its the people that make a place worth living in and Magherafelt townspeople are, as they say themselves, “hard to beat.”
Four years ago the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide for Northern Ireland, named the South Derry town as one of the top three places to live, alongside the likes of Holywood and Strangford Lough area.
The judges decribed Magherafelt as “surpremely practical.”
Well, I suppose it does have a bit of everything going for it: schools and colleges, shops, restaurants and the people get on well.
It’s a short drive to the main cities – a few miles from the natural beauty of Lough Neagh and it has the Sperrin hills as a backdrop.
It had a thriving manufacturing industry once but shirt factories like Peter England eventually closed and were never replaced.
Even our hospital was downgraded.
Here are 8 reasons I love living in Magherafelt.
5. The Three Spires
The three spires - some locals refer to Magherafelt as 'the three spires', meaning the three church spires (St Swithin's Parish, Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, and First Presbyterian) which are clearly visible in the skyline when approaching the town, regardless from which direction you come. They are particularly eye catching in the early morning when there's a low lying mist and the sun slow rises behind them. I know I'm home when I see the three spires poking up through the trees in the distance. Photo: National World
6. The Cinema
The former cinema building in Magherafelt went through as many regenerations as Dr Who. I loved going to watch the Westerns on a Saturday afternoon in the penny seats - wooden benches. High Noon, The Magnificent Seven, The Stagecoach, all great movies at the time. Then there was Batman and Robin and Darby O'Gill and the Little People which fired our imaginations. Simple but happy times. Photo: David Simpson
7. The Courthouse
I've always loved the architecture of the Courthouse building on Hospital Road. it's one of the last buildings in Magherafelt of historic importance and its future hangs in balance. It would be a good community hub. One of its designers - Richard Williamson - had an unfortunate death. Travelling to London by ship he arrived drenched and was taken to hospital suffering from acute bronchitis and later died. Photo: National World
8. Trying to find somewhere to park
The one thing I hate about Magherafelt is trying to find somewhere to park, especially when you are in a hurry. At peak times of the day you can be driving round in circles for ages in the town centre before one becomes available on the other side of the street and by the time you reach it, someone has beaten you. So you head to one of the parks and, depending on the time of day, you could struggle to find a space. Photo: National World