Not STRICTLY speaking overseas (unless you consider Northern Ireland overseas) but...

[TheRealMBJ]

We may have to relocate to Northern Ireland (from North Yorkshire) by the new year. I would prefer to live in SOuth Belfast but as that would mean an hour commute to (and back) from work for DH, so may not be the most feasible of options.

Would anyone be able to recommend THE Best place to live South of Belfast?

Sounds like you enjoyed it though?

Is your husband changing his mind?

We did have agood time. It I saving decision to move tbh, and DH hasnot had a full formal offer yet, he is waiting for it before making a final decision.

So we'll see.

I will keep you all updated

Hi Real MBJ, just stumbled on this thread. Can I highly recommend the stunningly beautuful village of Rostrevor if you need to be in the Newry Warrenpoint area. Google for images. Equally beautiful is Carlingford if you're preapred to go the whole hog and live in the Republic (only a few miles from Newry).

If I didnt live in south belfast (which I love) thats where I'd want to be. Very good schools in the area too (esp secondary level).

If you need a friend in the locality when/if you come pm me!

Thanks Happy. In fact we are considering a Rostrevor, is where H would ideally like to be

Rostrevor is beautiful, I'm jealous

Another who agrees that Rostrevor is lovely!

me too, love Rostrevor

I'm from outside Newry originally. I wouldn't necessarily choose to live there but the schools are amazing, I would move home just to be near them if I could!

Kilkeel (if right) is not altogether easy to get to from Belfast etc. If you want to be close to Belfast, Banbridge is nice and I understand there has been quite a bit of development recently (but don't quote me!!)

LuckyStar would you mind being more specific about why you wouldn't choose to live there?

And which schools are good?

Oh we spend our summers in Rostrevor. It is the place we would choose to live if we ever came back to NI. Lovely.

Sorry for the delay. I'm not sure to be honest, perhaps it's because I'm a country girl at heart! It's not a bad place at all, I'm just biased against, for no particular reason! (not particularly helpful!) There are 2 boys and 2 girls grammar schools, all are excellent, with brilliant reputations. I think all of them (I don't know definitely though) have primary schools 'linked' to them. For instance, St Clares primary is linked to Sacred Heart grammar (but attendance at the primary isn't mandatory for entry to the grammar. All the grammar schools are catholic, just so you know.

Newry has good transport links too. Trains to bot. Belfast and Dublin.

As I say my not wanting to live there is just my preference!

Hi I'm from NI too (live in England now)
Glad you liked ni! The roads in ni aren't as big as over here, so in reality I'm not sure how many people really do a Belfast- Newcastle ish commute everyday.

I think you will find the people super friendly! It's the odd dichotomy about ni. Everyone is mega friendly and welcoming but as tee says a few hotheads spoil the image for the rest of the world.

My parents own a holiday cottage in kilkeel, if you want to hire it for a proper look around the area. Pm me if you want.

I think if I was in your situation I would consider living in warrenpoint. V nice area, got newry v close for shopping. V close to m1 to get to Dublin/ Belfast. Beautiful part of the world.

(Did you know the Narnia landscape is rostrevor area? Cs Lewis is from there.)

Key question- did DH get the job???

Update:

H got the job. He (we) accepted and will start looking on earnest for places to stay. Looks like he might have to do a fair bit of travel to west coast of Scotland too, which makes Belfast a sensible option.

Keeping my mind open though. Will start looking in earnest when he is back from his current work trip

Congratulations!
I'm sure you will live your new home!
Warm nirish wishes for you all

*love

Congrats - hope you find the perfect place to live. It really is a great place, so fingers crossed you have a blast there!

Hope you like it here. South Belfast is lovely.

Im really jealous! Would love to move to northern ireland (husband is from dublin), its such beautiful place.

Great news. PM me if you want advice re. South Belfast. Check out www.propertynews.com/

Hey! My partner and I were planning on moving to Warrenpoint or Rostrevor. Do you know what the communities are like there? We're in our 30s so a younger community would be amazing. Thanks in advance!