Waterford City is the best place in Ireland to live in 2021 - according to an Irish Times competition.
The county's good weather, beautiful buildings, pedestrian friendly spaces and liveability were some of the key factors as to why it scooped the prize.
The city, which was the unanimous choice of the judging panel, beat off stiff competition from the four other shortlisted locations: Clonakilty, Co Cork; Galway city; Glaslough, Co Monaghan; and Killarney Co Kerry.
The Irish Times Best Place to Live in Ireland contest, which is supported by Randox Health, began in June. Over the summer 2,400 people nominated 470 places across all 32 counties for the title.
The panel of judges included Zainab Boladale, presenter of RTÉ’s Nationwide; Rosita Boland, Irish Times journalist; Dr Illona Duffy, GP and public-health commentator; Simon Wall, Mayo county architect and Irish Times journalist Conor Goodman, who chaired the group.
Architect Simon Wall described the city’s Viking Triangle as a wonderful friendly public realm with walkable, liveable and happy communities.
Mr Wall said: “Waterford is an unassuming city, with a sense of its own independence. It appears not to compare itself with other Irish cities. What it has achieved over the past two decades is simply outstanding.”
Rosita Boland said the city centre’s wonderful period buildings were complemented by thoughtfully designed new museums that have brought a new civic energy.
Zainab Boladale, said the city has been quietly doing its own thing over the past few years and she highlighted its vibrant youthful scene.
Dr Duffy said the city’s response to the pandemic was another plus – for most of 2020 Waterford had the lowest infection rate on a county-by-county basis.
He added: “Waterford mounted a great battle against Covid, protecting and developing services in the regional hospital, not to mention its community power. It achieved both low Covid rates and a high vaccine uptake.”
All the best places to live
The Best Places to Live in Ireland 2021
Winner
Waterford City
Short List – Top 5 Best Places
Clonakilty Co. Cork, Galway City, Glaslough Co. Monaghan, Killarney Co. Kerry and Waterford City
Long List – Top 20 Best Places
Four villages: Abbeyleix and Ballinakill (Co. Laois), Clonbur (Co. Galway) and Glaslough (Co. Monaghan)
Three cities: Derry City / Londonderry (Co. Derry), Galway City (Co. Galway) and Waterford City (Co. Waterford)
Two suburbs: Cabra (Dublin 7) and Malahide (Co.Dublin)
Eleven towns: Blackrock (Co. Louth), Bray (Co. Wicklow), Carrick-on-Shannon (Co. Leitrim), Celbridge (Co.Kildare), Clonakilty (Co. Cork), Enniskillen (Co. Fermanagh) Gorey (Co. Wexford), Killarney (Co. Kerry), Monaghan (Co. Monaghan) Rostrevor (Co. Down) and Tullamore (Co.Offaly).
