Ballymoney residents live longer

People live longer in Ballymoney than anywhere else on the island, it was revealed today.

The Co Antrim town boasts the highest life expectancy in both the North and the Republic at just over 78 years for men and 82 for women.

The Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO) study also found people in Roscommon lived the longest in the Republic.

Belfast and Leitrim had the lowest life expectancy for men while women fared worst in Derry and Limerick.

Ballymoney is around 77km north of Belfast nestled between Ballymena and Coleraine with a population of around 9000.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) mayor John Finlay said he’s not surprised by the findings as the combination of fresh country air and a friendly atmosphere makes the town an obvious place to set-up home.

“It’s no wonder that people live longer here,” he said.

“Ballymoney is a lot slower pace of life than the big towns, and it’s a very friendly place and everyone gets on extremely well.

“The Borough Council has put in cycle paths and walkways and people do walking.

“I don’t think there’s something in the water, it’s just good wholesome food and plenty of exercise.”

Dr Kevin Balanda, INIsPHO Director, said it was hard to pin-point why people lived longer in one place than another.

“One of the things about life expectancy is that it brings together a whole load of factors.

“It has something to do with the Ballymoney area, it has something to do with services available, the type of environment it is, but also it’s got a lot to do with the history of the people who live there.

“Many of the things that affect people’s health occurred earlier in life, and the effects accumulate over time. What is it that’s happening in Ballymoney which lead them to this relatively high life expectancy?” he said.

The All-Ireland Health and Social Care Indicator Set found the all-Ireland life expectancy was 75.6 for men and 80.6 for women.

In the North only it was 75.9 for men and 80.6 for women, compared with 75.5 for men in the Republic of Ireland and 80.6 for women.

Derry had the shortest life-span for women at just 79.3 with the same figure for Limerick.

“Urban areas can tend to have higher mortality rates than rural areas simply because urban areas are where health services exist so sick people tend to congregate towards urban areas,” said INIsPHO research analyst Steve Barron.

“Social problems would also be a contributing factor to life expectancy.”

The highest premature death rate in the Republic is in Louth and Belfast in the North.