Over-65s 'the happiest people in Ireland'

Those aged over 65s are the happiest people in Ireland, a study by a UCC economist has found.

Dr Edel Walsh examined the details of more than 2,500 people and also found that levels of satisfaction were highest among those lived in a rural area, who have children, and for whom religion is a part of daily life.

Dr Walsh's work also showed that being a trusting person was an influential factor in how happy someone felt.

She said that the study seems to confirm the belief that we are generally happiest during our younger or older years, and less so during the "transitional" ages of our 30s and 40s.

"I suppose it does fit in line with what has been found, this sort of u-shaped effect, with respect to our life satisfaction," she said.

"So we tend to be happier when we are younger, maybe we don’t have as many commitments, and then tending to decline during the middle age, the mid-life crisis years maybe, and then to improve again or increase again towards the 60-year age mark."