Loughguile, between Ballymena and Ballymoney, ranked 29th in The Sunday Times 50 most idyllic rural locations - the only place in Northern Ireland to make the list.

With a population of only just over 2000 residential, this small Co Antrim village is known throughout Ireland for its successful Shamrocks hurling and camogie teams.

The Sunday Times said of Loughguile: "On the fringes of the impossibly scenic Glens of Antrim, and close to the Giant's Causeway, Loughguile has all the rolling open spaces and greenery you need to sooth away the head-melt of urban living.

"Ancient history - megalithic standing stones, castle ruins and lakeside crannogs - mixes with All-Ireland hurling and traditional folk-dance championships.

"This is where you go to sit and stare; sip an Irish whiskey from the local Bushmills distillery in the Pound Bar before venturing to the Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge on the north Antrim coast, or testing your swing on the challenging Royal Portrush golf course."

The village's most famous son was the late Cardinal Cahal Daly.

Factors such as house prices and school performance are used to determine which locations appear on the list. The locations were selected for desirable features such as a positive community spirit.