Ciaran McCurdy – family life on a small island

14 Dec 2021

Helping mark our 50th anniversary, we’re getting to know some of the people making a difference in our communities. Next up, is Rathlin Island native, Ciaran McCurdy, a former housing association tenant who speaks about the importance of social housing on the island.

Rathlin Island native, Ciaran McCurdy believes social housing is extremely important in the area for investment.

Ciaran, a dad of three, spoke about the close working relationship islanders have with Housing Executive representatives.

“I am a former Apex Housing tenant and we bought our home eventually. Social housing is very important here. It gives people an opportunity to remain on the island and move into the island and it is vitally important.

“I have always found if there’s issues the Housing Executive are quick to respond. Over the years, the Housing Executive provided houses to help people get onto the property ladder and also remain on the island and start young families,” he said.

Ciaran is a committee member on Rathlin Development Community Association and works on the ferry and in the fire brigade.

He added; “We help with certain projects on the island. We meet once a month and we have a community worker who is here every day.

“Some people have two jobs and a lot of people have small families here as well. I have a small family. It is peaceful here and a great place to bring up a family and the beach is just around the corner.

Kids have a sense of being among there friends and there is a young population here, especially over the last 10 years.

There’s a lot of kids and the school numbers are the highest they have been in a long time which is good.

The Housing Executive assisted with the recent homes that were built on the island by a housing association, they’re always there to help with housing issues.

We would like to continue the good dialogue and working relationship with one another as the Housing Executive celebrates 50 years this year.

Hopefully we would see more houses being built in the future so young people can stay on the island and it is fantastic at the minute that there are more social homes being built.

This will enable the next set of people stay on the island. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else and anyone who moves to the island becomes part of the community.