Villagers in Dundrum have been celebrating over recent weeks after the hidden gem was recently named the best place to live in Northern Ireland by The Sunday Times.
Two other locations in Northern Ireland - Holywood and Portstewart - were included in the comprehensive guide, which named Saffron Walden in Essex as the best place to live in the UK.
As always, the judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices. They described Dundrum as "genteel, seriously gourmet and generous in spirit" as it named the Co Down spot '"the best village in Northern Ireland".
So how does it feel to find yourself in the spotlight as the best place to live in Northern Ireland? We went along to find out how the village is adjusting to its new accolade two weeks on.
While the news might have surprised many of us, for those living in the picturesque village the news came as no surprise to locals including Tom Doak, manager of The Dundrum Inn.
He told Belfast Live: "People have been making a lot of jokes about it but overall, everybody's been very happy. We've had a lot of compliments from people coming to visit and it has helped business as well.
"I'm a blow-in myself and have only lived here for three years but it's a very friendly village with a really good community spirit. People get together in lots of little clubs and so on and they're very supportive of us as well as other businesses around the town.
"As we head into the summer I think more people will stop off and see what's really here rather than just drive on through to Belfast or Newcastle."
Andrew Boyd, owner of Kilmegan Cider, is a long-term resident of Dundrum. He said: "I'm proud to be from here. I did some travelling in the past and then I came back. You're walking down the street and people putting their hand up so it's just got this great sense of community. Everybody's trying to work in their own wee ways to try and improve the lives of people within the village.
"When you get that sense of community, that's what kind of holds it so hopefully it'll not change. But I've always known that it's just a lovely place to live so to be recognised in this way is nice."
That sentiment is shared by Claire McCormick, manager of Tonn Ruray cafe and bistro: "Quite a few people were shocked and then others amazed but it's so good for the village to be put on the map in this way.
"But Dundrum has everything in it like the scenery you wouldn't get anywhere else. You hear a lot of people talking about the community spirit and the people in it and that's what makes it."
She added: "There were a lot of derelict buildings in the past but over the past 20 years, it's just been one business opening after another and that's obviously bringing more people in and adding more colour to the village.
"You just see the place gradually getting busier and busier because there's more businesses open. It's brilliant for the village because previously people were just driving through to go to Newcastle or Belfast but they are actually stopping and taking an interest."
For Ramona Burns, owner of Ramona Burns Makeup + Beauty, the news has been brilliant and given the village a real boost.
"It's absolutely brilliant and there's been loads of talk about it. It's a really lovely place and before that we probably wouldn't really have thought about it if I'm totally honest.
"Years ago, we would have driven through Dundrum just to get to Belfast or wherever but in the last 10 years, it's come on so much. We've worked here for nearly 10 years and the community is lovely around here.
"I hope that more people will stop off rather than just drive on through and that all the businesses will benefit but it has given the village a real lift."
Paul Cunningham, chef and owner of takeaway restaurant Scopers, has lived in Dundrum his whole life and says the accolade is testament to the people and businesses.
"It all comes down to community spirit if you ask me and everyone working together. I'm Dundrum born and bred and I don't plan on living anywhere else. You can't walk down the street without five people saying hello and they genuinely care how you're getting on so it's a great community.
"No offence to nearby Newcastle, it's beautiful but on a busy day it's bunged and you can't get in or out whereas here's just much nicer.
"We've loads of nice walks and good eateries so what more do you want? It's a village that takes a lot of pride in itself and we're just pushing harder all the time to try to make it better.
"This is Dundrum's moment to shine now and it's about time. I love this place."
The Sunday Times’s expert judges assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.
They added: "Almost every house here has a view of either the Mourne Mountains or the sea, and many have both. You’ll see seals and seabirds in the water, and there’s a friendly rivalry to spot the first brent geese or hear the first cuckoo of the year. Yet this sociable address has more to offer than otters, guillemots and walks in wild nature.
"The village association organises the popular annual festival, with its “daft raft race”, the Christmas lights switch-on and various fun days. Creative Village Dundrum is the group behind open-mic nights at the Dundrum Inn, art drop-ins and lively knitting sessions at the community hub, with the results colourfully yarn bombed around the village. It’s a sporty place, too, with an impressive roster of tasty places to eat and drink.”
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