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For the last two and a half years, Ruari Morgan has faced the challenge of living without basic household amenities. A fire damaged the backup generator at his old stone cottage on Rathlin Island, leaving him without electricity, heating, or hot water. However, his recent move into a new social housing property has brought back these simple comforts. Now he can enjoy everyday conveniences like making a cup of tea or having a warm shower after returning home.
The arrival of ten new social houses marks the first such development on Rathlin Island in over ten years. This initiative is seen as a way to help preserve the island’s distinct community, which has a population of around 150 people. Situated off the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, between Northern Ireland and Scotland, Rathlin has a unique character. Morgan, native to the island and someone who returned 15 years ago after spending time abroad, emphasized how social housing creates opportunities for people connected to Rathlin to live there more sustainably. “Obviously the more accommodation and the more affordable accommodation on the island is a good thing,” he explained, stressing that the goal isn’t only to attract newcomers but to maintain a stable life for those who have long ties to the community.
The new homes in Church Bay came about following a housing needs assessment conducted by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), the Rural Housing Association, and the Rathlin Development Community Association (RDCA). This assessment revealed a demand for more social housing to support the island’s population. Allocation of the properties used NIHE’s points system combined with a local lettings policy that prioritizes connections to Rathlin. Marina McMullan, chairwoman of RDCA and a lifelong islander who had also lived elsewhere, highlighted the importance of the project for the community’s future. She said, “It means people can stay here, families can stay here for employment, for school… Social housing means the cost is not exorbitant, it means families don’t have to move away and leave the senior citizens at home.”
Among the newer arrivals to Rathlin is Holly Hartley, who initially came over a year ago to volunteer for the RSPB’s Life Raft project aimed at eradicating invasive ferrets. Hartley chose to stay and now works at both the Manor House Hotel and the local primary school. She welcomed the increased opportunity for islanders to access social housing, noting its role in encouraging young families to settle and ensuring the community’s continuity. “I think if you give people that space to grow naturally they will expand and it just provides a longevity to the island,” she said. When asked if she planned to remain on Rathlin, she confirmed that the island had become home for the foreseeable future, captivated by the natural surroundings. “I can open my bedroom curtains and see dolphins out my window, it’s so surreal, especially being from Kent where you don’t really get much of that,” Hartley reflected
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