Well-being in Northern Ireland

A recent ONS survey of well-being in the UK has produced some interesting findings.  Northern Irish people are ‘happier’ than people from other parts of the UK on nearly every measure of subjective well-being (click here for the details).  This is despite the fact that using standard economic measures of well-being, such as GVA per capita, Northern Ireland is the worst region in the UK apart from Wales.  This is also despite the continuing legacy of the ‘troubles’.  So why is subjective well-being so high in Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK?  Is there something different about our culture compared to the rest of the UK?   Is Northern Ireland a less congested and more pleasant place to live?  Is Northern Ireland more egalitarian and less socially divided than other parts of the UK?