Connected life-courses: influences on and experiences of 'midlife' in-migration to rural areas

This paper aims to contribute to the theorisationof midlife migration into rural areas. Althoughthe factors influencing migration are known tobe variable at different stages of a person’s life,much less well understood is how migrationdecisions at different stages of the life courseare connected and how post-migrationexperiences may be influenced by an earlier lifecourse stage. We argue that midlife migrationdecisions are the product of the migrant’slifetime experiences and influences up untilthat stage in their life alongside theirexpectations and aspirations for future lifecourse stages. Using a case study of the Glens ofAntrim (Northern Ireland), this paperspecifically demonstrates the role of childhoodmemories to explain midlife migration to arural area. In doing so, it argues that somefindings more commonly associated withsecond-generation transnational migration arealso equally relevant to migration within theUK. Roots migration and place attachmentalongside the midlife migrant’s post-migrationsense of belonging and permanency are foundto be influenced by the migrant’s earliermemories, behaviours, and experiences.