In 1986 the greatest man-made disaster ever occurred . A Ukrainian nuclear reactor suffered a catastrophic meltdown due to a mixture of ignorance and human error. Evacuations began: Chaos ensued. Everything within a fifty mile radius was irradiated. The word on the lips of a generation was: Chernobyl.

To live in Chernobyl would be to live a life of exile. The only company present, other than the wildlife, is the military. You would be giving up luxury, comfort, all the things we are accustomed to. But, in sacrificing so much, you will be open to a whole new world, a world left to fend for itself for 25 years. The world that is the Zone. A world of constant evolution. A world of wildlife. A hellish kind of beauty.

But the zone has its dangers. Radiation the most dangerous. To live in the zone you will need a seva bodysuit to keep radiation out. Also, as absurd as it may sound, Chernobyl is a criminal hotspot, who are there to scavenge, or to evade the law. Wildlife tends to be territorial so it would not be a problem.

But the main reason I would like to live there is due to the sheer amount of undiscovered anomalies. There are electric anomalies, anomalies caused by radioactive uranium. Science has yet to fully understand Chernobyl. 20,000 people used to live there. Now it's a ghost town. And it's the absence of man that makes Chernobyl so beautiful. We may have left our mark, but nature is taking it back. That is the true beauty of Chernobyl and why I would like to live there.

Ethan Ó Ciardha, Rang 6, 2011.

Where I'd Love To Live

My dream home is not in sunny Dubai or the wintry Arctic, or in Ethan's case, isolated Chernobyl (each to their own, I say) but a warm(ish), coastal area on the west side of Ireland.

Enniscrone is nestled in County Sligo, surrounded by small, rural villages such as, Knockagower and Scurmore. It is home to many amenities, such as its beach, pier and wide range of cafés and restaurants. The Pilot Bar, well known for its exquisite seafood, Blue Water Café, for its large selection of coffee and pastries, and Burger Alley for its, erm...burgers.

Artists exhibit here often, showcasing their work in the local art centre. Most are inspired by Enniscrone itself, the beach and pier often portrayed in pictures.

On a windy but warm morning, if you walk down to the pro, by the beach, you are bound to see surfers riding the waves, new seaweed strung on the old baths and, erm...new bottles lying against the rocks. Despite this, it's a lovely view.

The landscape, the ambience, the sun warming my face as sand slips through my toes...who wouldn't want to live here? (Ethan, obviously.)

Ciara Nic Lochlainn, Rang 6, 2011.