Setanta Sports presenter Paul Dempseytalks about his holidays
What's your earliest holiday memory?The excitement of travelling to Ireland when we were still small children living in England. We used to travel by boat, which was quite tortuous in those days - through Holyhead and all of that - before the roads were any good. Once, I remember, we flew, and that was fantastic. I remember the old Aer Lingus Viscount aircraft: the colours, the excitement of being in an airport.
Your best holiday?I've been to most corners of the Caribbean. I love it out there. My other favourite would be Australia. I love Sydney. It's the mix: a big city where there are so many little suburbs tucked away with their own private little beach.
Your worst holiday?We went to Dubai this time last year. If you are looking for a break, weather is important. I'm not kidding, but it rained 10 days out of the 12, which was very unseasonal. We were staying in a beautiful hotel, but, truthfully, the kids just wanted to be outside. And by rain I mean it really rained. They said it was a once-in-a-decade event. We toured around Dubai quite a lot, and the pace of development is astonishing, so that was interesting. We tried to make the best of it.
Your dream holiday?I would go to Australia to see the Melbourne Cup. I'm desperate to go. The other place I have never been to is South America. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru. I think it would be a three-month trip. Brazil is the home of football. Everything about it appeals to me: the culture, the physical landscape, the climate.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holidays with you?My wife and children. They're brilliant. My kids are really great travellers. They are eight and six.
What's your favourite place in Ireland?I love Co Kerry. My grandmother was from Sneem. I've been there, but not in recent years. Once or twice a year for work we'd go down there for golf and corporate meetings, that kind of thing. We were in Tralee this year. I love that. I love the landscape - it's incredible - and the sense of history. I love Galway, Mayo, Sligo, but I think Kerry is the most beautiful.
Your recommended holiday read?I'm about to read The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexander Dumas in the original. I've only ever read it in the abridged children's version, but it's a masterpiece. It's like reading Gulliver's Travels when you are a small kid and then rereading it as an adult.
Your next holiday?We are going skiing in Austria. We're going to Galtenberg with the children. They went skiing for the first time last year - so did my wife - and they loved it.
*In conversation with Catherine Foley