My holidays

Julie Feeney - Singer

What’s your earliest holiday memory?

I was about two and was on a boat on a lake. I remember the water and how amazing it was. We went on holiday every single year without fail to many places all over Ireland, including one magical holiday to beautiful Kilchrohane in west Cork.

What was your worst holiday?

I’ve had no worst holiday. But once when my brother and I were in St Petersburg we asked for a recommendation for a bar. We flagged down a Lada – which is what you do there – which dropped us at the door. Not until we were half way down the stairs did we realise what we’d walked into. It was an extremely dodgy place and we spent the time trying to avoid propositions from various characters, male and female, even pretending we were a couple. We were caught between trying to be polite and not insulting them and trying to avoid eye contact in a very dangerous and scary situation. So, we had one drink and left after 20 minutes. After we got out of there it was a fantastic holiday!

What was your best holiday?

Iceland was a fantastic cross between the moon and Connemara. But one of the most incredible experiences of my life was travelling to the Camino de Santiago in Spain for three weeks with my mother and brother. It gave me time to collect my thoughts, which is a very hard thing to get. It’s so natural to walk and I love the feeling of using my body. We did it hardcore too – carrying our own rucksacks and staying in hostels.

If budget or work were no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?

I’d like to have time to go trekking in a number of places after the remarkable experience of the Camino, such as trekking in a remote part of South America or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. Then I’d go to India and Japan, and do some water-sports in Australia.

Who would you bring on holiday with you, if you had your pick?

Family are very good to go on holiday with as you know what you are dealing with. With my job I like to make an effort to make time to get away with them.

What’s your favourite place in Ireland?

I love Killary Harbour, it’s an incredible place and there is a peace about it. It feels very familiar and I feel rooted and connected to it, but at the same time the expanse of sky is overwhelming.

Your recommended holiday reading?

The Pilgrimageby Paulo Coelho. After reading this, I did the Camino. But generally on holidays I don't like to read or listen to music, but like to just be. I try to do something I would normally not do as I am consuming all the time, so in New York I might go to a play and escape in that kind of way.

Where will you go to next?

I would love to go a little further north than Iceland and see what that is like, even up around Greenland.

Julie Feeney will perform family concerts at The Ark Temple Bar, at 2pm and 4pm today and tomorrow, theark.ie