My Holiday

This week My Holiday talks to Paddy Cole , Jazz Musician

This week My Holidaytalks to Paddy Cole, Jazz Musician

What's your earliest holiday memory?
We used to rent a house in Blackrock in Co Louth in the summertime. My six sisters and I would go, as well as cousins; everyone bunked in everywhere. There was a fantastic big strand there.

We always seemed to have good weather, and that was the first place I ever remember getting sunburnt.

What was your worst holiday?
I can't remember a really bad holiday that we'd call a disaster, but my wife, Helen, and I did have one trip to America, and we had accommodation in a motel. It was pretty grim, miles outside the city, we couldn't get a cup of coffee and, though it didn't look dirty, it felt dirty. We couldn't relax and had to find a new hotel.

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What was your best holiday?
I was invited to do a gig on a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, in Florida, in February. It was our first cruise, and Helen and I really enjoyed it. I'd been asked to go a couple of times and said no, because I thought it could be difficult to do a gig on a ship with waves, but at times we didn't realise we were even moving. We loved everything about it. Afterwards, we stayed at a friend's house in Naples, in Florida, and that was beautiful.

If budget or work was no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
I've read a lot about Machu Picchu, in Peru, and its history, and I would love to go there. I've met a few people who have been there, and I've read about how the place happened to be built, so it's on my list of places to visit.

If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?
I'd bring Helen, my wife. She travels everywhere with me.

Where is your favourite place in Ireland?
I love Co Clare. We go to Lahinch a lot. We have a house down there, and I'm a member of the golf club. Helen's relatives all came from Clare, so that adds to the attraction. It's a great place to get away from everything. We love Donegal, too. We have friends there.

What book would you recommend to read on holiday?
I read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I read it because we visited New Orleans. I also like to read Wilbur Smith on holidays; his books about Africa are great.

Where to next?
We are going back to Tenerife with our two sons, their wives and our four grandchildren. We will be doing a lot of babysitting, no doubt!