Pat Nolan- actor
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
Vienna with the boy scouts in 1970 aged 12. We travelled overland through London and Calais. We camped on the outskirts of the city beside
an amusement park. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. It started a whole connection with Vienna for me.
What was your worst holiday?
I can’t recall any major holiday disasters, I kind of go with the flow.
What was your best holiday?
My wife is American, so we go to San Francisco regularly and I love it. I lived over there for six months, so know my way around. It has some of my favourite record shops and my brother-in-law is a musician, so we see some great bands.
Although it wasn’t a holiday I had a great trip riding a Harley-Davidson on Route 66 for charity last year. It was great to see some of middle America.
But my most important holiday was Vienna (again) in 1981 and what came out of it was to change my life. I took leave of absence from the post office to work in a theatre there. I did everything from making sets and acting three nights a week to pouring the wine.
I wanted to immerse myself in theatre (as I was doing it in my spare time at home) and see what I thought at the end. It only set my fire for acting. I met my wife while I was there. When I came home I resigned from my job.
If budget or work were no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
Paris and Rome as I’ve never been to either, then back to Vienna before ending up in Greece. I always wanted to go to Greece as I love history and theatre and would rather go and see a good ruin than lie on the beach all day.
Who would you bring on holiday with you if you had your pick?
My motorbike! It gives you a great sense of freedom and everything is thrown at you – the smells, the feelings, the wind. Afterwards, your brain is trying to catch up on all the things you’ve seen.
What’s your favourite place in Ireland?
Many years ago I went to Kerry and it rained for the week – I swore I would never go on holidays in Ireland again. But then I worked on a film in Clifden and it was like heaven. The sun was shining, the scenery was beautiful and it completely changed me back around to staycations, once you get the weather.
Your recommended holiday reading?
I always bring books and scripts with me and I somehow never get around to reading them as I tend to keep moving on holiday.
Where will you go to next?
I’ve no plans at the moment, but living in Wicklow I’ve beautiful walks on my doorsteps. Myself and my wife are threatening to go to Greece, so we may just book on an impulse.
- Fair Cityactor Pat Nolan stars in Our Fatherat the New Theatre, Dublin, from September 12th-17th as part of Absolut Fringe. See fringefest.com
In conversation with GENEVIEVE CARBERY