What's your earliest holiday memory? We used to stay at a caravan in Courtown, Co Wexford. I remember going to the amusements and playing Colorama, a gambling game played with a penny. Depending on what colour came up, one night I'd win 10p and feel like a major high roller and the following night I'd be thoroughly depressed.
What was your worst holiday? A few years ago I went to Tunisia with my girlfriend – now my wife – on a last-minute booking for new-year winter sun. But we just got winter rain. It was shocking. It rained the entire time. Everything was closed, and it was freezing, with nothing to do. The only good thing was the five minutes of material I got out of it. My mother-in-law was checking the weather while we were away, and it was warmer in Derbyshire than it was in Tunisia.
What was your best holiday? My best holiday was a 16-day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon back in 2002. I had to book it 13 months in advance. We were rafting in dory boats and camping every evening by the water's edge. We saw some motorised hovercrafts going through the canyon in two days, but we were taking it all in over two weeks.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday? I'd like a nice mixture between adventure and luxury – like one of those African safaris where you go to a nice fancy lodge and then move on to the next place.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you? Other than my wife, I'd bring George Clooney. I love all of his films and the political stand he takes. On the last day, after we know each other a bit, I'd ask him has he not squandered all of his political capital doing ads for Nespresso. I've no problem with doing ads, but I have with Nestlé's practices and their marketing of baby milk in Africa.
What's your favourite place in Ireland? I've always liked counties Galway and Mayo. They are just quite beautiful. I used to go over there to an adventure centre as a kid, and I have been hillwalking in Galway.
Your recommended holiday reading? I'm in the middle of reading a book called The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier Clayby Michael Chabon. It's a great story about two guys in the comic-book industry, and it's set against a backdrop of the second World War. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Where will you go to next?In December I hope to go hillwalking in Scotland. It's called Munro bagging, where I'll climb a few peaks of over 3,000ft. In January I'm going to Canada on a working holiday, gigging and skiing at a comedy tour which I set up with three other comedians last year.
Ed Byrne's DVDA Different Class is out now. He plays Vicar Street on December 7th for the suicide charity Console
In conversation with Genevieve Carbery