My Holidays: Sinead Moriarty

What’s your earliest holiday memory? Every summer my parents rented a cottage called “Little Thatch” in Blackwater, Co Wexford…

What's your earliest holiday memory?Every summer my parents rented a cottage called "Little Thatch" in Blackwater, Co Wexford. It was like a chocolate-box cottage, tiny but gorgeous. The lady across the road would allow us to collect eggs and feed chickens.

What was your worst holiday?My most difficult holiday was the first one with our first baby. We went to Portugal. I was delusional thinking I would be reading books, lying by the pool and exploring the sights. We ended up bringing eight suitcases and spending the whole time sterilising bottles and staying up with the baby all night.

What was your best holiday?My honeymoon to Langkawi, Malaysia. It was just beautiful, the people were so gentle and kind, and the food was fantastic. We stayed in a hut on the beach and also spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur.

If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?It's the beauty of travel that there's always somewhere new to go. I'd love to go on safari in Africa. I'd like to do one of the hot air balloon trips where you get up at 4am and see all of the animals waking up.

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If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?My husband as we are very similar. We both love reading and exploring new places. We equally like cycling or relaxing by the pool.

What's your favourite place in Ireland?Kerry. For the last few years we have gone to Castlegregory. Driving the Conor Pass to Castlegregory on a summer evening is spectacular. The beaches at Castlegregory are beautiful.

Your recommended holiday reading?I generally read literary fiction during the year, and on holidays I like thrillers and biographies. I have Tony Blair's book for my next holiday.

Where will you go to next?We are hoping to go to France next summer. It's my favourite place in the world, I lived in Paris for a while. The food, wine, climate, beaches and mountains make France my ideal holiday.

Sinead Moriarty’s novel

Pieces of My Heart

is published by Penguin Ireland, €14.99

In conversation with Genevieve Carbery