My holiday

Séamus Brennan, Minister For Tourism

What's your earliest holiday memory?

On the beach in Salthill, Galway with the Atlantic pounding and sunburn keeping me awake at night - pre-factor 50 days, I guess.

What was your worst holiday?

A package holiday billed as a Mediterranean view, which turned out to be a building site, not to mention a dose of Spanish tummy. This probably sounds all too familiar to those of a certain generation.

What was your best holiday?

I'm a river Shannon fan. My family are descended from an island there, so a week spent cruising in glorious sunshine (remember that summer) and carefree kids visiting and navigating the locks of yesteryear. I also had some lovely times in southern Spain where the golf courses are just magical and the sun is fairly guaranteed.

If budget/work was no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?

I have never been to South America. It sounds fantastic.

If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?

Well, not the Cabinet.

What is your favourite place in Ireland?

It has to be north Connemara, Clifden, Ballyconneely, Letterfrack, Renvyle and all that area. It was where I spent so many happy times as my kids grew up.

What book would you recommend to read on holiday?

Ian McEwan's Saturday is a wonderful psychological thriller - that's Ian of recent Bafta-award-winning Atonement fame.

At the moment, I'm labouring through Alan Greenspan's work on the world economy after 9/11 in The Age of Turbulence. Alan Ruddock's book on Ryanair's Michael O'Leary is aengrossing read.

Where to next?

Antrim. I stayed in Ireland for the St Patrick's Day Festival to help highlight the fantastic Irish holiday options available - especially Northern Ireland, where so few of us Southerners ever visit. It has great scenery, wonderful golf and even a Northern whiskey or two to lift the spirits along the way. I'm looking forward to visiting the Causeway Coast in Antrim as soon as I can.

In conversation with Fiona Gartland

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times