Sinead Desmond, TV presenter
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
I’ve magical memories of camping at Glenmalure, Co Wicklow, with my mum, dad, brother and Labrador Bruce. It was a time when you could light fires and when there was no official camping area. Every day we’d wander up the mountains, fish in the river and my dad would bring his bow and arrow. At night we’d light a fire to cook the fish we’d caught.
What was your worst holiday?
Unfortunately, it snowed when I was in Madeira, which is extremely rare. So I had to go to Zara to buy jumpers! I’ve never before been on a sun holiday where I had to buy woolly jumpers. The island was equipped for sun, so it shut down. When you go away from Ireland and you get bad weather you feel so cheated. But I want to go back there as it’s a beautiful island.
What was your best holiday?
I had a fantastic holiday with four girl friends in Chamonix and Mont Blanc. We had trained all summer to climb Mont Blanc. We spent a week in Chamonix and I fell in love with it. Every day we would do glacier training and climbing with ice picks. We travelled on a cable car up to the starting point of the climb and there were sheer drops all over the place. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the top as I was rendered unconscious with altitude sickness. But it was an amazing life experience.
If budget or work were no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
My mother and I planned to do the Silk Route, but unfortunately we had to cancel the trip. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. We were going to spend three months travelling by horseback and train. My mother is an archaeologist, so I would have had my own tour guide. I’d love to go somewhere not touched by humans, and experience a great sense of discovery.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?
My husband Davie is brilliant to travel with and used to be a professional sailor. If he wasn’t free, I’d pick Monty Hall.
What’s your favourite place in Ireland?
I love the view of the lakes from Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney. From there I can drive to Carrauntoohil where there are stunning views on a clear day. Also west Cork is very special and it’s where Davie’s family is from. I could walk the beach and sit at the hotel in Inchydoney forever.
Your recommended holiday reading?
Colin Thubron's To a Mountain in Tibetand books by my all-time hero Freya Madeline Stark, who travelled to countries that you would not go to now.
Where will you go to next?
A family holiday in Glandore, west Cork. I’ll take the boat from there to Baltimore and Bere Island.
TV3
Ireland AM
presenter Sinead Desmond will run in the Flora women’s mini-marathon on June 6th as part of Team Flora
In conversation with GENEVIEVE CARBERY