Paul Costelloe talks about his holidays
What's your earliest holiday memory?Spending summers with my parents at my sister's house outside Kanturk, in Co Cork. We'd eat her out of house and home. My brother and I used to take the donkey and cart into the village. It was wild.
What was your worst holiday?I can't say that I have ever had a bad holiday. I am very lucky, as I believe you have to make the best of things. If I am somewhere I don't like, I move. I don't sit there and put up with it. That has always been my attitude. My life involves travelling a lot, so I am accustomed to things going wrong, and I always cope with situations.
What was your best holiday?As a family we went tramping over the Pyrenees with French friends when all the children were very young. We would stay in auberges along the way. It was a very interesting experience, with beautiful walks.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?I'd love to go to St Petersburg and stay at the Astoria Hotel. The history and beauty of the city appeal to me. I'd also like a villa in Tuscany where everyone else was miles away except for my family. I'm not into spas and beautifying myself. I'd like jogging along the beach in the Algarve or skiing in Italy.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?I have a large family – six boys and one girl – so I'd take them. We sometimes all go away together, like in Kerry over Christmas.
What's your favourite place in Ireland?People always complain about Dublin, and I complain too about the price of food and so on. But, in fact, the people of Dublin have a great spirit and sometimes bring magic to the worst situation. I came into Dublin the other night on the Dart and came across a man playing Danny Boy on a tin whistle. I asked him would he play at my funeral, but he said that would be in 50 years' time and he'd be dead by then. You don't get those sorts of people in London, New York or Paris. Excluding Dublin, I would probably say Kerry and Donegal. Inis Mór has also been very kind to me over many years.
Your recommended holiday reading?I'm not a great reader. I paint and my wife reads. I paint watercolours to capture the spirit of the moment. I have had an exhibition in London but would like to have one in Dublin.
Where will you go to next?We tend to leave it late to book holidays and pay more than anyone else. I live on my impulse and presence of mind. I really want to get away for Easter. I'd like to go skiing in Italy or maybe somewhere warm like Portugal if I can budget it. I don't fancy staying in London, as it's not great over the holiday period.
** Paul Costelloe is showing his collection on Wednesday, as part of Motorola Dublin Fashion Week. He will take part in a question-and-answer session on Thursday. www.dublinfashion week.com
** In conversation with Genevieve Carberry