Olive Braiden, chairwoman of the Arts Council
Your earliest holiday memory?
Strandhill in Co Sligo - we went every year during our childhood. I remember being at Cockle Strand when I was three.
The highlight of our day was finding the tiny little humps on the sand and digging up the cockles and putting them in our buckets, or opening them and eating them straight from the sand. They tasted like oysters. The person who collected the most got a prize of an ice cream - it was fantastic.
Your worst holiday?
In the late 1970s, we went to Romania during the Ceausescu regime. We had plans to travel to the Black Sea, but, because of storms, we went to Bucharest instead.
We were staying on a hill and had taken clothes for warm weather, but it was freezing up there. There was nothing to do and very little reading material. I nearly learnt Romanian.Also, it was Easter time and they gave us painted eggs. I admired them, so they gave them to us every day.
Your best holiday?
We used to live in the Far East, and one year at the end of the 1980s we went to Antigua. We stayed in a hotel called Peace and Plenty. It was by the sea and it was beautiful. We stayed in lovely surroundings with sun and lovely food; just the name of the hotel gave atmosphere to that holiday.
If budget or work was no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
Thailand - we lived there for a number of years. I would love to go back to one of the islands with all of the family. We have five children and two grandchildren now. We could all stay for three weeks and have a few friends, too.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?
The whole family.
Your favourite place in Ireland?
My favourite place in Ireland is Ballyvaughan, Co Clare - there is peace and plenty down there as well.
What book would you recommend to read on holiday?
I really don't read much on holiday - there is always too much to do, or else I am resting. When I do bring a book, it's poetry - Shakespeare's sonnets or something new, maybe by Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill in Irish and English. I also like to bring a Poetry Ireland compilation- it's nice to spot emerging poets.
Where will you spend your next holiday?
We are going to Hong Kong and Thailand at the end of the year.