Geraldine Aron talks about her holidays
What's your earliest holiday memory?My earliest holiday memory was with my mother's family in Galway. We would drive from Dublin, and I was always car sick by the time we reached Athlone. In Galway my sisters and I constantly posed for photographs for my uncle Willie, on diving boards, next to statues and so on. But he never put film in his camera. One year my prized holiday possession was a white elasticated swimsuit. To avoid seawater deterioration I buried it in the sand while I swam in my old one. Alas, the tide came in and floated away my marker, and I never saw it again.
What was your worst holiday?My worst holiday was at a resort in Turkey. The hotel was unfinished, the bed linen was damp, the taxi driver was abusive and nobody apologised. To make matters worse we were robbed on the local beach.
What was your best holiday?I think that so much depends on the company, but I'll never forget one holiday in Mozambique, on the east African coast. We often ate in an open-air restaurant on the top of a hill. There we had an unlimited supply of plump prawns with lemon butter and bread straight from the oven. There was no cutlery. You threw the shells in the air, and seabirds swooped down for them.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?I would love to treat a group of friends to a Greek island holiday. Mind you, a suddenly wealthy acquaintance did just that, and it went a bit wrong. Some of his guests went mad and ran up huge phone, bar, laundry and hotel-shop bills. He was shocked and disappointed and lost friends over it. I would have to have a stern word with my lot and lay down some rules.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?My daughters and a small group of friends.
What's your favourite place in Ireland?The Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, in Co Monaghan, is heaven on earth for me. I've made lifelong friends there, and apart from the socialising you get loads of work done.
Your recommended holiday reading?Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones or any Ian McEwan novel.
Where will you go to next?I am often invited to openings of my plays in unusual places, such as Chile and Estonia. I'm due to write a piece about the Palm, an enormous new hotel in Dubai.
Geraldine Aron is author of
My Brilliant Divorce
. Druid’s production of the play, starring Deirdre O’Kane, is at the Ramor Theatre, Cavan (March 6th and 7th), and the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin (March 9th-14th)
In conversation with Genevieve Carbery