Pat Liddy
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
Growing up in the 1950s, my parents were not well off and we never went on holidays. But when I was 10 my dad brought us to Youghal. We took the train from Dublin to Cork and then he negotiated a lot of platforms to get to the Youghal train. I thought my dad was amazing for negotiating them and for years afterwards I had such admiration for him.
What was your worst holiday?
When I went to Malindi, Kenya (way above Mombasa) in the 1970s a local airline, East African Airways, collapsed. So we had to make our way back to Mombasa by taxi, followed by an overcrowded raft ferry across a wide river and an overcrowded bullet-marked rickety bus right through the night.
All of our plans totally unravelled but it was a great experience looking back on it.
What was your best holiday?
When I joined Aer Lingus in 1963 we were able to get to the most inaccessible and exotic places long before mass travel – places such as Ethiopia, Thailand, Peru and Australia. Our best holiday was to Kenya and the Seychelles on honeymoon in 1976. The Seychelles was out of bounds for most people and the resorts were frequented only by the rich.
I worked for the Aer Lingus ticket office so I often got upgraded to first class which was marvellous!
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
I have seen the world, so the special holidays I look forward to are family holidays. A skiing trip with my family in January would be magic to me and I’d upgrade to a luxurious holiday. My kids are in their 20s so don’t generally want to come on holidays but do want to come skiing!
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?
My wife and family. There is one exception. I once had the privilege of having a wonderful dinner with Peter Ustinov. He was so gregarious and knowledgeable and a great listener. So if I was to bring anyone else it would be him.
What’s your favourite place in Ireland?
Maybe Donegal, as I just got my free bus pass! Donegal is underrated and under-appreciated, and has an atmosphere and a skyline all of its own. When I say atmosphere, I mean the one above your head. The clouds belong just to Donegal and the quality of the light there is second to none. It’s a very unhurried county.
Your recommended holiday reading?
It might sound nerdy but I like to read history books on war or medieval Europe. I also like to read books on quantum physics (my son is a theoretical physicist).
Where will you go to next?
I’ve just booked to go to Lisbon. I’ve never been there and love city breaks. But I hate when they are too short, so I’m going for five nights. I’ll chill out, sit in cafes and might take a walking tour to touch base with the locals.
In conversation with
GENEVIEVE CARBERY