Musician
JOHN SPILLANEdescribes his holidays
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
I spent [childhood] holidays on my relative’s farm at Gortatagort near Bantry, Co Cork. We thought we were little farmers, riding a horse and playing in the hay. I wrote a song about it and the names of the fields in every small farm in Ireland. Christy Moore heard the song and fell in love with it and wanted to visit the place. Christy had high tea in the farmhouse with my aunt. He sang the Cliffs of Dooneen in the kitchen and she cried.
What was your worst holiday?
I went to Lanzarote with my wife and we only had one good day out of seven. It’s not such a brilliant place when it’s raining as a cold wind blows. It’s a risk going away in January, and is very cheap for that reason.
What was your best holiday?
I was in Crete with my wife and we loved it. It seemed like a real place as opposed to a tourist destination. People were very genuine and the island and food were beautiful.
What would be your dream holiday?
The most fabulous place I have been is Africa. I was in Senegal with TG4. The people are very poor but there is something very spiritually uplifting about them. I also love the idea of going to a beautiful untouched Pacific island.
Who would you bring on holiday with you?
My wife Cathy or my daughter Leslie.
What’s your favourite place in Ireland?
Gortatagort. I also love Cape Clear, Co Cork, which I discovered as a child and thought was spectacular.
Where will you go to next?
I’m going to a place called Dzogchen Beara, a Buddhist centre on the Beara peninsula in Cork. I’m doing a gig there and they are giving us a cottage for a week.
** John Spillane's new album is So Far So Good, Like. www.johnspillane.com
** In conversation with Genevieve Carbery