My Holidays

Monica Loughman - ballerina

What’s your earliest holiday memory?

When I was about five, my dad worked in the Bahamas and we lived there for six months. It was incredible, especially the people. We practically lived on the beach and spent all day playing in the water. I particularly remember going to watch a drive-in movie.

What was your worst holiday?

When I went to Paris with my family aged nine or 10, my dad got his wallet stolen in the Metro, right in front of us, and there was nothing we could do about it. It always stuck with me and left me a fear of going there. But we got out of it and were just stuck in a hotel for a day with no money.

What was your best holiday?

Travelling to China with work was like another world. The way people lived was so different and I enjoyed every minute of looking around, taking in the smells and the sounds. It had extreme wealth and poverty just feet away from each other – you’d have an amazing structure and then across the street people selling insects out of bags.

Another great holiday was travelling around Tuscany. I had always wanted to go to Italy and jumped at the chance. It has amazing food, lovely friendly people and at no point did you feel lost or at the wrong end of town. I could not recommend it more highly.

If budget or work were no restriction, what would be your dream holiday?

Phuket in Thailand. I like quietness where you can just be by yourself for a while. When you are a bit older you can appreciate natural beauty. When you are young you don’t want to sit and be by yourself. But we are so bombarded with everything now that somewhere quiet and peaceful would be great.

If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?

I’d like to bring all of the ballet company with me on an adventure. They are young girls loving life and it would be great to see them outside the working atmosphere, and for them to see the other side of me.

What’s your favourite place in Ireland?

I like walking along the strand in Sandymount. At a random time of the morning, like 9am, you might pass nobody. It always amazes me to find somewhere so near Dublin city that is so quiet, even at the peak of the day.

Your recommended holiday reading?

The last book I read was The Bone Thiefby Jefferson Bass. It's about DNA and finding bones and is based on a body farm researching decomposing bodies. I found it fascinating.

Where will you go to next?

I’m going to London just before Christmas. Sometimes you don’t want to spend all day travelling, so it’s great you can be refreshed in just two days. I’ll walk around, enjoying Covent Garden and the atmosphere. There is such a buzz over there, people enjoying drinks and food, and crowds spilling onto streets the way Dublin used to be.

- The Monica Loughman Ballet Co will stage performances of The Nutcrackerat The Helix, Dublin, November 3rd, and Town Hall Theatre, Galway, November 4th and 5th. See thehelix.ie and tht.ie.

In conversation with GENEVIEVE CARBERY