Why? It's enchanting. As an 18-year-old hitchhiker I met an old woman, Sheila, who had a childhood sketchbook of drawings made when her family holidayed there — this features in my next book, The Family on Paradise Pier.

The best thing? The sense of space. It is a very independent-minded place, a special atmosphere — unlike any other part of Ireland that I know. It also has amazing fiddle-playing.

My ideal day: Sheila would talk of being outdoors from dawn to dusk there and I would follow in her footsteps. I have two young children so we would be up early and out on the beach exploring. We would have a picnic lunch off the beaten track. Our day would also include a visit to Killybegs, a fine deep sea port.

Getting there: Ryanair (ryanair.com) operates between London Stansted and Dublin from around £50 return. Connecting flights to Donegal (donegalairport.ie) take 40 minutes.

Where was your best holiday? A relaxing time in Rosslare, Co Wexford, with my young family.

What is the best hotel you have ever stayed in? Kelly's Resort Hotel in Rosslare. It is a family-run hotel, over 100 years old, and it is ideal for anyone with children as they cater well to visitors of every age group.

Where do you want to go next? The places I like tend to be on the fringes of things. Next I would like to get to Finland or New Zealand, which sounds especially unique.

What do you never travel without? My laptop.

· Dermot Bolger will appear at the Live Literature & Talks Spring season, South Bank on March 23 ( 0870 160 2520, rfh.org.uk). The Family on Paradise Pier (HarperCollins, £17.99), is out on April 4.