Bláthnaid Treacy pays tribute to her hometown of Bray

Bláthnaid Treacy recalls fond memories of her childhood in Bray in the new Best Of Ireland 2016.

The TV and radio star graces the cover of our definitive guide to the finest our island has to offer, and in an interview with Stuart Clark reveals some of her favourite haunts, pastimes and people in Ireland. And, while her job demands a fair amount of jet-setting, she’s still a firm fan of her hometown of Bray, Co. Wicklow.

“I absolutely love it there,” she enthuses. “Summers were spent on the beach, which is really clean and safe. The seafront still has that real, old Victorian feel — although there are lots of new bars and restaurants. There are plenty of green spaces there, and the Bray Head walk is one of the best in the country.”

There’s more than a hometown vote doled out by the Two Tube and National Chart Show host, though. She also points towards a pair of destinations on the opposite coast as not-to-be-missed spots.

“Two places everybody has to visit are Carrigeendaniel in Kerry, and Belmullet in Mayo,” she says. “My boyfriend’s auntie and uncle own a lovely house there in Mayo — there’s no signal, no internet. There’s an island just off the coast, Inishkea North, which was inhabited until the 1930s. Most of the men were out on curraghs fishing when this freak storm hit and they drowned. The women stayed on for a few years, but eventually had to leave. The houses are still there. It’s magical, and dripping with Irish culture and heritage.”

It’s not just tourist hotspots that Bláthnaid identifies, with her favourite eateries and concert venues also covered, as well as the shops in which she most enjoys a bit of retail therapy.

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