Have you ever thought about creating for yourself one blissful day without work, family responsibilities, budgetary constraints or even having to organise someone to feed the cat? The following people took up the challenge to create a fantasy 24-hours during which they could cross time-zones, meet their heroes or do exactly what they wanted, where they wanted and with whom they wanted.
Michael Colgan, artistic director, The Gate theatre
One of my favourite places is Charleston, South Carolina and my 24 hours is not quite a fantasy day but more of a perfect day which I've already done, more or less, but would repeat. It involves having a beach house outside Charleston in a place called Sullivan Island and all my friends would have rented beach houses along the same beach. I would like to begin the day by going for a six-mile run along the beach and not feel exhausted afterwards. I would then go for a swim and have breakfast. I would invite my friends around to my house for lunch. Later in the afternoon, I would like to fall asleep on the verandah. Then, we would go into Charleston, listen to Andras Schiff play Schubert's last three sonatas, go out to dinner in Charleston and come home to bed.
Gerry McGovern, managing director, Nua Internet Consultants
My fantasy would be to play midfield for Longford in an All Ireland Football Final against Kerry, says McGovern, as he trails off into his dreamscape: The final minutes are ticking away. We're two points down. The kick-out comes long and high. As I take off on a run, the only thing in my vision is the ball. Hands reach high and mine grasp the leather. I land in mid-stride and tear towards the goal, defenders falling away like autumn leaves.
The expectation of the crowd rises like some great wave. I look up once, pick my spot then let fly. It seems like the ball has entered another time zone as it flies through space. The flailing body and hands of the goalkeeper reach for it, but it spirals away and crashes to the net. The crowd rises and roars and the referee blows the final whistle.
The crowd becomes ecstatic and I am the hero of the day. The team travels down the country in an open-topped bus to the sound of cheering crowds en route and blazing bonfires on the hillsides. We arrive in Longford town to an awaiting multitude of young and old who give us a tumultuous welcome.
Bibi Baskin, TV presenter
I would hire a Concorde for the day and bring all my pals to the West Indies. While there, we would have lunch in the Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados and fit in some sun-tanning on the beach. We would then fly back to Paris by Concorde, during which time my friends and I would be served the finest vintage claret in the world. In Paris, we would have dinner in La Coupole restaurant.
Charles Flanagan, Fine Gael TD for Laois/ Offaly
I WOULD get up at 7 a.m. for an early morning walk around Interlaken's Lake Thunersee before enjoying a lengthy breakfast at the Grand Hotel Victoria, Jungfrau, one of the greatest Victorian buildings along the hoheweg at Interlaken, under the majestic presence of the Alpine peaks of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
At 10 a.m., I would depart by rail up the Jungfrau peak to Europe's highest railway station to inhale the freshest air in the world. I would return via the superb Trummelbach Falls to the awaiting government jet - borrowed from the Taoiseach for the day - and fly to London.
There, I would have lunch in a top Mayfair restaurant in the company of John Mortimer, Sarah Brightman, Robert Fisk, David Owen and Kate Adie.
I would extricate myself from the lunch company in late afternoon to fly with haste to Rosses Point in Sligo for a walk along the beautiful beach beneath Ben Bulben, accompanied by my wife Mary and daughters Olwyn and Sophie and our labrador, Kim. Complete with the necessary raingear, we would take on the elements in a ball game before retiring to Austie's Tavern for a creamy pint of Guinness.
In the early evening, I would be whisked away to San Francisco for dinner with John Grisham, Celine Dion and Meg Ryan, after which I would enjoy a long walk along San Francisco Bay, savouring the Pacific sunset before returning via Marina Boulevard and Fisherman's Wharf to my luxury hotel in Union Square. Then a 6.30 a.m. early morning call - clinic in Borris in Ossory!
Olive Braiden, Director of the Rape Crisis Centre
I used to live in Thailand and it is a place that I really love. So, my fantasy would be to fly to Bangkok very quickly - by Concorde or whatever it would take - and spend the rest of my time staying in one of the wooden houses on stilts along the Klong canal.
My dreamtime would be spent sitting on the balcony of one of these houses (which are only accessible by riverboat), surrounded by the beauty of jasmine and orchid flowers. All day long, starting with the monks who pass at 5 a.m. collecting alms, traders move along the canal selling their wares. You can tell whether the coffee, noodle or fruit traders are about to arrive, according to the songs they sing. It is also possible to have your feet, head and body massaged in beautifully scented jasmine oil by people who come by in boats. I would find my time there so totally relaxing that I would never leave my balcony. Everything I need would come to me. The Thai people are so gentle and unobtrusive that they respect your spirituality, your need for space and quiet. Such a fantasy 24 hours would bring back memories of my many years spent in Thailand.
The Chicks, teenage rock 'n' roll band
Annie Tierney: I would spend some of the time in a recording studio with Wu Tang Clan, (who - to the uninitiated - are "the most important hip hop group of the moment" and who, according to Tierney, have the best lyrics ever). I would go to India for lunch and have a vindaloo curry with Joey Ramone from The Ramones and I would star in the movie Ghostbusters for an hour or so.
Isabelle Feeney: I would star in a Manga cartoon, dressed in a biosuit, killing people. I would then fly to India in the millennium falcon to pick up Annie. We would travel back to our mansion home, whose basement would have a sweet factory in it.
Lisa Clarke: I'd want to experience some violence with Jubilee from the X men (of Marvel comics fame). I'd also want to watch The Goonies (a cult movie from the 1980s). I would also go over to India and have a few adventures. I would also visit Willie Wonka's chocolate factory.
