Me and My Travels: Amy Huberman on Wexford, America and food fare in Valencia

Irish Examiner

12-07-2025

One of Ireland's best-loved actors and writers, Amy Huberman has a love for life and the world around her.
From summers in Wexford to beach days in Australia, her favourite trips have always been about fun, a little bit of mooching around, and a glass or two of wine.
Here, she shares the holidays that shaped her, and ponders where she'd like to go next.
Favourite childhood holiday memory
When I think of holidays, I think of Rosslare and Wexford. We spent most of our summers down there.
It was freedom, playing with our pals, getting chipper chips, going down for a 99. My granny was from Wexford, so we'd go into town, and that always felt special.
Then we'd keep going down to Rosslare. We also did trips abroad, to campsites in France. I remember the car packed up, wedged with everything.
My dad had The Furey Brothers on repeat. It was a lot of time listening to that, but it was so exciting.
You'd just spend full days on the beach, probably getting sunburned and sand whipped into your face, but they were such happy memories.
Most memorable trip
The Whitsundays, Australia
The one I was most excited about was my J1. I'd never been to the States before, and I nearly lost my mind with excitement.
We even slept out overnight to make sure we got our place. It was such a formative trip.
The summer before, I went to Jersey — the Channel Islands, not New Jersey! — to work in a hotel.
We thought we'd be earning a fortune, but I think we were making about a pound an hour!
We had no clue what we were doing, but it was so much fun. Later, I went to Australia for the first time with my best friend.
We did the Whitsundays, and I've never been on beaches like that: white sand, snorkelling, everything.
Those trips were the furthest I'd ever been, and they felt like a real adventure.
Most surprising destination
Ghent at evening, Belgium
Ghent was a real surprise. We'd gone to Bruges for my husband, Brian's birthday.
We flew midweek and stayed the night, but Bruges is quite small, so someone suggested we get the train to Ghent on the way back. I'd never even heard of it.
I fell in love with it; it was like a little Amsterdam, the canals, the old buildings, the food. It just had such a lovely vibe.
Sometimes all you need is a night away, and it's only an hour flight to Brussels. I really recommend it.
Favourite city in the world
Amy Huberman in New York
It has to be New York. Every time I go, I fall more in love with it. It feels like its own bubble, this really special place.
I love the West and East Village, walking the cobbled streets, going to Chelsea Market, the High Line, and the Meatpacking District.
A friend of ours has a bar there, Brass Monkey, so we get to go to restaurants we'd never get into otherwise.
I love wandering from SoHo up to the Meatpacking District, coffee in hand, just pottering around. One year we went in the spring, and it was perfect.
When I'm there, I always feel like I'm somewhere else.
Favourite hotel
I can't remember its name — sorry! —but there was a hotel in Verona that really stuck out. It didn't feel like a hotel; it felt like staying in an old Italian grandmother's house.
Every room was different, and you could just tell the building had hundreds of years of history. It was beautiful. The food was incredible, and you felt like you were part of the fabric of the city.
Verona itself is stunning with the Romeo and Juliet balconies, but that hotel felt like stepping into an old Italian film. I'd love to go back.
Most memorable food experience
That would be Valencia. We visited the vineyard where our Ah! Cava is produced.
Drinking our own cava with locally sourced Spanish food was so special. It's such a Spanish thing to order loads of dishes to the table.
At first, I'd think, 'What if I don't like it?' But it was amazing, beautiful meats, fish, cheese.
That shared experience of eating together, chatting, and drinking cava where it's made; that's what makes travel memorable. Valencia itself is gorgeous.
There's a huge old magnolia tree in the middle of the city that I always think of when I remember that trip.
Favourite thing to do while travelling
It's a mix — pottering around, a bit of mooching. I love cities, but I also love local markets, especially in France.
You'll find vegetables, fruit, little clothes, and someone playing guitar.
It's that market vibe I love, just seeing what you come across.
My bucket list trip
Wat Phra Kaew, Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
I've never been to Thailand, and I'd absolutely love to go. Maybe when the kids are a bit older.
Amy Huberman has launched Ah! Wines, a new range designed to be easy to enjoy and full of personality.
The range includes Ah! Sauvignon Blanc (€17.95), with light hints of tropical fruits, apricots and peaches with a long smooth finish, and Ah! Cava Brut Rosé (€24.95), fresh with subtle red berry notes.
Both are now available in Tesco, winesoftheworld.ie and selected Dunnes Stores nationwide.