Dervla Kirwan: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? — FLAPSS

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

DK

Dervla Kirwan

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

A few weeks ago, walking on the beach in Anglesey with my dogs and my husband.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →

Playing the Cowardly Lion in our fourth-grade production of The Wizard of Oz. Thank you, Mr. Riccobono.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, September 2025 source ↗

Jess Phillips British politician

In the car with my kids, singing Purple Rain.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 April 2018 source ↗

Hugh Dennis British comedian and actor

I am probably happiest now, but I have been happy at every stage of my life.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 February 2011 source ↗

I’m always happiest when I’m with my family.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 January 2024 source ↗

More from Dervla Kirwan

View profile →

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

A forensic scientist.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

As a decent human being.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

My younger self, because I was very, very tough on myself.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Question What worries you about getting older? Time & hindsight

Pain and loneliness.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

A little bit more self-confidence.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

Question What is the worst job you have ever had? Craft & work

About five years ago, I was in a play that was an unmitigated disaster. I had to rally the troops and go out every night.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

More on time & hindsight

Also answered this

Shaznay Lewis, Tina Fey, Alexander Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, Edmund Hillary, Dominic Cooper

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All time & hindsight questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer