TV star Dermot O’Leary often speaks proudly of his Irish heritage, and there are two coastal areas just south of Dublin which he described as his ‘bucket-list’ places to live one day
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
10:00, 13 Jun 2026
Dermot O’Leary shares his ‘bucket-list’ Irish coastal home(Image: ITV)
TV presenter Dermot O’Leary clearly loves Ireland. Although he has born in the UK, his parents are from County Wexford and he is always talking about his affection for his ancestral homeland.
He explores his love for Irish food in his TV series Dermot’s Taste of Ireland, and he admitted there is one particular area of the country where he would love to live.
Dermot, 53, was born in Colchester in England but has been returning on a regular basis over the last five decades.
There are two coastal areas less than an hour south of Dublin which the popular presenter described as ‘bucket-list’ destinations for him to live one day.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, he was asked which part of Ireland he would like to live in.
Dermot said he would love to live in Dalkey(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Dermot responded: “Pretty much all of Dublin city centre; I love the Georgian architecture. And then south of Dublin, in beautiful coastal areas like Dalkey and Killiney, there are some stunning houses.
“As a massive sea person, it’s a bucket list item for me to live right on the coast.”
The former X Factor judge previously revealed how a “gorgeous” beach around two hours from Dublin is where he is “happiest”. The This Morning presenter spent most summers during his childhood in County Wexford and the area has a special place in his heart.
Of all those places he visited, Curracloe beach is seemingly a place he remembers with fondness.
Speaking in an interview with the Guardian, Dermot was asked where he was happiest. He replied: “On Curracloe beach with my family in Wexford, circa 1980, after a swim.”
During a recent interview with travel journalist Holly Rubenstein on The Travel Diaries podcast, Dermot elaborated on his love for the beach.
Dermot is proud of his Irish heritage(Image: ITV)
He explained: “It was Ireland, specifically Wexford, and these gorgeous beaches of Curracloe which are so indelible on me and so formative.
“It’s banana sandwiches on the beaches, it’s chocolate digestives. It’s familiar and alien at the same time. The ice creams are a bit different, and the chocolate is a bit different and the crisps are a bit different.
“It was relatively run of the mill stuff, but even now, I’m never happier than when I’m in a foreign supermarket.”
Dermot’s Taste of Ireland sees him embark on a food odyssey across Ireland, sampling the cuisine of his childhood while also having a go at making some iconic dishes himself.
As well as Dublin, Dermot visits County Wexford, Kinsale, Cork as well as a number of places in Northern Ireland.
Dermot’s Taste of Ireland is on ITV from 12pm to 12.30pm today (Saturday, June 13). Viewers in Ireland may be able to watch coverage through TV providers such as Sky and Virgin Media.