What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Snug in Tigh Neachtain's with friends and we’re all packed in like sardines.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Daffy Duck.
Which living person do you most admire?
Marcus Rashford.
Which is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Laziness.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Vinyl and books.
What is your favourite journey?
The road for Achill after swinging out from Mulranny.
On what occasion do you lie?
When writing.
Which living person do you most despise?
No one – there is no point.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Dogs.
When and where were you happiest?
Drizzly summers in Achill with the family.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Ability to speak a foreign language, or to be incredibly good at football.
What is your current state of mind?
Anxious.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The book, or actually, winning the under-15 Connacht Schools with Coláiste Éinde.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be?
A honeybee.
What is your most treasured possession?
Laptop. Second place, a little blue photo album.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Man Utd losing.
What is your favourite occupation?
I worked as a bookseller in Dubray for a couple of years and that was as pleasant as any occupation could be.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humour.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Humour.
Who are your favourite writers?
Alice Munro, Tom Drury, Donald Antrim.
What is your motto?
Be kind.
John Patrick McHugh is from Barna and his debut collection of stories, Pure Gold, is out now from Little Island Press for €12.95. See www.newisland.ie
