I GET up late on Sundays; how late depends on where I've been the night before. I make the breakfast for the family - a fry or pancakes or maybe both - and go out for the papers.

We live in Templeludigan in Wexford, in the middle of nowhere. I'm from Dublin but I left about 10 or 11 years ago. I much prefer the country now - the quality of life is better and I prefer the pace.

I think it's a better place for kids to grow up. It's cheaper too. I could never afford to buy a house in Dublin.

My mum still lives in Dublin though and I stay with her when I'm working on something. I still love the city, it's just nice to be based away from it.

It's a lazy day: I wouldn't do much more than smoke, read the papers and take my daughter's dog Woody for a walk down by the river. We had another dog but it died a few weeks back.

I cook the dinner if herself isn't in the humour - it varies, sometimes I'll do a roast, otherwise maybe just a plate of pasta.

We like to go out for a few jars on Sunday evening, just the missus and myself.

There's a nice pub called Blanche's in St Mullin's just over the border into Carlow, or we might go to The Top Place in Ballywilliam.

We haven't had a television for eight months since we moved house. We just never got around to getting it connected and I don't miss it. It's easier to get the kids to do their homework too.

I do a mix of a bit of theatre, some film and some television too. In the theatre, Sunday is the only night off and when I'm shooting it's usually a day off too.

At the moment, I'm touring in Conor McPherson's Dublin Carol.

As The Irish Times review said, "It's less about seasonal goodwill than January hangovers".

I play John Plunkett, a middle-aged, alcoholic undertaker. I had to do a lot of research for the part - the undertaker bit anyway.

It takes place on Christmas Eve. I get a visit from my estranged daughter who tells me that my wife, whom I haven't seen for years, is dying. It forces me to confront the sins of my past.

I love Conor's writing - it's full of humour and compassion and John Plunkett is a fantastic character for any actor:

hugely complex.

The director is Pat Talbot from the Everyman Palace in Cork. It's a threehander and the other two actors are Stephen Kelly and Vanessa Keogh.

Wherever we are on Saturday night, I drive home to Wexford and stay at home until Monday lunchtime when I head back to wherever that night's performance is.

I hate to miss a Sunday at home.

'Dublin Carol' is at Town Hall Theatre Galway until 21 February; Glor, Ennis from 22 to 24 February; Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny from 26 February to 3 March;

Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick, 21 to 24 March