MATT DAMON has vowed to return to Ireland once the coronavirus pandemic is over.
The Bourne Identity star spent six months living in the idyllic seaside village of Dalkey in Dublin with his family while working on Ridley Scott’s new film The Last Duel.
During that time, Damon was regularly spotted out and about by locals, endearing himself to fans by posing for pictures along the way.
Despite his extended stay in the Emerald Isle, Damon is eager to return when it is safe to do so, having been unable to do much in the way of sightseeing during his recent time there.
Speaking via video link at the Dalkey Book Festival, he told host David McWilliams how much his family love Ireland and are desperate to return.
"There's no comparison man,” he said.
"One of my daughters said to me just the other day, just out of the blue, she goes 'you know, I could live in Ireland.'
"It's such a strange time because we got there just as the lockdown started and we lived there for three months and then went back to finish the movie and lived under kind of even more draconian rules, so it's funny that they love it so much.
"I don't know if there's something about the fact that we didn't do any sightseeing.
"They just kind of lived there as locals for about six months of last year."
Despite falling in love with Dalkey, Damon would love to explore more of Ireland with his family when they do return.
He said: "We did make a deal (with his children) both times we left Ireland saying we'll come back and finish the movie and then we'll get to travel.
"We had a plan to take a caravan all around the country.
"We had all these grand plans and then the second time it was straight into lockdown again and then we had to leave again.
"So we made a bargain with the kids that when this all ends we're going back and we're gonna do our trip."
The Good Will Hunting star spoke in glowing terms about “beautiful” Dalkey and his time there.
He said: "We're just walking up Killiney Hill, walking over to Mugs (cafe) and getting a coffee.
"I even got a pint at Finnegan's before they shut.
"Like the day before lockdown, I went over and had one pint and then it was closed literally the rest of the six months I was there."
While he was only a virtual guest at this year’s Dalkey Book Festival he plans to attend in person in 2022.
