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Matt Damon’s first Irish interview about living in Dalkey was brilliant


By Erin Lindsay
13th May 2020
Matt Damon’s first Irish interview about living in Dalkey was brilliant

Damon was interviewed by Graham and Nathan on Spin 1038’s Fully Charged


He’s the A-lister that everyone in Ireland has been keeping an eye on since the pandemic began, and this morning, we finally got to hear his opinions on Ireland during lockdown (thankfully, all good things!)

Matt Damon gave his first interview since beginning his stint in Ireland this morning, exclusively to Spin 1038’s breakfast show, Fully Charged.

The hosts Graham and Nathan were thrilled to have Damon on the show, and brought up all of the burning questions we’ve been thinking about since he joined us for lockdown.

Dalkey

Damon has been isolating in Dalkey in South Dublin since the beginning of lockdown measures, staying with his family in a luxurious Air Bnb on Sorrento Road.

The people of Dalkey have definitely taken to having Damon as a local resident, as a New York Times article revealed that they were very protective of the star’s privacy.

Nathan filled Damon in on the story, saying: “I don’t know if you’re aware that the Dalkey people are protecting you like a glorious gem.”

Damon laughed and said “I know! I laughed so hard when I heard this story.”

“That’s when I realised how great this place was and how protective everybody here is.”

Damon also praised the beauty of the area, and that he was very happy to be spending lockdown in Dublin.

“This is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been,” the actor said.

“Even in the lockdown, they’re like you’ve got to stay within two kilometres of your house. [In] two kilometres of here, there’s trees and forests and woods and oceans; I can’t think of any place else you’d rather want to be in a two kilometre radius of.”

Varadkar

Damon had high praise for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for returning to work as a doctor during the pandemic. When asked about Varadkar, Damon said: “I mean what a badass, it’s just on another level.”

Returning home

Damon’s oldest daughter Alexia had been isolating in New York, where she attends college, and her dad revealed that she had contracted the virus, but is now recovering well.

The actor revealed that the family are now making plans to return to the U.S, but are still nervous about the pandemic. “We’re going to go back to Los Angeles and she’s (Alexia) going to come out so we’ll all be together and figure out what the heck we’re going to do. It’s such an odd limbo that we’re all in,” he said.

The SuperValu bag

And of course, Graham and Nathan had to ask Damon about the infamous snap that has gone viral, of his swimming trip to the beach with a SuperValu bag in tow. When they asked if Damon had brought a bag of cans to the beach (as is the Irish tradition), Damon graciously admitted it was just full of beach towels.


Read more: A look inside the €8 million Dalkey Airbnb where Matt Damon is spending lockdown

Read more: The New York Times article about Matt Damon is an inadvertent ode to Irishness

Read more: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck show their support for inclusion riders