I enjoy my own company. It is only when I am alone that I know who I truly am.

I can be sociable and outgoing but I require a great deal of time by myself in order to recharge, says Louise O’Neill.

For my birthday this year, I decided to treat myself to a night’s stay in the Europe Hotel in Killarney.

It was, as can be expected, spectacularly indulgent; so much so that I was googling the legality of squatting rights when it was time to check out.