Award-winning tenor Finbar Wright, 45, from Kinsale, Co.Cork, is one of the country's best-loved performers. His platinum-selling albums have won him global fame and he has hosted his own Music Of The Night series for RTE. A former priest, Finbar has sung for Bill Clinton and the Pope. He is also a member of the highly successful Irish Tenors group.

The first time I visited Vancouver I had an instant love for the place and have been back many times since. I just love the city - it's freshness, youth, vitality and the beautiful isolation.

Vancouver is located just over the northwestern border with the United States and, in Irish terms, it reminds me of the wilds of Donegal.

It is an unquestionably modern city but the newer developments are tasteful and don't take away from the older architecture - both blend elegantly together.

Wherever I go there, it's for work - normally a tour that would include Edmonton and Seattle - but I usually manage to get a few days off while I'm there to soak up the atmosphere.

My favourite part of the city is the beautiful harbour. This is where the aquaplanes come in to land like big birds splashing into the water. Vancouver is surrounded by water on three sides and is a refuelling stop for aquaplanes on their way up to remote Alaska.

I could watch the aquaplanes coming in for hours on end, which probably dates back to my childhood in Kinsale, where the annual regatta was the highlight of the year.

For the same reason, I enjoy watching all the water sports they do in the harbour - sculling, canoeing, sky surfing.

From a nightlife point of view, the city has some great restaurants and places to go out. There is quite a sizeable Irish population there too, living quietly and successfully, so our concerts are always well supported.

The weather is quite mild, unlike many other parts of Canada, and the people are friendly.

If I had to choose anywhere else to be this weekend, it would be Vancouver, without a doubt. I'm already seeing what I can do to get the Irish Tenors back there for another concert next summer........