Ciara Kelly: Saying no and prioritising quality nights-out over quantity has worked wonders for my social life

"Group decision-making usually results in a lowest common denominator situation that’s good for keeping the peace but is woeful for producing an enjoyable outcome." Photo: Getty I was reading an article titled “Why I’m never going on a group holiday again” recently and I was worrying I might pull a muscle from all my enthusiastic nodding and chortling. When you’re on a group holiday and thinking to yourself “Christ, I don’t know how much longer I can pull off this fake smile”, you can feel alone and out of step with the obvious enjoyment of all of those who are either loving every minute of it or possibly just much better at fake smiling than you.

But everything from endlessly waiting for the “gang to materialise” so you can actually go anywhere (what a hoot!) to having to endure other people’s parenting skills — or perhaps lack of them (yes, of course, it’s absolutely charming that you’re allowing little Johnny to express himself by throwing tantrums and hitting other, more repressed children) — can engender the kinds of feelings that are the opposite of the ones you’re supposed to be getting from your week in the sun. Group decision-making usually results in a lowest common denominator situation that’s good for keeping the peace but is woeful for producing an enjoyable outcome. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.