Background: Respite supports are highly valued by persons with disabilities and their families/carers. In Ireland, there has been regular commentary in relation to a lack of respite services, with users and other stakeholders reporting limited access, inequity of provision, and long waiting lists for support. Materials and Methods: Much of the research on respite focuses on the views of carers, with little account of the experiences of persons with disabilities. This study examines the perspectives of twenty-eight adults with intellectual disabilities; most are regular users of traditional and/or alternative respite services. Information was gathered through individual interviews and focus groups. Findings: Participants identified nine key elements of a person-centred respite service; fun, time and space, choice, independence, friendships, compatible groupings, positive relationships with staff, flexible supports, and user involvement in service design and delivery. Conclusions: Person-centred supports should enable individuals to achieve maximum well-being and flourish in all aspects of their lives. This study found that at a personal level, respite services and the interactions that occur within them are person-centred in that they support the individual to do the things they want to do, make everyday choices, try new activities, develop positive relationships, and have a good quality of life. However, at the level of service planning and decision-making, there is less evidence of a person-centred approach. Participants reported having little involvement in the design and delivery of respite services at local or national level. The development of a respite policy in Ireland, that considers the views of respite service users, would be welcome.