FORGET about online dating and Tinder – the best way to find a decent Irish husband or wife is to head to Lisdoonvarna.
The small Co. Clare town's renowned matchmaking festival is about to kick off again and organiser Willie Daly is encouraging people to put down their smartphones and come down and see for themselves.
“Tinder and other dating apps are done through a machine and that can be cold and emotionless,” Mr Daly said.
“In traditional matchmaking you look into each other's eyes, and reach out and touch the other person.”
Having worked hard over the past 45 years, Mr Daly has overseen the beginnings of 3,000 happy marriages.
Willie Daly outside his pub holding the records of the successful matches he has made.But the festival goes much further back than his lifetime – he is the third generation matchmaker in his family.
Before he took the reins, the festival was run by his father and his grandfather before that. Mr Daly has passed on his knowledge and skills to his three daughters who will one day take over from him.
As well as the festival, Mr Daly runs The Matchmaker Bar in Lisdoonvarna - a popular spot for festival attendees.
This year is the 159th Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival and 60,000 people are expected to make their way to the small town of less than 1,000 people in search of love.
If anyone in Britain fancies heading over to find an Irish spouse, rest assured the path to Lisdoonvarna is a well-trodden one.
“English men love Irish women,” Mr Daly said. “It’s because they are natural, voluptuous, are very good looking, have lovely eyes and are great fun.”
The festival kicks off on August 28 and will continue throughout the month of September.
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