From necessity to pure entertainment: Ireland’s rural population used to be so shy and repressed that finding a mate was an impossible mission for many. So they turned to “matchmakers,” crafty, crafty old men who went through their lists of potential marriage candidates and brought together “paired” couples. While Tina sang; What does love have to do with it? And the annual matchmaking mega-event is traditionally held in Lisdoomvarna, a postcard town just outside the Burren.
Immortalized by Christy Moore as “Lisidoon-lisdoon-lisdoon-lisdoonvarna” in his songs.
Pros
- It is fun.
- Everyone is open to a little flirting and cheer.
- It may just work.
Cons
- Some people take it too seriously!
Description
- Lisdoonvarna has long been considered a center for matchmaking.
- Most of the eligible singles came to town in September when the hay was out, leading to the festival.
- Today, the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is more about fun and entertainment, but some basadóiri are real.
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival (County Clare)
The Basadóiri (matchmakers) invade Lisdoonvarna in September. And with them all the singles from Galway to the Ganges Delta … or so it seems. The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is generally one of the largest singles parties in the world, originally with the intention of finding a partner for life. If the entire matchup resulted in marriage, Reverend Moon would appear as an amateur here.
Fortunately it does not. Most people go to Lisdoonvarna for “a little fun ” just these days, not with the prospect of a long-term relationship. True, there are still matchmakers galore, matches are made (most with the warning of a test run) and the flirting is fierce. In general, more and more as the evening and the age of flirting progresses.
What you can expect is a party town full of singles (or so they claim to be). But this being Ireland, it will be more restricted than spring break, a peck on the cheek is the most likely outcome.
On the other hand, there are still people who turn to Lisdoonvarna and look for the real thing: not casual sex but a mutually advantageous marriage. These are also taken care of, but the boundaries become blurred and this occasionally leads to misunderstandings. Which led to the assistance of the Samaritans, to support those for whom a dream has been shattered.
