By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — Hoping the traditional matchmaking sessions will help them find romance, record numbers seeking wives and husbands are booked to attend this year’s Lisdoonvarna festivities, with groups coming from as far away as Japan.
The sessions have come a long way from the beginning of the 150-year-old tradition of farmers saving the hay and heading for the spa town in September in the hope of finding a bride.
This year the matchmaking has gone online on the Internet, but the organizers are stressing that his will only be an aid to the traditional methods, which are still the best.
"One of the problems of modern life is people spending too much time in front of computer screens and not getting out and meeting people. You won’t find romance stuck in front of a screen," said Marcus White, whose family owns the Imperial, Hydro, Burren Castle and King Thomond hotels in Lisdoonvarna.
White said the festival is attracting all age groups, but that the increasing number of young people coming has broadened the range of those attending to include doctors, lawyers and other professionals.
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"We are still getting the traditional farmers coming from all around the country, but there would be more of them in the older age groups," White said.
White added that a group of 10 women are coming over from Japan.
Ennistymon-based match-maker Willie Daly, whose family has been "plucking the gander" (making matches) for three generations, said he is as busy as ever in spite of the Celtic Tiger.
"The Irish farmer is a popular catch. These days, they have a good level of education and, with EU grants, they tend to have new houses and very good incomes," Daly said.
The festival runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 8.