Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, is unlike any other town in Ireland

A trip to Lisdoonvarna should be on everyone’s bucket list. As folk singer Christy Moore so elegantly put it, “No Woodstock, no Knock, no Cana holiday can match Lisdoonvarna.”

The name Lisdoonvarna means ‘Gap Fort Enclosure’ and the town is home to a Victorian spa complex, supplied with therapeutic mineral water containing sulfur, iron and magnesium.

Just a stone’s throw from the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, Lisdoonvarna is the perfect place to set up camp while exploring the west of Ireland. There’s so much to do and see in this beautiful part of Ireland, from nature trails and walks to surfing and ferries to the Aran Islands. If you’re looking for love, all the better as the town hosts a legendary matchmaking festival in September.

So, what exactly is it about this town in the west of Ireland that attracts so many people? Well, we can’t say that the turning of water into wine as depicted in The Wedding at Cana actually happens there, but many will say that the magic of Lisdun is not far off.

Matchmaking is literally an ancient Irish tradition, and there are very few true matchmakers left. A popular holiday destination since the mid-1800s, the opening of the West Clare Railway in 1887 made Lisdoonvarna a destination, especially for single farmers who could take a break during the harvest season in September and focus on finding a wife. It was opened. Farmers, traditionally considered shy and not very socially competent, lived in remote areas, worked the land all day every day, and came to Lisdoonvarna in search of love. However, the courtship customs were beyond many, especially with the coveted focus on helping people socialize with women, and soon this spa town became a matchmaking stronghold.

Centered around The Matchmaker Bar, matchmaker Willie Daly hosts events every day of September, matching singles from literally all over the world. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Willie Daly has 50 years of experience in matchmaking and has currently worked on over 3,000 marriages. Willy believes in true love, and he believes that such love can be found simply by sitting around a table, having a conversation, and most importantly, couples dancing with each other and creating sparks. Masu.

In addition to this, Willy is rarely seen without his “Book of Fortune”. The book is known to contain 150 years worth of love-seeking profiles, and legend has it that those lucky enough to come into contact with the book will find love and get married within six months. Masu. In this day and age, that’s no mean feat.

For those who are already married, don’t worry. Willy will tell you that just by touching the love ledger, you and your beloved will relive the relationship you had during your first honeymoon and that romance, once created, can never be lost.

Matchmaker Willie Daly.

The Outing Festival is an offshoot of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival and is aimed at people from the LGBTQI+ community who are looking for love. The Outing Festival started in Lisdoonvarna, the home of matchmaking, but has recently moved to Dromoland in County Clare. Helmed by Ireland’s only gay matchmaker, Eddie McGuinness, he strives to help everyone find love in County Clare. Held in February, the festival boasts comedy, live music, drag performances and other attractions. It’s certainly a much newer festival than Lisdoonvarna, but just as popular.

The streets of Lisdoonvarna in September come alive with the sounds of conversation, music and singing, especially on weekends. The Matchmaking Festival attracts some of Irish country music’s top artists, and there are few bars where women won’t be invited to dance. You’re sure to experience the old Irish traditions of singing, dancing and socializing at Lisdoonvarna, and maybe even think about falling in love. But one thing is for sure: you’ll never know for sure unless you go and try it.

*The first edition was published in 2022 and updated in February 2024.