The Farmer Wants a Wife Dear International Living Reader,County Clare's annual Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival will take place this year from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, October 5. And it's not just the farmer who'll be wanting a wife. The hundred-year-old event is now the biggest singles' gathering in Europe, with hopefuls traveling from all over the globe in search of the perfect partner…and some craic of course. Each day, the first dance, or "first chance" as the locals call it, kicks off at noon. And the cavorting carries on into the wee hours the next morning at various venues throughout the town including the famous "Matchmakers Bar", at the Imperial Hotel, the Hydro Hotel, Rathbaun Hotel, the Royal Spa Hotel, the Ritz, the Irish Arms, and the Ravine Hotel. If you're really serious about finding love, be sure that your visit coincides with the International Blind Date Weekend. You'll also need to track down Ireland's last remaining authentic matchmaker, Willie Daly, and get him to put his skills to work for you…for a small fee of course. Like all great matchmakers, Willie is a horse trader--crucial when is comes to keeping your finger on a town's pulse and figuring out perfect matches in terms of compatibility of personality and purse. Indeed, the matchmaking tradition evolved in a time when wealthy landowners were keen to ensure that their offspring would marry other landowners and preserve their wealth.Even if you're not looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right, Lisdoonvarna is not to be missed. There's live Irish music in most pubs, set dancing exhibitions, horse racing on the first weekend and the spectacular Cliffs of Moher are just a stroll away. If it all gets too much for you, you can always take a break and have a soak at the Victorian mineral bathhouse. Lisdoonvarna is Ireland's only active spa town. The curative and healing effects of the waters were first noted by writers during the second half of the 18th century and today people travel from all over Ireland to drink the spa waters and bathe. No doubt they will leave you in tip-top shape to enter the end-of-festival Mr. Lisdoonvarna bachelor talent competition or the Queen of the Burren contest, held at the Hydro Hotel. Both are open to all single people of any age. For more information, contact the Hydro Hotel, Lisdoonvarna Co Clare; tel. (353)65-707-4005; fax (353)65-707-4406; e-mail: hydrohotel@tinet.ie. Incidentally, I'm not sure what traditionalists would have to say about it, but matchmaker Willie is now contactable by e-mail and has his own website. So if you want to optimize your chances of finding love, why not drop him a line. Roisin Finlay
for International Living
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