Lonely Hearts Head for Lisdoonvarna

If you find nothing interesting to do during Ireland's annual Heritage Week and feel a bit lonely ... why not head for Lisdoonvarna. There what could be dubbed Ireland's biggest event for singles kicks off this weekend - the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival.

The basadóiri (Irish for matchmakers, "professionals" arranging marriages for those in need) invade Lindoonvarna every September. And with them all the singles from Galway Bay to the Ganges Delta ... or so it seems. The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival had, generally speaking, originally the aim of finding a partner for life for every visitor so inclined. If all the matchmaking resulted in matrimony, the Reverend Moon would appear like an amateur here

But these days its more about fun than about marriage. Matches are still made, but they seem to be on a trial basis for the duration of the festival. And this being Ireland it will be more restrained than Spring Break in Daytona Beach, a peck on the cheek being the likeliest outcome.