Throughout the month of September, the spa town of Lisdoonvarna close to the Burren in Co. Clare, celebrates the world famous Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival with music and lots of fun.
The small spa town of Lisdoonvarna, with a population of around 800 people, has attracted visitors from all over Ireland to its mineral springs, since the 18th century. A long held traditional in this central town on the southern edges of the scenic Burren area, is the matchmaking festival. After the harvests in September, young farmers from all over Ireland would shuffle into Lisdoonvarna to find themselves a potential wife, with the help of the ‘basadoiri' or matchmakers.
This tradition is upheld today by fourth generation matchmaker (and horse dealer) Willie Daly and today the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is one of the largest matchmaking events in Europe attracting some 40,000 hopefuls and festival-goers, over the month. Held at weekends throughout September in venues throughout Lisdoonvarna, the festival events include traditional Irish dance and music, speed dating, horse racing and culminates with the Mr. Lisdoonvarna and Queen of the Burren competitions to find the most eligible lady & gentleman of that year.
The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is great friendly fun, and as they say ‘the craic is mighty in Lisdoonvarna'.
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