Ditch the dating app. Meet an Irish town's 83-year-old mystical matchmaker.
Want to find love the old-fashioned way? You might consider a date with Willie Daly, the legendary third-generation matchmaker of Lisdoonvarna.
Lisdoonvarna, a quaint Irish town, has been hosting a matchmaking festival since 1857, attracting thousands of hopeful romantics each September. The annual event, now a global phenomenon, features Irish dancing, traditional music, and the enigmatic matchmaking skills of 83-year-old Willie Daly, the last traditional matchmaker in the area.
Visitors fill out forms detailing their interests and preferences, and Daly uses his intuition to pair them up for dates. Daly's family has been involved in matchmaking for three generations, and legend suggests that placing hands on an old book will lead to marriage within six months. The festival, which has made appearances in American pop culture, continues to attract visitors from around the world, including those seeking genuine face-to-face connections in an age of dating apps.
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