For decades, they came from the highways and byways, seeking love and companionship — many of them bachelor farmers — but Cupid’s arrow has struck for the last time from the shrine at Knock, Co Mayo.

I am an Irish Research Council-funded PhD student in NUI Galway, in my secnd year. My PhD topic is ‘Irish Catholic Anti-Communism in the era of John Charles McQuaid, 1940-1971’.

Knock Marriage Introductions arranged hundreds of introductions last year, resulting in 10 weddings.

LETTER-writing is in danger of obsolescence and ‘hard copy’ communication is dwindling rapidly.