Former boxing promoter Frank Maloney plans to visit Irish matchmaker Willie Daly next week, but learning to be Kellie Maloney is her priority, says Margaret Jennings.

A mystery romantic, who is hoping this year will be the year he meets ‘the one’, has literally pinned his hopes on the matchmaking festival.

THE nation was glued as the latest television dating show kicked off on Channel 4 last night.

A judge, garda commissioner and abbot can surprise you in private, says Catherine Shanahan

Lisdoonvarna matchmaker Willie Daly is expecting a ‘bumper year’ for weddings among those attending the annual Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival opening this weekend.

Burren farmer Micheal Barry was not having too many takers for his two horses in the fairgreen at Spancilhill Horse Fair, but he said "the fair still holds the magic".

The Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival is facing an unusual problem — a shortage of eligible bachelors.

They came armed with all the colours of the rainbow, they saw the sun rise during a same-sex céilí, and they conquered any notions it would be hard to find gay love in Lisdoon.

ONE of the world’s oldest and boldest matchmaking festivals is turning ‘pink’ this weekend.

In the early morning sun at Spancilhill Horse Fair, business is brisk and north Clare farmer and matchmaker Willie Daly is a happy man.

Lisdoonvarna is going pink this September, as a new gay and lesbian weekend will become part of the village’s annual matchmaking festival.

There are 29 men for every woman west of the Shannon, so Deirdre Reynolds decided to head to ... Lisdoonvarna, of course!

CAVAN:

THERE are two times in the year when single people get serious about trying to find a partner.

HE IS the last surviving link to a more romantic Ireland that is, if not dead and gone, certainly long on the wane.

HE IS the last surviving link to a more romantic Ireland that is, if not dead and gone, certainly long on the wane.

FAMED Lisdoonvarna matchmaker Willie Daly yesterday expressed surprise that rural areas of Co Clare experienced a further drop in the number of marriages recorded last year.

THEY met and fell in love 43 years ago at the Lisdoonvarna match-making festival and were married the following September.

THE lyrics to folk singer Christy’s big hit Lisdoonvarna will feature in the new Penguin Book of Irish Verse.

WEST CLARE man Frankie Davis pledges to do his utmost to keep alive what makes us distinctly Irish.

IT’S a long, long way from Clare to here. Lisdoonvarna Music Festival may be taking place in Dublin this afternoon but the traditional Matchmaking Festival let down its hair last night for the first of five fun weekends until October 5.