LOVE SEARCH MAKES HEADLINES

A SEARCH that started in a local newspaper with a simple advertisement looking for love in the local paper has ended nine months later in beaming smiles on the Lakes of Killarney and a sparkling diamond.

Dave Sheehan was finding it impossible to find “someone special to complement his life”.

In his late 40s, he believed he had a lot to offer the right woman and so he took out a quarter-page ad in the Killarney Advertiser, seeking someone to travel the world with him.

“I was going out every weekend but it was always the same old crowd,” said Dave. “I kept on wondering where all these other women that I’d see during the day were.”

Disillusioned, he finally decided to place the advertisement with his local paper, looking for a lady “with a view to a relationship”.

Describing himself as a successful businessman, he said he liked swimming, keeping fit and socialising.

His honesty soon brought him on to local radio, where he divulged that his belief was that the right woman was out there somewhere.

“It was hectic for a while after the advertisement went out. I must have had 40 responses,” said Dave.

“I was constantly off meeting women in local pubs and restaurants. And then out of the blue, I got a call from a girl saying ‘Hey dude. You were really brave to do what you did. Well done’.

“It was a private number so I couldn’t ring her back but I couldn’t get the voice, with its soft American accent, out of my head.”

The voice was that of Trish O’Shea, a Boston- born primary school teacher living in the area.

A few weeks later, she rang Dave back to see how his efforts were paying off.

“I was so glad to hear from her and immediately asked her out to dinner. As soon as we met, we had a connection. It was electric. I remember that first night, we sat up talking until 4 or 5am.

“I didn’t want to leave her and her infectious laugh and it has been lovely ever since,” said a clearly besotted Dave.

Last weekend, property developer Dave asked Trish “to be his wife and partner for the rest of his life”.

Trish says she has been “very, very happy” since she met Dave, and they’re planning to marry in Tuscany next year.

“That advertisement impressed me so much as it was so proactive,” said Trish.

“He wasn’t sitting around waiting for life to happen. He was making it happen. He’s a great guy with so much energy. Yes, there was an immediate chemistry. I’m a very lucky woman.”