Lisdoon renews tradition with gay abandon

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.

The annual Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival — Ireland’s oldest matchmaking event — threw off its 157-year-old tradition, with gay abandon, to welcome same-sex singletons to the festival for the first time.

And, according to those in search of gay and lesbian relationships, the west Clare rural town tightly wrapped its arms around the Rainbow community visitors.