Irish 'sugar babies' speak about dating older men for money

Women called 'sugar babies' who date older men for money and gifts have taken part in an interview on Irish TV this morning.

Ciara Doherty from TV3's Ireland AM spoke to two Irish women who have 'sugar daddies' - who are men they date for money.

The women met their sugar daddies through a website called www.seekingarrangement.com

The website links wealthy individuals with young attractive women and its popularity in Ireland has been growing steadily since 2014, with a 14% increase in users in the last 2-3 years.

20-year-old Siobhan , whose identity is protected, spoke about her relationship with her sugar daddy, compared to a normal boyfriend.

“If you meet up with these guys, they offer trips, offer to go shopping. I don’t think you’d get that from normal guys my own age out there.” Siobhan said.

Siobhan is currently dating a man in the UK, which she says is ‘fizzling out’ and she also has a Dublin-based sugar daddy.

During the interview Siobhan described the relationship she has with him.

“He’s giving me €500 a month. We go for dinner, go for drinks and then just spend the night together,” said Siobhan.

“If I’m looking for new clothes for college or a night out with the girls, or I need to go on holidays with the girls, he’ll give me that aswell.”

*Mary* ( not her real name), who is 19, has two part-time sugar daddies and one full-time Sugar daddy.

Mary explained why she wanted to be a sugar baby: “Originally it was because it seemed like a very glamorous lifestyle. There was the handbags, people have holidays, there’s the money. But now I just see it as kind of a job that’s practical.”

Mary added she gets a kick out of being a sugar baby: “It makes me feel glamorous, it makes me feel sexy, it makes me feel powerful and it makes me feel like I’m in charge of my life. (It) makes me have that power.”