‘I never expected to meet my best friend on a dating app’

Sarah Coleman, left, and Manon Gilbart during a holiday in Lake Como.

As women around the world celebrate Galentine’s this week, I got a lovely reminder that love comes in all shapes and forms — and sometimes, you’re one swipe away from meeting your best friend.

Each year on February 13, an unofficial holiday aims to celebrate friendship ahead of St Valentine’s Day — Galentine’s Day. The term was popularised following the release of an episode of US sitcom Parks and Recreation, in which Amy Poehler’s character Leslie, throws a Galentine’s Day party for her friends.

In recent years, the day has increasingly gained in popularity, with women meeting over brunch or attending themed events to celebrate the meaningful friendship in their lives.

When I stepped through the doors of a restaurant in Limerick two years ago, I did not expect to meet the person who would end up being my best friend.

Sarah Coleman and I had matched on Bumble BFF, an extension of the dating platform Bumble, which allows you to swipe on potential friends the way you would on potential partners.

Bumble created the BFF feature in 2016, in a bet they could take it further than the dating scene — you could also swipe right to make friends. In 2023, it announced the launch of a new standalone app, Bumble for Friends, which is currently not available in Ireland, although, the BFF feature is available on the dating app. 

Sarah and Manon: Over the last two years, we've supported each other through heartache and celebrated the other’s wins, we've debriefed over countless cups of coffee, went on spontaneous trips to Edinburgh and Lake Como — and found any excuse under the sun to go for a stroll and stop for a slice of cake.

After getting to know each other via texts, Sarah and I decided to meet for dinner and drinks. And, I must admit, I had never felt so nervous for a date before.

That night, I met Sarah Coleman and, as she would say, “the rest is history”.

Over the last two years, we've supported each other through heartache and celebrated the other’s wins, we've debriefed over countless cups of coffee, went on spontaneous trips to Edinburgh and Lake Como — and found any excuse under the sun to go for a stroll and stop for a slice of cake. I even introduced her to my mother after showing her around my native Belgium.

After the pandemic, my view of friendship changed. While I strengthened some of my friendships, I also realised I had no interest in maintaining some others. Like many, I felt covid robbed me of my early 20s, perhaps that’s why I crave more meaningful interactions and at times appreciate a slower pace of life.

Perhaps friendship apps could be the solution to the widespread loneliness epidemic hitting Ireland.

According to a study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ireland scored highest on the loneliness scale, with more than 20% of the respondents describing themselves as lonely.

As I swiped through profiles on the friendship feature of Bumble, I noticed many women indicated in their bio they were looking to meet new people after their childhood friends moved away to Australia — or simply wanted to make new friends they have more in common with.

It can be hard to make friends as an adult, so maybe a little help from the internet should be welcomed.

A sentiment shared by Sarah, who encourages others to find new ways to make connections.

I would encourage people, single or in a relationship, to explore finding new platonic connections. Even if you have a good group of friends around you, it never hurts to meet new people and potentially form lifelong friendships. 

“Everybody talks about the significance of childhood friends and college friends, but nobody talks about the friends you make while trying to navigate your way in the world as an adult,” she added.

A research commissioned by Bumble and carried out by Censuswide in the US in February 2023, found 62% of respondents said making friends online had lessened their loneliness.

The research also found millennials were seeking new friendships more than any other generation, but struggling to get out of platonic relationships that no longer serve them: 73% of the respondents said they wanted to find new friends, but nearly 43% agreed they were stuck in outdated friendships.

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Galentine’s might take place on February 13, but my friends and I have agreed to extend the festivities this weekend. The day has its fair share of antagonists, who argue it’s another commercial day coined for capitalistic reasons. 

I, for one, see it as an excuse to celebrate the meaningful connections in my life.