The 2009 Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival is now in full swing.

September 15, 2009 7:53 AM

How about Irish farmer datingif Internet dating and speed dating are not your thing? An "ancient" (maybe a century, max) tradition of matchmaking, traditional music and "grand craic" are also on offer. Even comes with its own (part-time) matchmaker: Willy. Or... is this the "real" Matchmaker Willy?
posted by KMH (12 comments total)

The multitudes, they flocked and thronged,
To hear the music and the songs.
Motorbikes and Hi-ace vans,
With bottles - barrels - flagons - cans.
Mighty craic. Loads of frolics,
Pioneers and alcoholics,
PLAC, SPUC and the FCA,
Free Nicky Kelly and the IRA.
Hairy chests and milk-white thighs,
And mickey dodgers in disguise.
McGraths, O'Briens, Pippins, Coxs,
Massage parlours in horse boxes.
There's amhráns, bodhráns, amadáns,
Arab sheiks, Hindu Sikhs, Jesus freaks,
RTE are makin' tapes, takin' breaks and throwin' shapes.
This is heaven, this is hell.
Who cares? Who can tell?
(Anyone for the last few Choc Ices, now?)

Oh Lidoonvarna, Lisdoon, Lisdoon, Lisdoon,
Lisdoonvarna.
posted by Elmore at 8:00 AM on September 15 [1 favorite]

The traditional tools of matchmaking are intuition, subtly, gentle nudges, a little encouragement, the right atmosphere and insightful knowledge of human nature.

There is a subtle error there.
posted by idiopath at 8:09 AM on September 15 [2 favorites]

May I take this opportunity to recommend The Matchmaker 1997.

Marcy (Janeane Garofalo) is an assistant to Senator John McGlory, who is having problems with a re-election campaign. Desperate for Irish votes, McGlory's chief of staff Nick (Denis Leary ) sends Marcy to Ireland to trace McGlory's relatives or ancestors. Marcy arrives at the village of Ballinagra when it is preparing for an annual Matchmaking Festival.

A host of Irish actors shine! Worth a watch for what it worth! Available in high quality on youtube part one here!
posted by therubettes at 8:17 AM on September 15

No offense to therubettes, but may I take this opportunity to un-recommend The Matchmaker? Even though I adore Janeane Garofalo and nearly everything she does, this was an amazingly dull movie.
posted by odinsdream at 8:42 AM on September 15

Matchmaker! Matchmaker! Make meeee a match!
Find me a find! Catch me a catch!
posted by jquinby at 9:00 AM on September 15

Will there be bundling? Please say there will be bundling.
posted by adipocere at 9:10 AM on September 15

Road to Lisdoonvarna ♫
posted by kid ichorous at 9:18 AM on September 15 [1 favorite]

I passed by this town on a trip through Ireland. I had not idea it was such a big thing.
posted by borges at 9:20 AM on September 15

No offense to therubettes, but may I take this opportunity to un-recommend The Matchmaker?

No offence taken. I just have a real soft spot for that movie for some reason. They mock the irish and the americans. Plus Garofalo is cute as hell in it!
posted by therubettes at 11:10 AM on September 15 [1 favorite]

Marcy arrives at the village of Ballinagra

Nice subtle name there.
posted by kersplunk at 2:07 PM on September 15

Hoorah. Ten comments for my first front page post. Y'all are great.

I wish I was going to this festival, I really do.
posted by KMH at 1:13 AM on September 16

Plus Garofalo is cute as hell in it!

Oh, absolutely agreed. She's the only reason I watched it all the way through.
posted by odinsdream at 7:45 PM on September 20