After getting tired of online dating apps, an American woman named Mary Timby decided to take a sudden trip to Ireland. She visited the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival in County Clare to experience a unique tradition, and she ended up finding a long-term partner.
The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival began 170 years ago. Originally, single farmers and visitors came to the small town to bathe in mineral waters and meet local matchmakers who arranged marriages. Today, the town has fewer than 1,000 permanent residents, but up to 80,000 people visit every September to dance, socialize, and look for love in local pubs.
During her visit, Timby went to a popular local venue called The Matchmaker Bar. There, she met Jason Mangan, an Irishman who was visiting from a nearby town. The two began talking, went on several dates across Ireland, and continued their relationship long-distance after Timby returned to Colorado.
A year later, the couple is still together and spending the summer in County Clare. Timby's story also became popular on social media, leading her to launch a new business that helps other tourists visit the historic festival in hopes of finding romance.