Is Ireland is the new love capital?Ireland

Love is all around in the Emerald Isle.

From movies and literature to the music and myths, it’s not particularly difficult to find. But if you need a bit of extra help, on the eve of Valentines Day weekend, we’ve come up with five reasons why Ireland is arguably the new love capital of the world (most of these double as pretty good date ideas).

The Kissing Gate

Local myth and legend suggests that couples who canoodle over the Kissing Gate at Tannaghmore Gardens in Armagh, Northern Ireland, will marry within the year, so take your other half along if you have marriage on your mind. If you are that significant other, maybe avoid this place.

Moher than just friends

We’re not sure where the most proposals take place in Ireland. But if we had to hazard a guess, the Cliffs of Moher would be right up there. One of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth, the Cliffs never fail to take the breath away.

Wild Atlantic Love

Sally Rooney’s smash-hit novel Normal People was adapted to a Netflix TV series in 2020, and main characters Connell and Marianne (played by Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jone) were always destined to become heartthrobs. But what really stole the show was Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, dramatic and gorgeous landscapes stealing the couple’s thunder, as well as the hearts of viewers the world over.

Pay homage to the man himself in Dublin

O.K, this would be a pretty weird date, we admit. But the Shrine of St. Valentine, Mr. Love himself, is based in Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street in Dublin, and everyone from young lovers to the Pope have been known to pay homage on the 14^th of February each year.

Get off Tinder, and get to the pub

If you haven’t found the one yet, it might just be that you haven’t been to a pub in Ireland. If you’re doing it right, a session will start with a pint next to a warm fire, and a few tall stories.

Soon there’ll be music playing and before long you’ll be dancing a proper jig with someone possessing a ridiculously spelt name like Caihome or Padraig or Aoife…and the rest is history.

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