‘The Farmer Wants a Wife’ is a novel new offering from A Table for Six, hailed as ‘Ireland’s newest dating experience’.
“After years of matching friends, family and colleagues, I set up Matchsticks.ie; my personalised matchmaking service,” said Mullingar-based Mairead Loughman.
“It was from listening to single people that I realised that the main reason people are single today is they simply do not get to meet people outside their own circle of friends,’ she said.
I wanted to create a civilised singles event with a relaxed atmosphere, that you could comfortably attend on your own. That’s how I came up with A Table for Six.
“We match three single ladies and three single men to go on a group dinner date. It’s very relaxed and I find the lads get on with each other as much as they do with the ladies. It is just a great night out.
“If any of the ladies should take your fancy on the evening, you can call us over the next few days to arrange a follow-up date, if you haven’t already done so.
“It’s a more traditional way to meet people, face-to-face, like our parents or grandparents would have, and that’s why it works.”
Rural honies
Since starting the events nationwide in May, Loughman said she has been inundated with farmers asking if she has any “nice country women” that may come from a farming background.
“That is why I have launched ‘The Farmer Wants A Wife’ events, which can be booked at a cost of €50 per head, on the website.
“I am going out with a suckler farmer from Tipperary, so I understand why they want to meet a country girl. We also have a few female farmers.”
The events are run in: Cork; Galway; Limerick; Sligo; Letterkenny; Mullingar; Kilkenny; Monaghan; Waterford; Portlaoise; and Dundalk, with Loughman open to suggestions of any other locations.
Table bookings can be made through the website – www.atableforsix.ie – or by calling the office. Those interested in attending are asked a number of questions to ensure the best table matches, Loughman said.
“On the evening, you arrive at the restaurant where you are brought to your table. Everyone sits male/female/male/female around the table, and the dinner starts off with everyone introducing themselves.
I find the conversation flows from there over dinner, which is ideal for anyone that is a bit of a character or someone that is a little quieter.
“After dinner, the group tend to go for a few drinks and to get to know each other a little better. Again, if they haven’t already arranged a follow-up date, they can contact me and I will organise it for them.
“We are always looking for more farmers all over Ireland and lovely country ladies that are looking to meet a nice man.
We get a lot of dairy farmers and they need a lady that understands the demands and the hours.
“A lot of farmers live in rural areas from which they have to travel a good distance to go out at the weekends. They often tend to just end up in the village pub, rather than face the expense of trekking to the nearest big town.
“A Table for Six ensures that they get talking to at least three lovely country ladies on the evening.”
Regular same-sex events are also organised.