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HomeFarming NewsLisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival cancelled for second year in a row
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival cancelled for second year in a row

Organisers of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival have cancelled the event for the second consecutive year due to Covid-19.

The legendary match-making event, which is deemed to be Europe’s biggest singles festival, attracts thousands of people from 18 to 80 every September.

Organisers believe the cancellation of the festival for the second year in a row comes at a cost of approximately €2 million to the local economy.

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival

In a statement on Monday, June 21st, festival organiser, Marcus White, said:

“As the Government have advised that there should be no large-scale indoor events until the whole population has been vaccinated, this year’s Lisdoonvarna Festival has regrettably been cancelled.”

“Many people, especially younger ones, will not be fully vaccinated before the end of September.”

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“All our events are staged inside, including the country music marquee, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people, which is not permissible under current guidelines.”

He stated that organisers would not unable to manage the “very large” crowds that normally throng the small town for a month.

He said organisers also have a duty of care to protect the health and safety of the local community, staff, artists and visitors, and therefore, will not be taking any risks.

“Unlike the Electric Picnic festival, an outdoor event which has been postponed until the third week of September, rescheduling the Lisdoonvarna event to a different date would not be an option.”

“September has always been the month the festival has taken place since it began over 160 years ago. Traditionally, it is the time when farmers celebrate the end of the harvest and converge in the village looking for love and a bit of craic.”

In conclusion, he highlighted that this sense of heritage and history makes Lisdoonvarna so unique and endears it to “so many people from all over the world”.

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