I Want To Marry A Farmer – But How?

Following tweets and updates about my Fundit project, I was asked by a couple of ladies ‘How can I find a farmer to marry?’. It seems my post about being married to a farmer hadn’t put them off!

muddy matchesSo it got me thinking! What does make a farmer such a desirable catch ? It can’t just be the possibility of road frontage and a detached house – can it?? After all, half a century ago, country women were fleeing from potential farmer husbands to life in the big city as being married to a farmer was seen as having to work extremely hard, have numerous children, live in a ramshackle house or cottage and probably have to share the house with a mother-in-law – all well documented in poems by Kavanagh and books by Trevor and Keane.

Some time ago, I came across a post on eharmony – 15 reasons for dating a farmer which included being able to visit your husband as he works; being eco-aware is trendy; if he’s good with animals he will be kind; he will probably be healthy, loyal and protective; and free tractor rides!

Hence, it seems that the image of being a farmer’s wife has changed, that farmers are seen as good husband material. Not necessarily seen as wealthy even if he has got good road frontage but a good catch all the same. So how does one meet an eligible farmer bachelor in Ireland?

  • The Ploughing Match – 80,000 people visit the Ploughing Match each day and a huge proportion of them are going to be farmers. Put 24-26th September in your diary now and head to Stradbally in Co. Laois for the possibility of meeting your future husband.
  • The Mart – Farmers descend on the marts in their droves, be it buying or selling. What proportion of them are single and what proportion of those won’t have their Mammy with them I can’t say but it’s certainly a place to sit and view the talent.
  • Horse Races – an occasion like the Galway Races is perfect too and you can really try to impress by going on a Ladies day and winning the prize for most suitably dressed. What man would say no to a woman who can dress impeccably and yet look like she can strut her stuff in wellies as well as heels.
  • Head to Lisdoonvarna in September for their matchmaking festival. Once the harvest is in, bachelor farmers head there in their droves ?and you’ll be in safe hands with Willie Daly, a fourth generation matchmaker.
  • Personal Column in the Farmers Journal – every week the Farmers Journal has a personal page where people can look for suitable matches. It is on the website?and is usually inside the back cover of the Irish Country Living supplement.
  • Country dances – The Irish Country Living part of the Farmers Journal lists dances around the country – perfect for meeting a farmer.
  • Macra na Feirme – if you are under 35, Macra seems to be the perfect place to meet a potential husband with their various events and meetings all across the country. With events such as public speaking, performing arts, community events, organised travel holidays – it’s perfect. I asked Macra if they had had many ‘Macra’ weddings and it seems there have been plenty. Not only that but 33% of those questioned in a survey said they expected to meet their life partner in Macra!
  • Muddy Matches now has an Irish element to their dating website for country people with many success stories. Designed for those looking to meet someone leading a ‘muddy boots’ lifestyle, it seems to be a smaller and much more personal dating website than other ones. You can look for someone in NI or the ROI or limit it to an individual county within Ireland too.

“I met a wonderful man just 3 months ago on Muddy Matches. I can’t believe 2 Irish people living 10 kilometres apart ended up on a UK website, which ultimately brought us together. Well done with this website. I want to thank you so much. We’re both very happy and cannot wait for our future together. It’s looking so bright!!!!!” Bernadette

?Hi, Just thought you would be interested! Jen and I live in Ireland and thanks to you at Muddy Matches we met last year and have had a wonderful time and we are getting married in June. It goes without saying that we both think Muddy Matches is great. The concept of people of a similar background and interest being on a common site makes the possibility of meeting someone that much easier. Keep up the good work! All the Best? James

So there you have it – the low down on where to meet a bachelor farmer should you wish to marry an Irish farmer (from wherever you are in the world). I’d love to know where you met your farmer husband too – was it at a mart or Macra or a dating site? Sometime I’ll share the story of my courtship with Brian!

Image: Muddy Matches

I’m currently running a crowdfunding project for my upcoming book – ‘Would You Marry A Farmer’ which was inspired by this post. I’d love if you could pre-order a copy and support the project – it will be out before Christmas 🙂

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