For almost two centuries, the Irish town of Lisdoonvarna has attracted singles to its matchmaking festival every September. Established in 1857, this month-long event draws over 60,000 visitors yearly to County Clare. It even featured in American pop culture through the sitcom ‘Schitt’s Creek’.

This festival offers an organic way to find love, devoid of apps or algorithms. Participants engage in traditional Irish dancing, music, and speed dating. They also have the option to seek guidance from the 83-year-old matchmaker Willie Daly.

When I’m walking down the street, often I’d meet people … two or three couples said, ‘You fixed us up 30 years ago, or 40 years ago.’

Daly’s family has been connecting couples for three generations. His grandfather initiated the festival, and Daly carries on the tradition today. Prospective suitors meet Daly, fill out a form, and he uses his intuition to pair them for a first date.

In his home on a donkey farm near Lisdoonvarna, Daly maintains a record of all the matches made over the years. It’s said that touching his book with both hands promises marriage within six months. Daly’s status is celebrated, with his image on the Matchmaker Bar in Lisdoonvarna, where singles mingle each year.

CBS News attended the bar’s festivities, speaking with young attendees about what they seek in partners. A young woman shared her desire for loyalty, values, and fun. An Irishman from a sheep farm wanted someone with an agricultural background.

Attendees come from afar, such as Erica from Colombia, who values face-to-face interactions over app-based dating. American Mary Timby from Colorado discovered the festival during COVID-19 and subsequently found love there, becoming an ambassador for the event.

“He found me on social media the next day,” Timby shared about her partner from Ennis. Her story highlights how even rich traditions can seamlessly integrate modern technology.