Dating in Ireland can feel like a minefield. The apps are draining, ghosting is normalised, 
and everyone seems either too busy, too picky, or quietly panicking about timelines. 
Somewhere along the way, what should feel exciting has started to feel like hard work.
This week, Jennifer is joined by professional matchmaker Feargal, who has spent over 
15 years setting up real-life dates and watching what actually works and what really 
doesn’t. From app fatigue and sky-high expectations to the danger of sticking rigidly to a 
“type,” he shares the patterns he sees again and again.
They talk about Irish pride and privacy, the reluctance to travel for someone who might 
be worth it, the pressure around age and fertility, and why “not settling” can sometimes 
become self-sabotage. It’s an honest conversation about effort, compromise and being 
realistic about what truly matters.
Just Between Us is the Irish Independent’s sex and relationships podcast, hosted by 
Jennifer Zamparelli. New episodes every Thursday.

The sex and relationships podcast from the Irish Independent