Clare Island has issued an urgent call to the mainland for adventurous single men.
The island is organising a singles weekend with a difference from June 20 to 22 which aims to bring ‘outdoorsy’ types together.
However, organisers on the mountainous outpost, three-and-a-half miles off the Mayo coast, say that, so far, it looks like there may be a slight problem with gender balance with more women than men signing up for the festival of love and adventure.
Carl O’Grady, of adventure tour company Clare Island Adventures, was keen to point out that the event is a singles adventure weekend and not a match-making festival.
“The weekend will deliberately steer away from any cheesy match-making,” he explained.
“Instead, the focus will be on providing an environment where single people who enjoy being active in the outdoors can hang out, do some exploring and some adventuring with other like-minded singles.”
Two days of adventure activities and live, music, food and craic in the island bar await singles who undertake the 20 minute ferry ride to Clare, which is famed as the home of 16th century pirate queen Grace O’Malley.
Activities over the weekend include a big beach challenge and a choice of coasteering, rock-climbing, abseiling or hiking.
All the gear and appropriate training will be provided, added Mr O’Grady.
“An up-beat, can-do spirit will see you through,” he said. “There’ll be some activities involving all the group while others are broken down according to individual interests. But there’ll be plenty of mingling in the bar at mealtimes and in the evening - nothing corny, just a bunch of new buddies swapping tales of their adventures.”
The ferry departs for Clare Island from Roonagh Pier outside Louisburgh on Friday evening and will have everyone back on terra firma by lunchtime on Sunday.
The weekend costs €215 per person and includes the return ferry, two nights bed and breakfast in the Go Explore Hostel, dinner on Friday and Saturday night, lunch on Saturday and all activities.
Clare Island was recently listed by The Irish Times as one of the top five destinations in Ireland to ‘go wild’.
For more information, visit www.clareislandadventures.ie
