Single Again at 60: Dating in Ireland the Second Time Around

So here you are. Sixty something, on your own again, and whatever brought you here, you've decided it's time for a bit more company. Nothing dramatic. Someone to go to the pictures with on a Thursday would do nicely for a start.

The last time you did this, there's a fair chance you ended up married to the result. The world has moved on since, but dating at this age is a lot less daunting than it looks from the outside. Here's what's worth knowing.

Being Older Helps More Than It Hurts

You're not nineteen, and neither is anyone you'll meet, which takes a great deal of nonsense out of it. Nobody is trying to impress anyone with a borrowed car or a dodgy haircut. You know who you are and what you like, and at this age people would much rather meet the real you than a performance.

Everyone Comes With a Past

Most people you meet will have been married, and many will have grown children, grandchildren, a parent to look after or a dog with strong opinions about visitors. None of it is aimed at you, and the same goes for your own history.

What works is saying early on what you're comfortable with, and asking the same of them. You're both far too old to be sulking over something neither of you has mentioned.

Decide a Few Things Before You Start

It saves time to know your own mind. Are you after company, romance, or you'll see how it goes? How far would you happily travel to meet someone? And how much do you want to share about family at the start? None of these answers are wrong, and you can change them, but having them in your head makes your profile far easier to write.

Ireland Is Smaller Than You Think

If you're 66 or over, the Free Travel Scheme covers you on public transport, so someone two counties away is a lot nearer than the map suggests. If you're 70 or over, you can also apply for a companion card, so someone can travel with you. There's no reason to limit your search to the next parish out of habit.

Getting Started

Start small. Write a few honest lines about yourself, add a clear photo and have a look around before you message anyone. Our guides on writing a good dating profile and getting your profile photo just right will help, and when you're ready to say hello, see what to say in your first message.

Worst case, you'll have a few good conversations and something to talk about at the weekend.

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