Punchestown Festival 2026 hosted a first-of-its-kind singles event where punters could speed date trackside with like minded individuals – with dating apps on the decline
Around 500 singletons looking for love took to the sunny pastures of Kildare to try their hand at finding a partner at Punchestown Festival. Saturday’s season finale saw a major singles event take place trackside, pairing couples at the races.
Your Friend, My Friend’s singles events take place across the Emerald Isle – from Speed Dating and large singles parties to singles run clubs and weekend getaways. Similar gatherings have been sweeping across the rest of the world in a big push back from dating on apps.
Now, the event coordinators thought hosting at the races would be the perfect opportunity to pair up like-minded individuals at one of the biggest sporting events in Ireland.
Samantha Keating is the co founder of Your Friend, My Friend along with her husband Eoin Keating. The pair started the agency a few years ago to help out a mutual friend who was looking for love.
The event itself was almost sold out and is the first of its kind at the races, which attracts well over 130,000 punters each year.
Keating told Evoke: “There’s so many couples who met at the races. You’re out for the pull. We need more men to sign up. The men are always very last-minute. The ladies have been sold out for weeks now, but the men are just true to form – can’t commit”.
The company had its own pavilion with a guest tipster and comedian Tom O’Mahony. Guests were treated to a drink upon arrival and encouraged to get stuck in.
Keating’s goal is to create conversations through speed dating and other activities. At Punchestown, several youngsters gathered in the pavilion and were met with DJ sets and flowing booze.
On the apps, she noted: “I think dating apps have had their peak. People don’t see each other as actual humans when you’re on the dating app.
“It’s like online shopping, it’s onto the next constantly, whereas when you’re in person, you can tell a lot from them, and you immediately have a lot of respect for them and more time for them”.
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