A Kerry farmer and a Mayo nurse put county rivalries aside as they were crowned "Singles King and Queen" on a western island at the weekend.
A new trend was also set when a marginal majority of men broke the usual gender balance at the bi-annual Singles Weekend on Clare Island, Co Mayo.
For the first time since the inception of the event in 1996, more men than women sailed to the one time home of pirate queen Granuaile in search of love and romance last Friday evening.
Participants, who came from Manchester, Birmingham and London, as well as Donegal, Kerry, Mayo, Dublin and Wexford, spent a weekend of romantic guided walks, speed-dating, "Ballroom of Romance" dancing, fortune-telling and a Blind Date competition.
The participants chose Mr Dan Moynihan from the Dingle peninsula, Co Kerry, and Ms Mary Corcoran from Ballina, Co Mayo, as the weekend's "Mr and Ms Singles Clare Island", .
According to Mr Donal O'Shea, the island's development manager and founder of the concept, the "singles" are usually aged between 35 and 55, and come from a variety of backgrounds and professions.
Doctors, farmers, an architect, nurses and teachers were among the group who participated at the weekend.
"There are usually, at least, 10 couples who leave the island hand-in-hand as they board the ferry on Sunday afternoons," Mr O'Shea said.
"There has been one confirmed marriage and several ongoing romances in the history of the event. The couple who married, however, have chosen not to go public.
"The weekend is not only about craic and courting," he added.
"It also extends the tourist season with all available beds for rent always being snapped up," Mr O'Shea said.