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Which town is the most romantic in Ireland?

Your town may be on the top ten most romantic list…or the least romantic list.

IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING to think of an amorous setting  for this Valentine’s Day, you might consider Bailieborough in Co Cavan, which has been named the most romantic town in Ireland.

More Valentine’s chocolates and gifts are sold at the Tesco store in Bailieborough than in any other town in Ireland, mostly bought by wives and girlfriends. Over one third of all customers in the store pick up a Valentine’s Day treat for their other half in the week leading up to the most romantic day of the year, the retailer said today.

Arklow in County Wicklow comes a close second, with men leading the way, buying more cards and flowers than at any other store in Ireland.

If you live in Dublin City Centre or Cork City Centre then don’t hold your breath for a Valentine’s card this year – these places have the least romantic inhabitants according to Tesco sales.

Ireland’s Top 10 most romantic locations are:

  • Bailieborough (Cavan)
  • Arklow (Wicklow)
  • Celbridge (Kildare)
  • Edenderry (Offaly)
  • Tramore (Waterford)
  • Nenagh (Tipperary)
  • Kilrush (Clare)
  • Clonmel (Tipperary)
  • Drogheda (Louth)
  • Naas (Kildare)

Ireland’s Top 10 least romantic locations are:

  • Jervis Street (Dublin City Centre)
  • Paul Street (Cork City Centre)
  • Stillorgan (County Dublin)
  • Tallaght (Dublin)
  • Arthur’s Quay (Limerick City Centre)
  • Clondalkin (Dublin)
  • Bloomfields (Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin)
  • Dundalk (Louth)
  • Dooradoyle (Limerick)
  • Kilbarrack (Dublin)

Commenting on the data today, Modern Matchmaker Avril Mulcahy said:

This research has shown that women tend to plan Valentine’s Day more as an event, picking up cards and novelty items over the two weeks leading up to the day, and choosing items such as candles and table accessories to really create a romantic ambiance. Men however tend to stick to traditional gifts such as flowers and chocolates, and tend to buy their cards at the last minute.

How will you be spending your Valentine’s Day?

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55 Comments
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    Mute Michael Russell
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:54 PM

    Jervis st, unromantic?? No way……… I often see people sharing their cans and their drugs with their partners. Very Cute.

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    Mute Malcolm Fairbrother
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:59 PM

    Yeah and Stillorgan hasn’t been unromantic since the invention of Viagra.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:48 PM

    Baileborough the biggest seller of Valentine’s cards and chocolates (mostly bought by wives and girlfriends) !! Cavan-men true to form!

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    Mute bignazza
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:52 PM

    Iidi makes a killing

    56
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    Mute Oliver
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:53 PM

    More likely that more women shop in tesco at that location than men. So it would stand to reason they are more women buy chocolate there.

    24
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    Mute Professor Mehoop
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:50 PM

    Not really an indicator of the most romantic town, more of “which Tesco sells the most Valentines cards”. Nice free ad for Tesco, by the way. Every little helps indeed.

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    Mute Ciaran Fridge O'Dowd
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:55 PM

    Everyone knows Nobber is the most romantic town in Ireland!

    134
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    Mute Pierce2020
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:55 PM

    Muff in Donegal

    117
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    Mute Colin Toner
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:55 PM

    Drogheda!….who the hell combined that list?……….have you ever been to Drogheda????

    116
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    Mute Joanna Lynch
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    Feb 7th 2013, 8:27 PM

    A truly depressing town, those romances probably aren’t ending well !

    24
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    Mute Malcolm Fairbrother
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:55 PM

    Nothing says romantic more than getting a last-minute token box of chocolates in a petrol station in Balieborough or Celbridge.

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    Mute Professor Mehoop
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:27 PM

    Or the last card on the shelf that they have to find a poorly-fitting dusty envelope to squeeze it into, and charge you a fiver for the privilege.

    30
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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:11 PM

    Romance is trying a little harder than popping into the nearest Tesco.

    The list should probably be reversed.

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    Mute Toxica Misanthrope
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:50 PM

    Maybe they have no significant others and are buying the chocolate for themselves?!

    65
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    Mute ☆ Anna Lark ☆
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    Feb 7th 2013, 6:29 PM

    Romance is being measured by the volume of goods bought in Tesco. Be still my beating heart.

    50
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    Mute Mark
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:29 PM

    Harcourt street without a doubt. Cheap booze, cheap hotels and even cheaper women!!

    I’m good catch really. :D

    47
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    Mute Conor O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:56 PM

    Has to be Thurles . Scored there once

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    Mute Professor Mehoop
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:28 PM

    So that was the time you scored then?

    41
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    Mute Chelseajoe
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    Feb 7th 2013, 6:02 PM

    Would that have been a point or a goal?

    34
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    Mute Fiona Garland
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:33 PM

    Dundalk in top 10 least romantic – my romantically starved teen years suddenly make so much sense to me now!

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    Mute Simon McGrath
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:59 PM

    Celbridge seriously??

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Feb 7th 2013, 7:57 PM

    Agreed. Regards, ex-resident.

    15
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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:26 PM

    Trying to convince the girlfriend to go to new diehard film for vomit day…dont think shes going for it :p

    32
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    Mute EoghanMc
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:55 PM

    Cavan men-mad for the shift.

    30
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    Mute Martin Gregory
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:07 PM

    Arklow ?? They obviously havent been there before ! Guilty feelings maybe…

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    Mute Joanna Lynch
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:45 PM

    Ah, the world according to Tesco. . . . Again !

    29
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    Mute Christopher Dolan
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:11 PM

    Jaysus, if Clonmel made the top 10 there is no hope for any romantic in Ireland.

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    Mute John Quill
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    Feb 7th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Agree, I work in Clonmel and I’ve heard it called lots of things but never romantic.

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    Mute Muriel Gowing
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:38 PM

    Naas romantic? They have got to be joking.

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    Mute dearg doom
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:46 PM

    Mullingar according to the Rubberbandits.

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    Mute Tom O Laithimh
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:55 PM

    Muff! Sounds romantic

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    Mute Gillian Whelan
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:05 PM

    Tesco?? Only idiots shop there….maybe that can be your next poll?

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    Mute Keith Anthony Patrick Irish
    Favourite Keith Anthony Patrick Irish
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:21 PM

    Was tramore put in there as some kind of evil joke? Anyone ever been there? Nothing romantic or endearing about it at all.

    23
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    Mute Mike Walshe
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:07 PM

    Just cos ye failed to score after a day out from town in your tracckies Keith . Don’t be bitter !

    21
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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:39 PM

    Tramore is beautiful. Best beach for families in Ireland, the Metalman. The Copper Coast is as nice as anywhere on the west coast & far less touristy. & Ireland’s most romantic castle Lismore castle is only up the road.

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    Mute Dónal O'Flynn
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    Feb 7th 2013, 8:37 PM

    I second that ThomasFrancisMeagher, I walk the beautiful Doneraile Walk in Tramore a couple of times per week and you won’t find a more romantic spot than that!

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    Mute Macus Mc Mahon
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:11 PM

    was Kilrush a misprint ? doubt theres a restaurant in that town,a great Deli alright,,,,,no where for a nice meal though .

    21
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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:38 PM

    Tesco Baillirborough is probably the worst planned store in the group.
    Who ever chose to build such a monstrous facility in the middle of nowhere and with no population deserves to be fired.

    18
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    Mute Bruchsteinmauer German Shepherds
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    Feb 7th 2013, 8:21 PM

    One o da best performing tesco’s in da country . . Aye ,We’re all A-tin chocolate down here . . .on da tractors in da muck . . What they didn tell yiz . . Is that we didn know wat chocloate was til tesco came . . Its Jus like willy wonkas down here . . .chocolate everywhere. . .

    19
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    Mute Sean Mc Avinue
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:58 PM

    Kinvarra

    17
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    Mute Aoife Ni Riain
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    Feb 7th 2013, 5:07 PM

    I can safely say that neither places in tipperary deserve to be on that list! I live here and trust me it is in no way romantic!

    15
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    Mute Colm Pent
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    Feb 7th 2013, 8:52 PM

    Nice, drogheda near the top and Dundalk near the bottom.

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    Mute Bastard Smooth
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    Feb 7th 2013, 10:22 PM

    Celbridge is about as romantic as the act of fingering a fat bird in a smoking area which is something I’ve seen plenty of times… in Celbridge.

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    Mute Sarah Mc Eneaney
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    Feb 7th 2013, 7:51 PM

    Us dundalk folk are just wise with our cash! Tesco selling cards high €6.96!! I don’t think so.

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    Mute Mick Costello
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    Feb 7th 2013, 6:28 PM

    Romance wasted in Virginia anyways

    11
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    Mute Martin Malone
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    Feb 7th 2013, 10:16 PM

    Kilbarrack is full of romance, just ask George Burgess.

    9
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    Mute Dónal O'Flynn
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    Feb 7th 2013, 8:34 PM

    Ah my beautiful hometown of Tramore with it’s sun (lol!), sand and sea.

    Well, as that old romantic Meatloaf said: two out of three ain’t bad!

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Feb 7th 2013, 3:49 PM

    Glad to see nowhere that is in hell is listed.

    6
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    Mute Paul Strahan
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    Feb 8th 2013, 12:19 AM

    Arklow should be number one !!!

    4
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    Mute Paul Burke
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    Feb 8th 2013, 9:37 PM

    Good Aul Arklow Loved up town

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    Mute Declan Carr
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    Feb 7th 2013, 4:46 PM
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    Mute SMcB
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    Feb 8th 2013, 12:06 AM

    Surely Lovely Leitrim deserves a mention???

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    Mute Ciara Fitzgerald
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    Feb 8th 2013, 9:39 PM

    Would love to know who did the research and writing of this article…hope this isn’t your day job, cos you’re deducing is rubbish!! lol Arklow the second most romantic place in Ireland? Ya…!

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    Mute Cillian Murphy
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    Feb 14th 2013, 11:26 PM

    The Journal.ie..sponsored by Tesco….

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