Going online to find love has never been easier or more popular ...

The Irish dating scene is changing with the times and meeting people online is becoming more popular than ever. Irish singletons are becoming more open to different ways of finding Mr or Miss Right. According to Woo.ie, one of Ireland's newest online sites for singles, people are becoming "increasingly disillusioned" with the so called "normal dating scene" of crowded pubs and clubs and turning to online.

[Pinktree2] is Marketing Executive with the website. She is adamant that online dating is "simply a modern, 21st century way for people to meet potential partners." According to [Pinktree], "The Irish have been as quick to adapt to online dating as they have been to booking their holidays online, shopping online or betting online.

"The popularity of online dating is growing in line with the popularity of other online lifestyle activities." But [Pinktree] admits that some people are still hesitant. "The stigma about online dating is still here, but give it a few more years and it will be completely gone.

There is no longer a "type" of person who goes online. The assortment of characters you find online now reflects the real world."

Many of us may think that people may lie when filling out application forms, but [Pinktree] assures us, "you'll find the odd person here and there exaggerating the truth, but most people online are honest in their self description because they are genuinely looking for a friend or partner."

Most websites are aware of the dangers their customers may encounter and have taken precautions to protect people's privacy. [Pinktree] explains, "All users’ personal details, including their name, are protected by the data protection act. We, therefore, guard our members' anonymity. It is the user's choice whether or not they reveal personal details about themselves to other online members."

The website also wants to "displace" many of the inhibitions or taboos people have surrounding online dating. Woo.ie wants to show any unhappy singles who have not yet tried online dating that there are other options.

A number of factors have contributed to the increase in online dating. "As we become more dependent on the internet and similiar technologies, online dating will become a routine means of finding a partner.", predicts [Pinktree].

Who knows - perhaps our customary Irish method of dating - getting drunk, getting off and possibly going on a date a week later - is on the way out.