The Last Matchmaker

Willie Daly, with Philip Dodd

This book represented something of a change of direction for Philip – not to mention a chance to spend time in Ireland – working with Willie Daly, a romantic matchmaker from Ballingaddy on the wild west coast of County Clare, whose father and grandfather were matchmakers before him. “I was born to be a matchmaker,” says Willie. “It’s in my blood.”

 This is the heart-warming story of Willie’s life, as he learns the mysterious art of bringing people together in love and marriage, and how he distils his own blend of intuition, quiet wisdom and canny subterfuge. Willie has introduced hundreds of couples over the years, and in The Last Matchmaker he recounts some of the best stories, along with his own.

The Last Matchmaker was a Radio 4 Book Of The Week, read by the Irish actor Dermot Crowley, in January 2010.

Sphere
Hardback, 278 pages
Published 7th January 2010
ISBN 978 1 84744 302 1
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German edition
Hochzeit Nicht Ausgeschlossen
Knaur Verlag
978 3 426 65475 0
14 February 2011
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In September 2010, a complete unabridged audio version of the book was released by Isis Audio Books: this was read by Gerry O’Brien, who as well as radio drama, has appeared in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Father Ted.

Buy at ISIS Publishing

Reviews

“The pages conjure an Ireland which many believed had vanished along with the fairies.” The Times

“There is an old-world charm about Willy Daly’s account of his life as a maker of matches for 50 years or so. The stories of his matchmaking life, which, as he says, Philip Dodd helped him put on paper, retain the flavour of the spoken word and a nice turn of phrase. The tone is demure, but full of fun and an understanding of human nature.” John S. Doyle, The Irish Times

“Any view from the matchmaker’s country cottage could provide the backdrop for a romantic novel or film. It is the landscape which has motivated Willie Daly to write his own epic love story about his passion for matchmaking.” Vicki Hawthorne, Sky News