Single later in life? You’re not alone. With a third of our members aged 50+, EliteSingles can help you safely experience older online dating for yourself. We use your search criteria and personality to introduce you to other like-minded members, and each new profile is verified to make sure those you see are genuine. Are you ready to start your new chapter? Register today and meet older singles with us.
The changing face of older dating in Ireland
As people start living longer, healthier lives, it’s only natural that middle-age stereotypes in Ireland are changing. Indeed, those aged 50+ today are free to be more active and outgoing than their predecessors. “Years ago when people got to their fifties they’d start thinking it was pipe and slippers time,” says Paula Hall from relationship counsellors Relate. “But increasing longevity means people have more time up their sleeves now, and they’re thinking more about what they really want to do with that time.”1
As a result, the mature dating pool is surprisingly large, particularly as the over-50s age group in Ireland is the demographic with the fastest-growing rate of divorce.2 Lisa Copeland,3 a leading over-50s dating coach and author of the site Find a Quality Man, notes that “over-50 is one of the biggest areas of divorce now,” presumably as people realise ”they still have a lot of life, a long life to live.’ Unlike previous generations who ”did not have options,” today’s older dating population seem to have nothing but opportunity.
Older dating: Ireland needs EliteSingles!
Despite the numbers, past a certain age it does become difficult to meet new singles, especially if you are part of a mostly-married group of friends. Consequentially, more older people than ever before are turning to advanced matchmaking websites such as EliteSingles to find a relationship with genuine compatibility. Lisa says ”now that online dating is so accepted, it is the standard way to really meet people. Dating over 50 is just the same as dating at 20 when it comes to how people think about it.”
She goes on to say “the best way for sure to meet people is online dating, because that is where you are going to find the most single people available all day, all night.” This is due to the fact that “there is no natural congregating place for people over 50 except online. That is why online dating is so huge for this age group. It is the place to hang out, like college was.” Indeed, so-called ‘senior’ dating is the fastest growing online dating group, year after year.4 As put by Claudia Dale, a 77 year old widow who is enjoying the thrills of older online dating, “dating is no longer the domain of the young. We who are young at heart, but not in years, want another go at it.”5
Whether you’re dating in Donegal, Cork, Sligo etc, EliteSingles is here to help you with the process of finding that special someone.
Expert tips for successful older dating
Of course it’s one thing to know that online dating is a valuable tool – but actually using it is quite another! With that in mind, EliteSingles talked to various dating experts to discover the three things you need to know about older dating in Ireland.
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Start in the right place
Looking for love online can lead to great long-term happiness, but for those who have been out of the dating pool for a while, taking the plunge can be a little daunting. That’s why it is so vital to start looking in the right place. For singles who are that bit older, dating sites like EliteSingles are ideal: we offer a a safe, supportive service for all of our members where we manually check all new profiles (and hide the inactive ones) to ensure that you only receive match suggestions from genuine users.
Furthermore, all matchmaking we do is made with real compatibility in mind. Our in-depth personality test matches you to others on your wavelength, while our messaging system and online profiles enable you to really be clear about what it is you hope to get from mature dating. For those whose previous romantic experience has taught them what they do and don’t want from love, this a great fit – and it available here, with EliteSingles.
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The differing priorities of older singles
Another perk of older dating is that there’s no longer pressure to reach milestones like marriage and babies. Indeed, many mature singles have already had this experience and so are looking for something new. Psychiatrist Sharon Romm reveals “not everyone wants another marriage. Someone might want a companion for going to concerts on Saturday night and not much more.”6 Lisa agrees, noting ”it’s the friendship built into a relationship that will withstand the test of time.”
Of course, there are still those seeking love and sex after 50. Indeed, studies have shown finding such romance can improve your quality of life, with research suggesting health levels rise with the frequency of sex– no matter the age of the participants.7 As Relationship Coach Sam Owen says, ’’a loving romantic relationship can assist an increase in self-esteem and confidence, especially if you have been feeling like you have been left on the shelf.’’8
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It’s never too late for love!
Age is no barrier to romance, a fulfilling love-life and lasting companionship. In fact, it even offers some advantages. Having already achieved a lot in life, you have a clearer idea of what’s important. This confidence which comes from knowing yourself thus enables you to be more discerning when dating. As Janet Blair, renowned author of Get Married This Year, says, “life experience is a real asset when it comes to dating. You’ve gained perspective, and that will make you a great partner!”9
Sam Owen says this older dating confidence ‘helps us to make better decisions, experience fewer negative emotions [and] feel more optimistic about the world…It also means we are better at sustaining other close relationships, [which are] integral to…our happiness, and even our longevity as research shows people who are better connected live on average 3.7 years longer.’’ Sounds appealing, doesn’t it? Why not try older dating with EliteSingles today?
Sources:
1 Lincoln Archer, writing for the BBC, 2004. ‘Later life love – starting again at 50+’. Found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3996245.stm
2 From the Irish Independent, May 2012. ‘Divorce: you are the weakest link…goodbye.’ Found at http://www.independent.ie/style/sex-relationships/divorce-you-are-the-weakest-linkgoodbye-26857688.html
3 Lisa Copeland is a Huffington Post author and an expert in dating over 50. You can find her blog at http://www.findaqualityman.com/. All her quotes are from an exclusive 2013 interview with EliteSingles.
4 Ellen McCarthy, writing for the Washington Post, 2009. ‘More Seniors Jumping into the Online Dating Fray.’ Found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071604623.html
5 Claudia Dale, writing for The Guardian, 2014. ‘Why am I giving dating a go at 77.’ Found at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jul/24/giving-dating-a-go-at-77
6 Jocelyn Voo, writing for CNN, 2007. ‘Sex and dating after 50.’ Found at http://edition.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/10/08/dating.after.50/
7 Liz Hodgkinson, featured in the the Irish Independent, 2015. ‘Sex in later life boosts memory and brain power.’ Found at http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/health-features/sex-in-later-life-boosts-memory-and-brain-power-31063633.html
8 Sam Owen is a Psychologist and Relationship Coach who has worked extensively with EliteSingles. You can read her blog here or follow her on Twitter. All her quotes are from an exclusive 2014 interview with EliteSingles.
9 Janet Blair, writing for the Huffington Post, 2012. ‘Dating tips for post-50s,’ found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-blair-page/post-50-dating-tips_b_1241889.html
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