From dating websites to Dublin: Romance on the Emerald Isle

With work commitments and a hectic social schedule many people may struggle to find the time to do anything else…whether it's take that much needed holiday, start dating or sample some high-brow art.

Whatever it is you want to do that can't quite find its way into your busy life, there is a way to manage several things at once…it just requires a little creative thinking.

So, you'd like to go abroad but you only really have a spare Saturday? And you also fancy setting up a hot date for the night and going out to the theatre followed by a nice meal and a few night caps. Cynics would say it's impossible to kill two birds with one stone in this situation…but think again.

Most of the major UK airports have budget airlines with routes direct to Dublin , which is the cultural and tourist capital of Ireland (see more) . And with a flight time of as little as forty minutes from the likes of Manchester, and not much longer from London or Edinburgh, it's possible to jet over for one day and night and return fully refreshed the next again morning.

So where does the hot date fit into the equation, we hear you ask? Well, that's where a dating website comes in rather handy.

When singles become doubles

More and more singles (more info) are turning to online dating sites as a means to hooking up with potential partners, and there are no rules that stipulate they must live in the same city as you. So get on the Web and see who takes your fancy from the Irish capital.

It goes without saying that you should have your own accommodation arranged in advance and suggest a neutral venue to meet in the first instance, such as a pub or a café in a busy, central area such as the bustling Temple Bar district.

There are many theatres in central Dublin too, such as the Gaiety Theatre, Olympia Theatre, Gate Theatre and several others. You can take your pick from timeless classics to musicals, but probably best checking first what your date's preference is before booking tickets.

The beauty of making such arrangements is that if the chemistry isn't quite there initially during your first meeting in the pub, then you can simply go and enjoy the show without worrying. Then, you can go out for a bite to eat in one of Dublin's many fantastic eateries and get to know your date a little more and you never know, you might just hit it off.

So there you have it. A short break, a date and a good night out is possible with just a few clicks of a mouse. Dublin's only a short trip across the water and if you really do hit it off, then who knows what the future could hold…