"Where will you find men for all these women?" a lady on the bus asked as we approached the dock and I noticed a huge crowd of women waiting to board the biggest ship I had ever seen.
"Where there are women, there will be men," I said, hoping for my sake that it was true. There I was, the last traditional matchmaker in Ireland, about to board one of the world's largest cruise ships for a week of playing cupid in the Caribbean.I'd never been on a cruise before. In fact, I have hardly ever been on a boat except for the ferry between Ireland and the Aran Islands.
I wondered what my father and grandfather would have made of it all. Most of their matchmaking was done at horse fairs, cattle marts and funerals, whereas mine would take place for the next eight days on board the MSC Divina - a vast ship which, at 333m long, was about half the length of a whole street in Lisdoonvarna, in Ireland, where I live.
With more than 4,500 people on board, the MSC vessel resembled a city as much as a ship. Most on board were over the age of 50, some in couples but mostly singles.On the first night, Cooney brought me up on stage and introduced me as "Ireland's last traditional matchmaker". I could see that people were bemused, especially when I placed my 160-year-old matchmaking book on the table - tattered, and held together with a piece of string.
I explained: "This is a magic book, full of romantic powers. If you touch it with one hand, you will fall in love in six months; both hands and you will be married in six months; and if you're already married you'll fall in love all over again."
Most of my matchmaking occurred in the evenings from 8pm to midnight in the bar, where I set up a table. At other times, people approached me as I wandered about the ship. I'd ask passengers to fill in a matchmaking form; if inspiration struck and I thought of a suitable coupling, I masterminded an introduction.
The ship had all the glamour of a bygone era, including a suite designed by the Italian actress Sophia Loren, who was one of my idols growing up. With music and dancing every night, romance was definitely in the air. That night, a queue formed of mostly elderly American ladies waiting to meet me at my table.A lot of my pairings are done like this, by instinct, a gift I inherited from my grandfather. I could see instantly the attraction between the two; they couldn't take their eyes off each other. As I am matchmaking people, I like to hear, "He's gorgeous" or "She's lovely" - and there was certainly a lot of that going on, even if words weren't being used.
After Catherine and Michael had both dutifully filled in my matchmaking forms, and touched the book for luck, I saw them head off to the dance floor and later I spotted them holding hands.
We stopped off in Cozumel, a small Mexican island famous for its beautiful coral reefs and beaches. At first the humidity was almost unbearable but I soon got used to it.
Near the centre there was a small market, with stalls selling all sorts of wonderful items. We visited many local shops, one of which contained fish bowls where you could put your feet and fish would nibble off the hard skin.
Back on the ship, I continued to matchmake, sometimes at my small table. More often than not, however, people would stop me in the corridors and ask for my help. Now and again, Cooney would pass by and say: "Well, Willie, any weddings yet?"
"No weddings yet, but plenty of matches. I expect a few rings on fingers in the months ahead," I said, as I held up a bundle of forms, some of which I had already earmarked for myself. I had travelled a long way across the world and was reminded that everyone, including myself, was after the same thing: to love and be cherished. - The Sunday TelegraphTAKE A CRUISE WITH THE STARS
The next departure of Andy Cooney's seven-night Cruise of Irish Stars, visiting the eastern Caribbean aboard Celebrity Equinox, is from January 20 to 27 2018. Prices start at $1,049 including accommodation and on-board entertainment; meals and flights to Miami cost extra. (Please note that Willie Daly is not joining this departure.)
FIND LOVE AT AN IRISH FAIR
Willie Daly will be matchmaking at the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival in County Clare, Ireland, from August 31 to September 30 2018. For early-bird tickets, go to the Matchmaker Ireland website...