"So what do you do?" New dinner party service for single professionals

by Debbie O'Halloran

Finding the time to date can be hard when you're a busy professional. But thanks to an innovative dinner party service for singletons, all this is about to change.

Dine to Meet is the latest entry onto the booming singles market in Ireland. The brainchild of turned entrepreneur Eileen Sweeney, Dine to Meet is a dinner party service for busy professionals.

The service pairs up four men and four women with similar interests and backgrounds, who spend an evening together at a restaurant.

"Even though the table will be seated with four men and four women", explains Eileen, "it isn't really a dating service. It's a forum to meet and interact with new people, a place for you to make friends and build your personal network."

After relocating from Dublin to Galway, Eileen was looking to socialise and make a new group of friends who were interested in the same things as she was.

"My social network was still in Dublin and so I was looking for a way to go out and meet new people, in a relaxed and enjoyable way. I was explaining this to my sister Catherine when she just said to me 'if it's not there, let's set something up' and so the idea for Dine to Meet was born." Eileen's sister Catherine is also a partner in the business.

Dine to Meet events attract mostly business and professional men and women in their 30's and early 40's. Users of the service range from solicitors, doctors and accountants to directors, plasterers and bricklayers. Their busy lifestyles and hectic work schedules make Dine to Meet the perfect option for single professionals.

"The feedback we get is fantastic. All our guests are a bit nervous before the night, but as soon as they meet the group along with the Dine to Meet representative, all their nerves disappear. It's a really relaxed, unpressurised atmosphere. Everyone is in the same boat and so there's a really friendly, fun approach to the dinner party."

Paul Brennan (not his real name) is self-employed and in his late 30's. He has attended two Dine to Meet events in Dublin. "It's really good fun", said Paul. "You make new friends and meet interesting people; and all this while enjoying nice food in a convivial atmosphere."

Although Paul didn't meet that someone special, he said these events are great for increasing your social circle. "There was a good mix of people so it's great for networking. And the night didn't end when the dinner was over either", he added. "We all headed to a bar or two after."

Dine to Meet is currently operating in Galway and Dublin, with plans to roll out the service nationwide. Because of the huge demand from the female population to attend a Dine to Meet event, there is currently a waiting list. Eileen is encouraging more males to apply.

To register for a Dine to Meet event, just log on to www.dinetomeet.ie and fill out their online application form. The cost of registering for an event is €75, and the price of your dinner.

I'm off to sign up for their next event - if nothing else, I will enjoy a nice meal and can pass my business card around.

Debbie O'Halloran