IRELAND: Official Tourism Bureau Promotes LGBT Matchmaking Convention

From Discover Ireland: "Did you know that same sex couples can now get married in the Republic of Ireland? It’s true! Yes, it’s all about love in Ireland, from fun-tastic LGBT events like The Outing (the world’s first ever LGBT matchmaking festival) to some of the most romantic wedding locations on the planet." More from the Irish Mirror:

The dust had barely settled on Dublin Castle when tourism chiefs kicked off plans to capitalise on gay marriage. Nine regions are to be targeted in a marketing blitz - Britain, the US, Canada, the Nordic region, Australia, France, Spain, Italy and Germany - as bosses move to promote Ireland for weddings and honeymoons. They are also hoping for an explosion of interest in The Outing - billed as the world's only gay matchmaking festival. An offshoot of the 157-year-old Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, the organisers will turn the Co Clare spa town gay this October for the third year running. Tourism Ireland launched its "Ireland says I do" marketing plan less than 24 hours after 1.2 million people gave a resounding backing to same-sex marriage. Chief executive Niall Gibbons said: "Ireland is in the international spotlight and trending for all the right reasons across social and international media. "It's not often you get a blast of publicity like that."

Discover Ireland is jumping the gun a wee bit as Ireland's Justice Department confirmed today that it will publish a same-sex marriage bill this week. That formality must be approved by Parliament and marriages are expected to commence by early fall. Learn more about LGBT tourism to Ireland on their official site, where the headline today reads "Yes To Love In Ireland."