Take widower Conor, for example: the Munster-based businessman fell head over heels at 58 and went on to become a father again. Back in the real world, things seem far more encouraging. Remember the loved-up older couple who went viral last month after appearing on the ‘Humans of Dublin’ Facebook page? And why would we think that love, intimacy and meaningful relationships are the exclusive domain of the young?

We’re talking romance, giddy moments and plenty of excitement, though it all came with lots of complications, but more about this later. Photographer Peter Varga snapped them on the streets of the capital city and asked them the secret to a long-lasting relationship. Dr Sabrina Brennan at the School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience in Trinity College Dublin says: “We remain human irrespective of our age.

You must never ask someone out during your first meeting.

You can, however, begin analysing their Facebook and Instagram photos almost immediately. Similarly, you must make a list of restaurants you’d like to try, then choose Eddie Rockets or its regional equivalents. You must only talk about mutual friends, where you went to college, and people you both might know from each college 9. You don’t want them to lose the run of themselves 10. It is only OK to talk about your SO with friends if you imply that hanging out with them is the WORST. A couple must insist that they are ‘just shifting’ for as long as humanly possible. The relationship is only confirmed once both parties make it ‘Facebook official’.

Okay, so you might not go on to seduce James Bond as Monica Bellucci (51) did in Spectre.

What an inspiration to those of us who fear that life after the half century is all about beige cardigans and sensible shoes.

Tom, a single man in his 60s, thought he would never find love but with the help of a dating agency he met Agnes in Cork over a year ago and romance blossomed. We are social beings with a real need to connect with others.

Visit the magnificent sight of Dunluce castle, watch the sun set over the Wicklow Mountains or snuggle up next to a cosy fire in one of Ireland's many traditional pubs. Whether you love the great outdoors or prefer a quiet night in, the dating scene in Ireland has much to offer.

55 - Dublin, Dublin Creating romantic moments is so easy Love is a beautiful feeling, but there are always ups and down Please read before I'm not looking for sex chat here either just a friend to start I have dont interest in...

43 - Passage West, South-West Caring honest trushworthy person with good sense of humour I'm a very happy lady with a good sense of humour would love someone with similar interests to share & enjoy... Got to take a breather for now, reconciling with an old flame I found here.

“He’d helped me with the research for my second novel, and I was politely chatting to him while we had a cup of tea and then suddenly I saw him, really saw him, and thought, ‘Oh my God’.” She got on the phone immediately to find out if he was single and he proposed two years later in Venice on a gondola.

Marry (again).” She met her third husband Mark Bignell in 2011.