Meet Mairead Molloy [Best London Matchmaker For You?]

Curious about international matchmaker Mairead Molloy? From how she got her start to her matchmaking philosophy and dating advice, this matchmaker review has all the info you’re looking for!

With over 14 years of first-hand experience in the matchmaking industry, our team of experts knows first hand what clients value most in a service. 

We’ve reviewed more than 200 matchmakers, diving deep into their processes, costs, success rates, client experiences, and more.

Let’s start with meeting the matchmaker!

Meet Mairead Molloy - Matchmaker & Relationship Psychologist

Mairead Molloy spent 7 years running a small hotel in Cannes, then her career took an interesting turn after selling her hotel and moving to the UK. Molloy went on to obtain a degree in Psychology and later pursued a Masters in International Law. 

It was during this time that she came across Berkeley International, a London-based matchmaking agency catering to elite singles.

In 2004, Molloy joined Berkeley International and began her matchmaking journey. Now Berkeley's Global Director, she’s always been passionate about human nature and the intricacies of communication. 

“You can definitely say that people and how they work has always been hugely attractive to me. Introduction agencies are about making sure that clients are looked after, listened to, and ultimately come away with an experience that’s been worth the efforts and time invested.”

Molloy, who refers to herself as a relationship psychologist, says that her psychology background "comes in very useful in the dating business." 

Headquartered in Berkeley Square, London, Berkeley International has established offices in other major cities worldwide, including Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New York, Brussels. 

They cater to a diverse range of clients, from their 20s to their 70s, who don't necessarily have the time to find their ideal partners.

As Molloy shared with Business Insider, 

"There is no shortage of extravagance when it comes to our clients, they will go to any lengths to find love. 50% of our total membership travel to meet people — it is what it is."

In addition to the client's increased willingness to travel, Molloy shares that the clientele is growing less concerned about age. 

As she explains, with people living longer, "we're dying later so age is less of a thing." This shift in mindset allows for flexibility and openness when it comes to finding a suitable partner.

Mairead Molloy’s Dating & Relationship Advice 

Mairead Molloy's expertise and insights on dating and relationships have earned her media recognition in publications such as Huffington Post, GQ, Newsweek, and Cosmopolitan.

Here’s a taste of her best dating advice!

When it comes to first-date conversations, Molloy recommends delving into your date’s philosophy on life. “A great way of doing this is asking them what their passions are, how they see themselves, and how they enjoy spending their time.”

Molloy also suggests asking about their upbringing, as it can provide a deeper understanding and "some insight into their relationship with their roots.” To take it a step further, she advises asking about their current living situation and whether they have any aspirations of moving away.

Molloy also emphasizes the importance of keeping the conversation light and positive. 

She shared that bringing a negative attitude to a first date can have a significant impact on the overall experience. As she puts it, 

"Never bring your bad mood to a first date. Emotions are contagious, and discussing an exhausting week will bring your date down too." 

By maintaining a positive and relaxed energy, the date is more likely to be enjoyable and memorable.

Moving on to established relationships, Molloy tackles the question of when the right time is to say "I love you" for the first time. She asserts that there is no fixed timeline, and instead, people should take the time to decide for themselves whether their feelings are rooted in infatuation or love. 

As she explained, 

"Some people share their feelings as soon as they notice the first urge to say them. There's nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't hurt to take some time to think, either. The right time is based on the evolution of the individual relationship." 

Her Matchmaking Philosophy

Mairead Molloy's matchmaking philosophy is centered around "rigorous profiling" to help her clients find someone special. 

As she shared in an interview with the Telegraph: 

“The time it takes to find a suitable match all depends on the psychology of the person. If somebody is an open book and they’re prepared to listen to us as a group of professionals, they’ll have more success.”

Coaching is another integral part of Molloy's approach to matchmaking. Many clients come to her with a detailed list of qualities they want in a partner, which she attributes to "our everything is on-demand" society.

However, Molloy emphasizes that finding the perfect match is not about ticking off boxes on a checklist. As she puts it, 

"You can't breed the perfect human. Some people will want a precise height, 6ft 3in instead of 6ft 4in. And often my clients will think the more money they spend, the more they can increase their wish list… but even if we can present you your ideal person on paper, we can’t provide chemistry. It’s the one thing money can’t buy.”

According to the Global Director, salary expectations are not usually at the top of clients' lists. Molloy believes that men and women prioritize other qualities in a partner.

“I don’t think salaries come into play too much for the men, maybe 3% will ask about it. For them, it’s about the laughter, the love, the look, and the feeling of belonging. But for women – and this may be controversial. I think they like to feel secure. Not necessarily financially, women should be financially independent but they do like to feel protected and looked after, and money comes into that.”

Part of Molloy's role is to identify any dating roadblocks that may be holding a client back. She says she approaches this with honesty and provides constructive feedback about what they can do differently or better. 

“Whether that’s losing a bit of weight, or getting their teeth fixed, or being more positive – whatever they want to do. If someone’s going to spend that much money, they’ll want results, so I will do my best to deliver.”

This is one reason post-date feedback is crucial for clients to recognize their own dating patterns, and Molloy has seen how some clients welcome this type of guidance. As she explained in an interview, 

“Some people really appreciate being told what’s wrong with them. It’s quantitative analysis – eventually after five, six, seven dates you see the same themes coming up.”

What it Costs To Hire Mairead Molloy As Your Personal Matchmaker 

Berkeley International doesn’t disclose specific pricing on their website. However, based on various interviews, prospective clients can anticipate spending between £15,000 and £100,000 for a matchmaking package.

Package cost depends on the particulars of your search, as Molloy mentioned in an interview:

"It all depends on how discrete you want us to be, how much traveling you want me to do, how much of my team you need. The more tailored you want it — the more we charge. A lot of people need to be hand-held and we'll look after them from start to finish."

A more customized and higher-priced package typically includes exclusive headhunting services to find suitable matches and a year's worth of introductions.

Curious about what former clients have to say about their experience? Check out our Berkeley International review next! 

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