Why are so many young Irish women suffering from loneliness? 

Yesterday, Lunchtime Live heard from Claine Cassidy, whose went viral on TikTok after posting a monologue about social isolation. 

She recounted seeing a group of young women out for a coffee date together and realised that is something she had not done with a friend in a very long time. 

Today, listener Clodagh said she had “not surprised at all” listening to Claine’s story. 

“I know women in their early to mid 20s are suffering a lot of loneliness and they're finding it very hard to meet people,” she said. 

“I feel like unless you have a very well established group of friends from school, you're within the GAA, it's very hard to meet new people [or] like minded women in this country for some reason.”

Clodagh added that she hopes the video will encourage more people to speak out about their feelings. 

“To be honest, it can be so positive, telling your story, being so honest and raw with your feelings, because it can bring you more like minded people, people who also feel that way,” she said. 

“And then you can make friends that way and it can really blossom into something really positive.” 

Clodagh continued that she moved abroad two years ago and felt hugely isolated and lonely when she did. 

“When I came home, I realised that it's not just a problem when you're abroad, it's very much here,” she said. 

“I came home and I realised that women in my area, which is Trim and the wider Meath area, really need a social outlet. 

“I kind of took it into my own hands and I made a women's social group around Trim.” 

The group is open to women of all ages, who want to come together in a “judgement free space” to socialise.

Main image: A woman at home. Picture by: Alamy.com.