Average spend on a bouquet in the Kingdom was €72, almost €20 more than Westmeath, AIB data reveals
The average bouquet bought there cost €72, which was the highest in Ireland – and comfortably ahead of other counties.
Further north, wallets were kept a little tighter: Westmeath men spent the least, at €54 on average, followed closely by Donegal at €55 and Cavan at €57.
So while Kerry was going big on grand gestures, other counties were keeping romance on a budget.
Overall, Valentine’s Day proved anything but quiet for shoppers. AIB customers spent more than €143m on the day last year, up 45pc compared with the year before.
Around three million card transactions were made in just 24 hours, AIB said.
Flowers were, unsurprisingly, front and centre, but the busiest day for men buying bouquets was the day before Valentine’s, when more than half a million euro was spent in florists. The average spend came in at €62.
Fast-food spots enjoyed their busiest day of the month, while jewellers also saw strong trade
The classic 4-5pm rush proved the peak time on February 14, as people scrambled to avoid turning up empty-handed. Most preferred to buy in person, with 62pc of purchases made in-store.
Women usually lead in supermarket spending, but on Valentine’s evening men briefly took charge, accounting for just over half of supermarket transactions after 5pm. The average shop came to €25.
Fast-food spots enjoyed their busiest day of the month, while jewellers also saw strong trade, with the average jewellery purchase coming in at €142.
In confectionery stores, romantics buy their cards and chocolates in advance. February 13 was the peak day for spending in that month last year. Women accounted for 54pc of the spend that day.
“Valentine’s Day spending patterns continue to evolve, reflecting not only our love of flowers, food and supermarket bargains, but also the influence of societal – and sporting – events,” Adrian Moynihan, AIB’s head of consumer banking, said.
“With Ireland set to face Italy in the Six Nations on Valentine’s Day this year, we anticipate a lively atmosphere and a shift in spending trends, especially in Dublin.
“Understanding these spending habits is crucial, as it enables us to help businesses tailor their offerings and ensures we continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he said.
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