Casanova, it seems, should have been born in Ireland. A new survey of Irish sexual attitudes has revealed that the Irish make love more often than the Italians and have more sexual partners than the British, exploding the myth of the Irish as being repressed in matters sexual.
Sadly, our prospects of becoming the Lotharios of Europe, with a reputation for sexual dynamism stretching from Aberdeen to Ankara, are in danger of being scuppered by our own humility. While other countries boast of their sexual prowess, the Irish are alone in believing that other countries are better in the bedroom than we are.
A survey of several hundred sexually-active Irish adults, aged 1740, conducted by the condom manufacturer Durex, reveals that 55 per cent of those surveyed believe the French are more au fait with the mysteries of the body than we are, with the Italians coming second.
The Irish are alone in praising the love-making abilities of other nations above our own, although we make up for our insecurities with a rabbit-like enthusiasm. According to the survey, the Irish make love an average of 114 times per year, more than the British with 113 bouts and well above the Italians with a sluggish 105.
The survey also reveals a Border divide between North and South in the matter of sexual performance. Adults in Northern Ireland make love more frequently than those in the Republic (116 times per year) and lose their virginity at an earlier age (16.3 years in the North, 17.5 years in the Republic), but adults in the Republic have an average of 11 sexual partners, more than those in the North.
However, a significant number of respondents fear that they may be stuck in their rut. Some 40 per cent of those surveyed wanted to have more adventurous sex while 29 per cent wanted their partner to take the initiative more often.
In fact, it seems some might want to change their partner altogether. The survey found that actor Brad Pitt is the most popular dream partner among Irish women, while Irish men plumped for Demi Moore over her nearest rival, Pamela Anderson.