We all know Ireland can be a small place where everyone has a connection – but such familiarity can make the dating scene tricky to navigate.
Cork car salesman and musician Diarmuid finds this out for himself in the first episode of a new series of First Dates Ireland on RTÉ2 on Thursday at 9.35pm.
Diarmuid, 21, a self-confessed ‘culchie’, embarks on a liaison in the famous restaurant with student teacher Shannon, also 21, from Limerick.
The pair quickly realise that they have a host of mutual friends, and that Shannon even taught Diarmuid’s brothers last year. Small world!
This is the eleventh series of the popular show, and also featuring in the episode next week is single mother Boo, 32, who is emerging on the dating scene with renewed confidence after four years as a singleton.
Neil Kenna, Alice Marr, Mateo Saina, and Pete Ungless in First Dates Ireland
She goes on a date with hyper-confident, self-confessed ‘wreck the head’ tattoo artist Lisa, 36, from Athy, and they both soon discover that hailing from Kildare isn’t the only thing they share. Another example of Ireland’s small world!
Meanwhile, tired of commitment-phobes, marine biologist Áine, 31, from Clare, discovers a rare and exotic creature in the form of hyperactive junior doctor Keith, 34, of Dublin.
Dating is not a young man or woman’s game, of course, and also in First Dates Ireland, events organiser and disco dancing divorcee Margaret, 67, from Malahide, gets down (and down under) with semi-retired primary school teacher and film-maker Robin, 60, from Melbourne, Australia.
The usual crew – Neil Kenna, Alice Marr, the host with the most Mateo Saina, and Pete Ungless – are all back in the kitchen and dining room for the latest series.