Diarmuid, now 21, is the brother of current Cork Rose Nancy Lehane, and the former publican has been matched on the hit show with student teacher Shannon, who hails from Limerick.
Diarmuid is a popular figure in his native Meelin and neighbouring Newmarket, thanks not least to his stint as the main man at The Rock Bar in Newmarket.
Speaking to The Corkman ahead of broadcasting, Diarmuid paid tribute to Maura Sheahan, who trusted him to run The Rock Bar at the age of 19.
“I took over the pub in October 2023, and it was a lovely experience for a year, and is definitely something I would get back into.
“It just isn’t the right time at the moment,” he said.
During their date, the pair quickly realise they have a host of mutual friends and that Shannon even taught Diarmuid’s brothers last year.
They self-proclaimed ‘culchies’ spoke about the difficulty with socialising in rural towns and villages.
Diarmuid and Shannon.
Picture: RTÉ
Diarmuid told The Corkman that Newmarket was previously “dying” but is “after being brought back to life again.”
All roads lead to Quinlan’s Pub in Meelin on Thursday as a special watch party will take place.
Diarmuid expects half the village to be in attendance and is “glad to say Meelin is the spot to be in on Thursday night,” he chuckled.
The car salesman thanked Pat and Breda O’Callaghan, of Quinlan’s, for their hospitality ahead of the big showing.
Meanwhile, single mother Boo, 32 meets hyperconfident, self-confessed ‘wreck the head’ tattoo artist Lisa, 36, from Athy. They soon discover that hailing from Kildare isn’t the only thing they share.
Marine biologist Áine, 31, from Clare discovers a rare and exotic creature in the form of hyperactive junior doctor Keith, 34, from Dublin.
Disco-dancing divorcee Margaret, 67, from Malahide gets down with a man from Down Under – semi-retired primary school teacher and filmmaker Robin, 60, from Melbourne.
First Dates Ireland returns on Thursday, January 29 at 9:35pm on RTÉ2.