A look back at the best First Dates Ireland moments
RTÉ have confirmed that First Dates Ireland will be returning to our screens sooner than later.
The show, which was launched in the UK initially back in 2013, sees prospective singletons who may be tired of swiping 100 times a day go on a blind date set up by producers of the show, the only catch being that you have to do it in front of the viewing public.
What can be seen as either a bit of craic or a genuine shot at love, people who’ve entered the First Dates restaurant have often said that the producers actually have their best interest at heart rather than what makes the best TV; with some of the daters on the show ending up having prosperous relationships that indeed ended in marriage and families.
But with the show returning to our screens on January 28, what are some of the more awkward moments over the years?
‘WE’RE LOOKING FOR A FOURTH’
First Dates contestant Siobhan decided to play a prank on her date, Stephen, when her best friend and their date decided to say they were a throuple ‘looking for a fourth’ in Stephen. Pic: RTÉ
While First Dates has not taken its show into this direction (yet), First Dates alum Siobhan and Jade, who went on blind dates with two friends the previous year returned to the restaurant for another double date.
While Jade’s date, Nicole, rocked up first, Siobhán decided to remove herself from the bar when her date, Stephen, showed up; with Jade telling him ‘we’re a throuple and are looking for a fourth if you’re into it.’
Stephen joked that he was ‘only used to disappointing one girl, not three,’ before his (one) date revealed herself, with the prospective couples divesting and enjoying themselves.
‘100% IRISH’
Aisling impressed with her cupla focail, as well as her ‘100% Irish’ tattoo on her backside. Pic: RTÉ
With Gaeilge making a huge comeback among Irish people looking to brush up on their cúpla focail, one dater took it one step further.
Galway dater Aisling spoke about her love for the Irish language, speaking Gaeilge both during her date with fellow Gaeilgeoir Lochlann, and in Irish in the confessional — where she revealed that she put a Bord Bia quality mark on her butt.
‘When I was 16 I thought it would be a great idea to get a tattoo — I thought it would be really funny — When I was 19 I went to a tattoo artist in Galway City and I put a Bord Bía quality assurance mark on my a**e,’ Aisling said. ‘It’s not in Irish, so sorry about that.’
DOUBLE DATERS GO ROGUE
Double daters Hansun and Cillian went rogue when they swapped dates halfway through — only to be shut down by the restaurant employees. Pic: RTÉ
Sometimes, when you’re on a double date where nothing is going well, the urge is there to swap dates halfway through. Of course, that comes off as incredibly rude, so many just grin and bear it.
However, if you were double daters, Hansun and Cillian, you could just do it — as there wasn’t much of a spark with Hansun and Mark, while Cillian’s forwardness didn’t land too well with his dater Carl. The pair headed to the bathroom, making the executive decision to swap dates halfway through without any input from Carl or Mark.
While their dates were on board, the First Dates employees shut it down quickly — with waitress Alice telling the foursome that this wasn’t a speed dating event, before returning the daters to their rightful owners.
‘CAN I PAY FOR THIS?’
Of course, if you’re not looking to see your date again, you should really go Dutch — don’t have them pick up the bill only for you to turn them down.
That wasn’t the case on the date between falconer Caoimhe and teacher Richard (tale as old as time), with Richard letting her pay for the bill after she offered.
However, he lost the room — and the viewing public — when he decided he didn’t want a second date. Of course, he was entitled to do so, but Caoimhe and the viewers at home said that maybe he should’ve offered to pay half the bill. Awkward.
‘YOU DIRTY B****RD’
@cococontent Can you beat this dating story?🫣 #FirstDatesIRL returns tomorrow night at 9:35pm on @rte2 ♬ original sound – COCO Content
Of course, we all have those awkward dating experiences — but dater Dylan had everyone beat when he spoke on his worst dating experience with his date, Lynn.
Explaining that a girl was coming on to him — something that he admitted was a rare occurrence — he ended up taking the lucky lady home, where he wasn’t able to perform (happens to the best of them).
Of course, when they went to bed, he managed a second wind — but while they were in the middle of doing what they came to do, Dylan made the horrifying realisation that not only does he live with his parents, but his little brother — who was in the top bunk of the bed.
Dylan’s brother was not amused — calling his older brother ‘you f***in dirty b****rd’ before heading downstairs to sleep on the couch — while Lynn could only stare on in horror.
‘When I woke up the next morning I was just kinda like “that was a mad dream” and I turned over and [there she was],’ he later told producers. ‘I had to wake her up and be like “here you have to go — if my parents get up and see you here I’m getting kicked out.”‘
First Dates returns to RTÉ 2 and the RTÉ Player on January 24 at 9.35pm.
