First Dater from first episode of first series returns to show
Get ready for your evenings to heat up as First Dates returns to our screens!
Season 11 of the beloved dating series continued tonight with eight hopeful romantics taking their seats at the Gibson Hotel, looking for love, romance, connection and at the very least a nice meal.
Nine years after his first visit to the First Dates restaurant - in the show's first ever episode - Simon, 46, from Sandymount strode into the restaurant looking for another chance at love.
Recently separated, he recalled his "great" First Dates experience when he was paired with Tynan, who "ticked all the boxes".
"Five days after the episode aired, I met my husband, actually", he revealed. "So I got married. We were together nearly nine years." The pair moved to Valencia together, with Simon returning to Ireland in 2024.
Despite their split, the pair still see each other, meeting for dinner as recently as two weeks before his second time in the First Dates restaurant.
Now all that's left is to find a fella who loves dogs as much as Simon does.
Having found his place and his city, professional dancer and drag queen Damian, 37, from Tipperary - aka Roxxy Diamond - walked into the First Dates restaurant looking for "a man, a dog and a ring on me finger".
Sounds like a match made in heaven!
The pair dove into conversation, covering everything from past relationships, open relationships, travel and Damien's newfound passion for performing drag. Speaking about a past engagement that "collapsed" suddenly from one day to the day, Damien said his career "saved" him.
As the date progressed, however, Simon started to wonder whether Damien wanted something more exclusive than he did.
Watch First Dates Ireland on Thursdays at 9.35pm on RTÉ2 or catch up on RTÉ Player.
