In the latest installment of RTÉ2’s First Dates Ireland, Cork native Omo, 31, admits she’s a “bit of a princess” and would love to take part in a royal match at a First Dates restaurant. Enter his date: 24 year old princess.
Within seconds of meeting her, Omo tells her date that he feels like he knows her from somewhere. After all, she had caught his eye the night before at a nightclub. The Princess questions him about what she was wearing, but cannot remember her date, as she suspects a coincidence. Luckily for Omo, Maître de Mateo is on her side and says that she would be a little creepy if she remembered. “I like my people to be observant,” Princess jokes.
Dinners feature a healthy dose of friendly debate, including the obligatory Cork vs. Dublin debate.
Omo is an Arsenal fan, but Princess says he’s either an over-the-top cheater or a really loyal guy. Let’s hope he’s the latter.
While on the phone in the bathroom, the Cork man couldn’t wait to tell his friends about his date and last night’s random coincidence. He said the princess was exactly as he described to the matchmaker on First Dates.
It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly as the pair take turns feeding each other dessert and moving into a state of lazily making out. “You’re very good at eye contact,” says the princess.
As a podcaster, she likes to ask questions and tell her dates that she also makes music. What a coincidence she is – Omo is also a singer – but he plans to wait until their second date to serenade her.
When it comes to the question of whether he wants to see her again, Princess urges Omo to take the initiative.
“I’m definitely going to put my cards on the table and say yes,” he says.
“I looked at your card and agree,” the Princess added.
“It was probably the best date I’ve ever had,” Omo said.
Karl, 22, an apprentice hairdresser from Tallaght, describes herself as “amazing” and says she is “always happy”. What is his goal on their first date at the restaurant? To meet someone who is not married. Considering their date will be aired on TV, we’re sure he’s safe.
His date is Aaron, 21, from Liberty’s, and he says it’s always nice to meet someone you don’t know.
But there is another example of how small Ireland is. He instantly recognized his date from social media. The main failed eyebrow lifts he recorded.
Thankfully, it just gives them something to talk about and the two chat nonstop over dinner. Then they realize they have something in common. Their ‘coming out’ stories both involved soaps (Emmerdale for Aaron and Coronation Street for Carl).
When the bill comes, Aaron asks his date, “Do you want to pick it up and I’ll bring it to the door?”
They both agree that the other is not their usual type and agree again when they decide to meet again.
Eva, 72, from Liberties, comes from a family of nine girls, all of whom asked her for the phone number of their first date, the maitre d’Matteo.
Eva, looking for a new life, pairs up with actor and writer Glenn (71) from Chancery Lane. When Glenn greets his date at the bar with a wrapped present, we seem to be in the presence of a true gentleman. It’s a signed copy of his book. “Are you famous?” Eva asks. “I wish I had,” he says.
Over dinner, it became clear that old-school dubs had a lot in common. We both love dramas and are really young at heart.
Glenn opens up to Eva about his past, including the three years he spent on the streets of Dublin. Eva dropped out of school at the age of 14, she got married at the age of 17, and after breaking up with her husband she became a psychotherapist.
I’m sure everyone at home is rooting for these two, but by the time dinner is over, it’s hard to tell if there’s any chemistry there.
“Gentleman” Glenn paid the bill and they headed off to see if they wanted to meet again.
“It was really nice to meet Eva. She was a lovely woman and we had a lot to talk about,” Glenn said, adding that he didn’t feel “inspired” after he started speaking. Eva agrees.
Glenn walks her to a taxi before heading their separate ways.
Sporty Garda Mike (26) from Tipperary is looking for someone to be active. He wants a partner who is eager to go out and do things together.
“I hate being at home,” says Yasemin, 25, a half-Turkish man who lives in Belfast. She claims she is looking for someone to have fun with.
A retail store manager wearing a bright blue dress enters a First Date restaurant and meets her date at the bar. A few minutes after they met, Mike admitted to the bartender that he was already feeling at ease thanks to his date’s calm voice.
Over dinner, the Tipperary man reveals that he is an only child, but insists he is not spoiled. Yasemin tells her date about her weight loss journey and losing five stone in a year.
While checking in with waitress Alice Marr, Mike admitted that he was very happy with his date. Garda even admits that in real life it would be difficult to come close to someone as handsome as Yasemin. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Yasemin is on the phone and says that Mike isn’t his usual type.
Her date insists on paying the bills and that she should be “ladies first” when answering the most important questions.
Yasemin said yes and we breathed a sigh of relief when Mike agreed.