First Dates recap: Familiar faces, karaoke and lessons on table manners
First Dates Ireland Familiar faces Siobhán and Jade, now best friends, returned to the First Dates restaurant this week.
Some familiar faces returned to the First Dates restaurant this week for a second chance at love.
Fans of the show will remember Jade and Siobhán from their previous double date in January last year and while they seemed to hit it off with their respective dates, things didn’t work out and the pair, who have since become best friends, are back for another date.
Also making a return to the restaurant was 70-year-old Aidan from Dublin who just might have found what he was looking for in Megan from Kildare.
Seventy-year-old Megan from Kildare rocked up to the First Dates restaurant in the hope of finding someone with a “vibe” and who matches her energy.
Megan is originally from America but left for Ireland 18 years ago and said she has no interest in returning to America as she has found a good community of people here.
Poised to make his move in the First Dates restaurant, 70-year-old Aidan from Dublin was introduced to Megan at the bar.
Megan, a clinical research consultant, revealed her love for music and playing the bodhrán, while Aidan shared that he has five grandkids.
When ordering, Megan exclaimed that she has a heart condition whereby if her glass ever gets empty she starts to have palpitations and spoke about how she wants a partner who is open to enjoyment.
The pair began opening up about past relationships and previous marriages, with Aidan sharing how he became a widow when he lost his wife Adrian to cancer 10 years ago.
“You don’t move on, you move through,” Megan said, comforting him by telling him Adrian would always be with him.
They spoke about their zest for life and having fun, with Megan revealing that she had survived a rare form of cancer.
“Every minute I’m on this planet, I know I appreciate it so much more,” she said.
Realising their common interests and chemistry, the pair acknowledged that the date was flowing well and spoke about how attraction is a feeling that can’t be put into words.
When asked after their date if they would like to see each other again, they both said yes.
“That was easy, do you have any hard questions,” Megan said.
“I cannot wait to see that bodhrán play,” Aidan said, to which Megan replied: “He wants to see if I’m good with a stick”.
Making an appearance at the First Dates restaurant for a second time, 27-year-old Jade from Down arrived with her now best friend Siobhán from Mayo who she met on a previous double date at the restaurant.
The pair became besties soon after meeting on the double date and both returned for a second chance at love.
Waiting for the arrival of their dates at the bar, the pair spotted 24-year-old Nicole from Cork arrive through the doors for her date with Jade.
After an initial mix-up about who she was matched up with, Nicole hit it off with Jade and the pair spoke about bisexuality, their experience with dating women, their love for tattoos, and faking confidence ‘til you make it.
Complimenting each others’ accents, Jade said: “I think we’re flirting. Are we flirting?”
After their date, Jade and Nicole both said they wanted to see each other again before they were even asked the question.
As Jade and her date Nicole hit it off, Siobhán went behind the bar to assist barman Neil before her date Stephen arrived at the restaurant slightly confused as to what was going on at the bar when he was met by Siobhán, Jade and Nicole.
Siobhán explained that she was his date and 26-year-old Stephen from Dublin said he was very happy to hear it, handing her a bunch of flowers.
Stephen spoke about how his hangover days are behind him and that he and his friends have a wholesome activity group chat where they organise hikes and activities that don’t revolve around the pub.
Speaking about what he is looking for in a partner, he said: “At the end of the day it’s about who you want to curl up on the couch with. You’re doing well so far, I will say. And you’re gorgeous as well.”
Halfway through their dates, Siobhán and Jade swapped tables to speak to each others’ dates and suss if their respective dates were “a green flag”.
During their date, Stephen spoke about his love for karaoke before waiter Alice brought them their desserts along with a microphone.
Abba’s Dancing Queen played over the restaurant speakers and Stephen sang for the whole restaurant with Siobhán, Jade and Nicole joining in.
When asked if they would like to see each other again, Stephen and Siobhán both said they would and Stephen and his dancing queens sang the night away together at a karaoke bar.
Twenty-year-old flight attendant Annika from a small village in Waterford said her nan had warned her not to bring home any Tom, Dick or Harry from Dublin.
She explained that she and her nan are great friends, saying they are like two old ladies sitting inside a coffee shop gossiping.
Speaking about her recent move to Dublin, she told barman Neil that she can’t seem to settle and that she misses home.
She said she wouldn’t complain if she found a nice boy from Dublin and had someone to spend time with.
Enter 23-year-old driving instructor Lyle from Dublin.
The pair spoke about their careers and their interest in sports and seemed to be hitting it off before sitting down for dinner - even posing for a photo together for Annika’s nan.
Things seemed to quickly go downhill for the pair when Lyle said he would decide what to order for Annika.
Visibly unimpressed with his decision to order for her, Annika said she was caught off guard.
Annika spoke about her experience of flying to Cardiff for a date after meeting someone on a girl's holiday in Magaluf after which Lyle chimed in and said it was “starting to make sense now” and that he was starting to form a better well-rounded opinion of her.
“Oh really, yeah. And how is that? And who am I really then?” Annika quipped.
Ultimately, the pair weren’t a match, with Lyle saying he “called it” when Annika said she wouldn’t see him romantically again.
