First Dates recap: Culchies, Dungeons & Dragons, and a shared love of Gaeilge
Ellie and Daniel hit it off during their date at the First Dates restaurant and debated the difference between a bogger and a culchie.
The Valentine’s special of First Dates Ireland saw four couples leaving hand-in-hand after four successful dates at the restaurant of love.
The episode which aired on the eve of St Valentine’s Day saw Daniel and Ellie, Bláithín and Mary, Alvin and Jordan, and Stu and Lada all hit it off on their respective dates.
Returning for a second date, student Ellie from Limerick was served a treat with a twist by cheeky bar manager Daniel from Drimnagh whose days at Irish college convinced him that country girls are “better looking”.
He said on screen that he wants to find the love of his life and that he looks at his grandparents and their relationship as inspiration.
Making her return to the restaurant because she “loved the first time so much”, Ellie said she was looking for a genuine soul and that it will take someone special to win her over.
The pair seemed to hit it off early on in their date, chatting about college, what they want in a partner and what their types are.
Talking about where they’re from and their accents, Ellie said that people think she sounds like she’s from Cork.
“People think I sound like I’m from Cork. I get a bit insulted, to be honest,” she said.
Asked by Daniel what’s wrong with Cork, Ellie said: “Because then people think you sound like a culchie.”
Daniel went on to say that he has recently had the ‘culchie’ debate and said he considers everyone who lives outside Dublin to be a culchie, which Ellie didn’t agree with. They went on to debate the differences between a culchie and a bogger.
Opening up about past relationships, she asked if he would introduce his girlfriend to his friends, saying a previous boyfriend didn’t introduce her to his friends after a year and a half together.
Daniel went on to say he hadn’t been on a date in ages but he had gone through a time when he dated a lot because he felt like he had to but that it ultimately made him feel worse.
“I put myself under a lot of pressure to appear a certain way. Everything bounces off me and then I don't like to let the mask slip and then that leaves me a little bit lonely sometimes. I need somebody who can be a bit patient with that,” he said.
In the bathroom, Ellie rang her mother and said she didn't think Daniel liked her, while Daniel spoke to waiter Pete about how he wasn’t sure if Ellie liked him.
Both second-guessing what the other thought, they were asked if they would like to see each other again. They both said yes and were surprised by each other’s answers.
Smitten to be leaving the restaurant with Ellie, Daniel said: “I've to go back now and tell my nanny all about it.”
TV presenter and comedian Bláithín from Dublin said she was “very nervous” before meeting fellow Gaeilgeoir and primary school teacher Mary from Killarney.
Both redheads, the pair also shared a love of speaking other languages and, by the end of the date, a love of oysters but spoke about how neither of them had much experience dating women.
Mary said that she previously dated people who were “very much gym-ers and GAA heads” and that she is “done with that” and wants someone different and a bit spontaneous.
The pair opened up about their careers, dating history, and interests and hobbies, with Mary impressed by Bláithín’s career as a comedian, TV presenter and producer.
“Are you an actual comedian,” she asked. “No, I just think I’m gas,” Bláithín quipped.
Opening up about her sexuality, Bláithín shared that while she is bisexual, she has never dated a woman in the past. Mary said that she had been on very few dates with women in the past.
Blaáithín described herself as the most insecure confident person you’d ever come across which she said is the case for many comedians. She spoke about being diagnosed with ADHD and how it has helped her to look back and realise why she was the way she was growing up.
Looking on while Bláithín and Mary hit it off over dinner, waiter Pete exclaimed: “They can't take their eyes off each other”.
Bláithín spoke about her love of oysters and Mary said she would try one if they did it together. Impressed by the taste, she left the restaurant a converted oyster lover.
Following the date, they both said they would like to see each other again, acknowledging how comfortable they felt with each other and left the restaurant laughing and bantering together.
Alternative Afro-fusion artist Alvin from Blanchardstown left an impression on barista Jordan from Navan when he arrived at the restaurant with a bouquet of flowers in hand.
Barman Neil commended his taste, saying: “They’re not cheap ones bought in a garage”.
A technical analyst and music artist, Alvin said it was his first date in a couple of years as he doesn’t really go on dates.
He shared with Jordan that his last relationship was back in 2018 and that while he has been in ‘situationships’ that could have led to relationships, that things hadn’t worked out in the past.
“I’m only chasing you if you’re chasing me,” he said, explaining that a relationship requires two-way effort and commitment.
He said he’s now very picky with who he lets in as in the past he let some people into his space who he said messed up his chakra.
Speaking about their respective backgrounds, Jordan said she is blessed to have a South African mother and an Irish father because if she had Irish parents she wouldn't know good food.
“Spice? Seasoning? No one does a barbeque like a South African,” she said.
Alvin opened up about how he and his brother are the only two out of his family living in Ireland, with his mother and second brother living in the US and his father based in Nigeria.
He said that he has been living in Ireland for eight years now and that it has very much become home for him but said he does sometimes find himself getting a little lonely.
When it came to paying the bill, Alvin took matters into his own hands and Jordan said she never had someone pay the bill in full in the past and thanked him for his generosity.
They both said they would like to see each other again, with Jordan saying she likes someone who is passionate about music and what they do and Alvin describing Jordan as cool.
Stu from Cork entered the restaurant sporting a t-shirt with the words ‘you’re cute’ written across the front, telling Maitre D Mateo Saina that it would act as “an ice breaker”.
The web developer said he had no expectations heading into the date and said he was “completely open to something awesome happening”.
Enter 38-year-old Lada, originally from the Czech Republic but living in Dublin, sporting bright pink hair and a warm smile.
After being introduced to Stu, Lada shared how she was feeling a little nervous, with Stu reassuring her by saying: “I do have the resting heart rate of a drum and bass concert.” Lada opened up about how she found herself living in Ireland and said she met an Irish boy who she moved here with. Ultimately, it didn’t work out but she said Ireland still managed to snatch her heart.
The fellow fantasy fans bonded over their shared interest in Dungeons and Dragons and their obsession with books.
Both veterans of six-year relationships, they opened up about past heartbreak and what they learned from their respective previous relationships.
Stu spoke about how he left a long-term relationship last year after which he said he dated for some time before stopping last summer and focused on himself.
Lada shared how she went through a similar situation and said her last breakup after a six-year relationship was “not fun”.
“I think it was important for me to go through that because I learned a lot,” she said.
They both spoke about how they enjoy their own company but that they would like to have someone to share their lives with.
They both said they would like to see each other again, with Stu saying there was a lot of common ground between them.
“It makes sense to keep exploring. Regardless of where it leads, it has already been awesome,” he said.
