First Dates recap: Knitted outfits, vision boards and flirty behaviour
First Dates Ireland Billy and Maureen bonded over life experiences, dancing and swimming.
Eight more hopeful singles entered the First Dates restaurant on Thursday in the hope of finding their match.
Thursday night's episode saw retired electrician Billy from Crumlin meet former biscuit factory worker Maureen from Usher's Quay who has returned to the restaurant after seven years for another chance at finding love.
Molly Roberts, also known as 'Mollerina' on social media met actor Roy from Knocklyon who admits that he just can't restrain his inner entertainer.
Cillian and his best friend Hansun from Drogheda returned to the restaurant for dates with Carl from Wexford and art student Mark.
Entering the First Dates restaurant holding a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates for his date, 77-year-old Billy said he felt nervous ahead of his first date in years.
Billy, who admitted that itâs âkind of lonely on your ownâ, said he loves to meet new people and was looking forward to making some memories.
Returning to the limelight and ready for another date, Maureen entered the restaurant ready to meet someone on her second visit to the restaurant after seven years.
Maureen was surprised to receive flowers and chocolate from Billy, describing him as âa proper gentlemanâ.
They both reminisced about their experience of dance halls and reflected on their previous marriages and family life and working life.
Billy spoke about separating from his wife at the age of about 50 and said he hasnât had a relationship since then.
Maureen spoke about how she was on the show seven years ago and that she âlovedâ the experience.
Halfway through the date, they spoke about their social lives with Maureen asking: âNow, would all your friends be dead?ââ Billy said he and his friends are still above ground and that they would go to the local Menâs Club in Crumlin together every Monday and Thursday.
He said his friends were looking forward to seeing him on the television and said the slagging âwill be something terribleâ.
Maureen shared her love of dancing, with Billy asking her if she would teach him how to waltz. Maureen joked that she would have him flying around the dance floor.
They both said they would like to see each other again, with Maureen delighted to find a âchatterbox like myselfâ and described him as the old-style gentleman.
Friends for 10 years, Hansun and Cillian entered the First Dates restaurant together, before splitting up for dinner with their respective dates.
Hansun was matched with Mark from Carlow who entered the restaurant sporting an outfit he had knitted himself.
Admiring his creativity, Hansun complimented his look and the two hit it off during their date by talking about fashion and their preference to shop at charity shops.
They spoke about their past relationships and how their relationships ended and also spoke about their family dynamics and home life.
Speaking on screen following their date, Hansun said he had âsuch a blastâ and described Mark as a really cool, nice, creative and stylish person.
Mark said they had a lot of things in common - they were wearing the same colour, they discovered that they had the same number of family members, and they both like cheesecake.
Asked if they would see each other again romantically, they both agreed that they would like to see each other but not on a romantic level.
The pair started their date by speaking about their careers, with Cillian saying that while he loves his current job he doesnât want to do one job for the rest of his life.
âLife is not linear, you know?,â he said.
Carl, who wants to be a paediatric physio, said he previously worked in Malta and worked with autistic children which he said gave him a taste of what he wanted to doâhelping people and treating people.
Speaking about what he was looking for in a partner, Carl said he wanted to find someone âgenuineâ.
Carl spoke about living in different countries and said his experience in Denmark was particularly interesting as people are more reserved.
Making it obvious that he was flirting with Carl, Cillian admitted on screen that he loves to flirt.
Halfway through the date, Hansun and Cillian went to the bathroom to catch up on how their dates were going, while Carl joined Mark at his table to discuss how they were getting on.
Mark mentioned that while there were no awkward silences and conversation was flowing on his date, he was unsure if there was anything more than that, while Carl shared that he thought Cillian was putting up a front and would like to have a more genuine conversation.
When they came out of the bathroom, they swapped dates and Cillian sat with Mark and Hansun sat with Carl until they were asked to swap back to their original tables before the dates wrapped up.
Carl said there were great vibes on the date and acknowledged Cillianâs confidence but when asked if they would see each other romantically again, Carl said he needs a bit more of an emotional connection with someone.
Self-confessed âgoofballâ, Roy, 32, from Dublin who has a love for entertaining people was matched with Molly from Mayo who said she âdoesnât want to be bored everâ and wants to laugh and just have a nice time with a partner.
She said she would like to meet a yapper so they could âyap all dayâ.
They spoke about their dating experience, dating apps and how neither of them had been on a blind date before.
Roy spoke about how he loved animation growing up and they spoke about how they were both speech and drama kids.
Molly spoke about how she felt she didnât have an identity in college and started a blog to show off her outfits and spoke about how she loves wholesome experiences like attending an art class or going for her hot girl walks.
Speaking about their vision boards and what they have manifested in a partner, Roy shared that he wants someone who is good fun and not afraid to have a laugh with themselves and their partner while Molly said sheâs unsure if she wants a family but that she wants someone who will be a sense of home for her.
She said that she likes who she is and likes her life and that it would be nice for someone to come into her life who she can share life with.
Roy paid the bill while Molly popped to the bathroom, telling waiter Neil that Mollyâs company had been ârather spectacularâ.
He said that she is someone he would like to approach in a bar but wouldnât have the courage to.
âSheâs stunningly beautiful, great vibes and then that sensation of âwow, thereâs something so intriguing about this person and I want to get to know them moreâ,â he said.
Asked if theyâd like to see each other again, they both said they would like to meet again, with Molly saying she would like to see what could come from it.
