A Hans-on approach to dating: How a Dutch farmer found reality-TV love in Connemara

Looking for love in the county of the Tribesmen, Hans de Roover and prospective partner Annette Verschure were stars of the Netherlands' dating-show phenomenon 'Farmer Wants a Wife'.

Hans de Roover and Annette Verschuure, participants in the Dutch TV series "Farmer wants a Wife" enjoying a cycle around Connemara

Connemara lobster fisherman and farmer John O’Toole has had many requests to take people to sea, but perhaps none was quite so unusual as that recently sought by a Dutch film company.

The film company wanted to hire O’Toole to take a couple out fishing as part of the grand final in the highly successful Dutch television dating series, Boer zoukt vrouw (“Farmer wants a wife”).