TV: Cork singleton Richie woos Dublin pole dancer

A charming pharmaceutical worker from Cork is hoping the chemistry will be right when he appears on First Dates Ireland. 

Richie, 33, is desperately seeking a ‘plus one’ for the many weddings he has been invited to – one of which is happening the very next day… let’s hope he is a fast mover!

His date for the episode on RTÉ2 on Thursday at 9.35pm is competitive pole dancer Michaela, also 33, of Dublin, who says she is looking for a ‘man’s man’.

Also on First Dates Ireland, shy single dad Martin, 51, embarks on his first ever date with Linda, 40, from Germany.

Unashamedly ‘looking for a wife’ larger than life site foreman James (23) from Clondalkin matches with Fayth (21) from East Wall. Fayth always takes her mammy’s advice on men so ‘one bad vibe and there’s no going back’. James falls short of her 6ft height requirement but makes up for it with his ‘f-ing lethal’ personality. All of which leads to a VERY big surprise – and a first-of-its-kind announcement for First Dates!

After six months single in Dublin, Itzel from Mexico is looking for a hot date with dark hair and blue eyes. Enter: the woman of her dreams: super confident lioness Ciara from Kilkenny. They say you should avoid politics on a first date but the fiery combination of Itzel’s native American heritage and Ciara’s background in political science means that, suddenly, everything’s on the table.