How I Met My Partner: Love at first sight for Cork author and his wife

CORK children’s author Trev Burke didn’t need glasses to realise he was experiencing love at first sight during the memorable November of 2016.

This was in spite of him being “blind as a bat” when meeting his now wife Clare Flynn for the first time. The pair had been conversing on the dating app Tinder before meeting in the flesh. However, Trev said he had never anticipated just how beautiful she would be.

He had been trying his utmost to make a memorable impression, even leaving his glasses off to look his best for the date.

“I was blind as a bat without my glasses”, he joked. “Although I had to stand very close to Clare to see her, it was still love at first sight”.

In the minutes leading up to their meeting at CoqBull on French Church Street, both parties believed they had been stood up.

“It turned out we were both standing waiting for each other at opposite entrances”, Trev laughed. “10 or 15 minutes into waiting for her I assumed she wasn’t coming. She just happened to be at the other entrance thinking the same thing. Luckily, we both figured this out in time and I fell in love with Clare straight away”.

Clare, who works as an accountant, felt somewhat different.

“He definitely made me laugh. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight. I needed that bit more time”.

She was equally keen to make a positive impression.

“I ordered a chicken burger but of course I ate it with a knife and fork”, Clare said. “I would have been taking a big risk otherwise, it being our first date”.

Trev admits he was worried about the date initially.

“My biggest worry is that you can’t tell someone’s height from a photograph. I was just hoping she wasn’t wearing heels. Luckily, it worked out okay and I was even a little bit taller”.

Clare laughed at the memory of that night.

“I drove him home. He even introduced me to his dog Rocket”.

The Waterford man eventually popped the question to his then-girlfriend in July, 2020.

“I was working from home at the time and we had just got a new carpet”, Clare said.

Trev elaborated: “I told her I had gotten a mark on the carpet. When she ran in I was down on one knee.

Clare, who lives on Model Farm Road with her husband, recalled feeling taken aback.

“I couldn’t believe it. All I could do was ask myself ‘is this really happening?’ Of course, I said yes straight away”.

The author, who married Clare in St James’ Church, Ballinora, hasn’t looked back since.

“We went to Paris on our honeymoon which meant we were able to visit Disneyland”, Trev said. “I never went to Disneyland and it was also my birthday so every bit of the experience was amazing. My favourite character I met with was the Genie”.

Clare said they are similar in the ways that count.

“He makes me laugh so much”, she said. “We can be silly together and I don’t have to pretend. I can always be myself. Even though we are very different in so many ways, we are alike where it counts in areas such as values”.

Trev agreed.

“We both love music too. You’ll often hear us singing S Club 7 songs when we’re together in the car.

“I bought her a present of S Club concert tickets just so I could go see them. I wouldn’t dare admit to my friends that I like them. This way they’ll just think I’m a great husband”.

Trev praised his wife for always being supportive, especially when it comes to his collection of children’s books “Happy Attic Stories”.

“One of the great things about being with Clare is that I’m dyslexic so she proofreads everything I write. I’m also not great at doing markets where we bring the books to sell but Clare is brilliant at them. If it wasn’t for Clare I don’t think I’d have Happy Attic stories”.

Clare has always taken an interest in her husband’s talent.

“When we first met Happy Attic Stories wasn’t a product”, she recalled. “It was only a concept. I’m really happy to be able to support Trev in any way I can”.

Trev advised anyone disillusioned about love not to give up hope.

“My advice would be to trust in Tinder. I had a few bad dates and deleted it and reopened it so many times until it finally worked out. Clare and I would never have met in normal circumstances but this is what brought us together”.