First Dates Ireland

Maître d' Mateo Saina is in charge - with help from barman Ethan and waitress Alice - as the restaurant opens its doors for singletons looking for love over dinner

Sixty-year-old Gabrielle from Dublin embarks on a voyage of discovery with similarly aged, adventurous Shamrock Rovers groundskeeper John. Twenty-four-year-old serial dater Martin from Galway gets schooled as he attempts to work his magic on no-nonsense recent graduate Iesha from Kildare. Bethany from Cork, who has a taste for saucy humour, is paired with Mancunian fashionista Hannah.

A professional croupier, a nurse, a tattooed bad boy and a history teacher are among the hopefuls looking for love in the restaurant this time around. Chef Andrew from Co Antrim prepares something special for Patrick from Wicklow. For this series the game of love has new regulations - daters are suitably distanced, contact is strictly off the cards and background diners are all from their family bubbles.

Maître d' Mateo Saina is in charge as more hopefuls enter the restaurant. They include evergreen Mary (74) from Tipperary, who is looking for a second chance at love - and may have found it in the singular charm of 76-year-old Johnny, who quite handily lives in Thurles. Student nurse Carla from Down hopes for a tall, dark, handsome stranger - and gets the full package in self-assured postman Kieran - and hairstylist Lain, originally from Leeds, dates fellow coiffeur Dean from Cork.

Keen to seize the day, 75-year-old Marie from Meath waltzes into the arms of dapper 79-year-old dancer Denis from Kildare. And Impressively mohawked Phil rocks up to the restaurant on a skateboard hoping to rom-com his way into the heart of ultra-positive musician Rebecca.

Garden designer Anthony, who is 43 and from Tipperary is set up with chef 40-year-old Mandy from Wexford. Having invested everything in an ongoing quest for love, 38-year-old Chris from Belfast meets tax official Ben, who is 36 and from Dublin, and Niamh comes to the restaurant in search of a kindred spirit and finds one in the form of Denny, who has not dated in 16 years.

Martina from Limerick returns to the restaurant for a second chance at finding love, while 24-year-old Denis from Dublin goes on a date with 21-year-old psychology student Amy. Later, student Susanne from Louth meets musician Luke from Dublin, and Gabriela, who is 37 and originally from Transylvania, meets oil-rig electrician Graham from Dublin.

Best friends and next door neighbours Aimee and Laura visit the restaurant looking for love, but they are not alone, as they have both brought their mothers along for the evening. Meanwhile, drummer and former model Cillian from Mayo sits down for a date with Dutch folk musician Janneke from Dublin, and 58-year-old Helen is set up with 55-year-old Ian.

Wedding co-ordinator Edward from Cavan comes to the restaurant looking for love, and is set up on a date with 22-year-old Jason from Wicklow. Meanwhile, outspoken podcaster Rachel from Kildare meets stand-up comic Ben from Dublin, and Miranda from Mayo hopes to find love in the form of ladies soccer coach Sam from Roscommon.