Sínann Fetherston sits down with James Kavanagh to discuss his reignited love for the Irish language and his time hosting Ireland's newest dating show, Grá ar an Trá.
"To be honest, I was kind of ready for an annihilation on Twitter because people are always ready to hate something, especially when it involves Irish people," James told RTÉ Lifestyle.
"I've never been part of something that's, generally, so well received. I mean, you always get 50% hate, but it seems that 90% of people out there really like it. It's very heartwarming."
The 34-year-old content creator has returned to Irish screens to host Grá ar an Trá, an Irish dating show that has been billed as 'the Gaeltacht's answer to Love Island'.
Alongside Síomha Ní Ruairc and Cinnire Gráinne Seoige, Kavanagh plays host to 10 young singles in their 20s as they move into the beautiful surroundings of Oyster Bay Lodge in Woodstown, Co Waterford - all in the hopes of finding love as Gaeilge.
Fluent Irish speakers are paired up with those just starting out with the language (or desperately trying to remember what they learned in school), in the hopes of becoming the 'couple with the most focail' and taking home the prize of €10,000.
Reflecting on his experiences growing up as a gay man in Ireland, Kavanagh says that hosting the show has been a great way to reconnect with the language.
"Growing up, I was always excluded, I guess, from the dating scene," he says. "I actually didn't go to the Gaeltacht myself. I can't remember exactly the reasons I didn't go, but I'm sure part of it was because 'that's where you go and shift people'."
"It was very heteronormative, so it's a nice moment to be actually included and kind of helping people come together in this show."
As well as falling in love with some flirty Irish phrases ('I'd love to roll over on your ancestors' being a favourite), the social media star says he was inspired to start using more of the language in his day to day life.
"From being around the Gaeilgeors, who spoke fluently, it made me realise that my Irish isn't as bad as I thought going into this.
"Just from being present in primary school and secondary school, you absorb a hell of a lot more Irish than you think. I think anyone who has a little bit of Irish will be able to watch the show and maybe fall in love with the language.
"It reignited a love for it," he adds. "It's special that we have this language as a country. We should try to fall back in love with it."
The Currabinny co-founder has been in a relationship with his partner, William, for many years now, but says it was fascinating to see just how eager young people were to get away from the dating apps.
"Who meets people these days A, not on an app, or B, not already drunk? It's kind of unheard of.
"It was almost childlike watching people interact with each other for the first time and kind of of nostalgic. It's was lovely to watch people come together and play with each other and get to know each other not in a bar situation or on Tinder."
Grá ar an Trá airs on Virgin Media on Mondays at 9pm.
You can find James and William in the Currabinny caravan in their new location of Chatham Row, Dublin 2.
