Get ready for your evenings to heat up as First Dates Ireland returns to our screens!
The latest season of the beloved dating show continued tonight with eight hopeful romantics taking their seats at the Gibson Hotel, looking for love, romance, connection and - at the very least - a nice meal.
Tonight's episode was jam-packed with chemistry, with a number of dates finding a spark throughout the restaurant, but it was James and Fayth who had one of the most successful dates in First Dates Ireland history.
Unashamedly 'looking for a wife', larger-than-life site foreman James entered the restaurant with buckets of confidence, insisting that his appearance on the dating show was "the talk of building sites around Dublin".
"I'm great craic. Out straight, I am great craic," he promised producers. "If I walk into a room, you hear me before you see me."
The 23-year-old Clondalkin native told the cameras that he was a romantic at heart and was ready to find his soulmate: "As soon as that girl walks through the door, I'll know straight away," he insisted.
Enter, Fayth, a 21-year-old Health Care Assistant from East Wall, looking for someone her mother would approve of.
"I definitely learned to always take my mammy's advice when it comes to men," she told producers. "If she gets one sort of bad vibe, there's no going back from that. If my ma doesn't like you, I can't either."
Although James falls short of her 6ft height requirement, his boisterous personality quickly won her over.
Within seconds of meeting, James had Fayth in stitches, leading the two to discuss their upbringings, careers, past relationships, their thoughts on therapy, and even their hopes for children.
"The next girl I'm getting with is the girl I plan on being with forever," James told Fayth. "I'm not doing this whole situationship, I'm not doing seeing people. I'm not getting with a bird unless I'm marrying her. Just letting you know!"
Thankfully, rather than running for the door, Fayth told James that she also hoped to get married and wanted to have"loads of kids", although health complications meant that she had to be mindful of her fertility.
"I have a time limit on having kids," she told James, explaining that she was diagnosed with endometriosis at 16 before having her first surgery at 18. "25 or 26 is probably the age where it will be harder," she explained."
Following the date, the two sat down with producers and agreed to see each other again, with James telling Fayth that he loved her vibe.
From First Dates to First Baby! Congratulations Fayth and James💖#LateLate #FirstDates pic.twitter.com/6VVTxa509U
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 13, 2026
Before they had even left the building, the two had made plans for "a fancy" second date followed by a trip to the zoo for their third date.
Happily, it seems that the dates continued, with the two Dubs going on holiday, getting matching tattoos, and starting a family together!
Their little bundle of joy is due in July.
First Dates Ireland airs Thursdays on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 9:30pm. Catch up on RTÉ Player.
