Belturbet man seeks a match on First Dates Ireland

Episode airs on RTÉ 2 (Thursday), January 30, at 9:30pm.

Broadband engineer Derek O'Reilly is the latest local to appear hoping to find love in RTÉ's First Dates restaurant.

The Belturbet man will appear opposite student nurse Karen from Kildare at The Gibson Hotel's Coda Eatery when the newest episode airs on RTÉ 2 (Thursday), January 30, at 9:30pm.

First Dates Ireland returned for series 10 earlier this month, with singletons from far and wide joining maître D' Mateo Saina, barman Neil Kenna, and waiters Alice and Pete, who help set the scene.

“It was one of the best things I've ever done,” says the affable Derek, who admits it was his “own decision” but happened with a little help from his friends.

“I'd been single for a long time and I wasn't having a huge amount of luck you'd say. I'd friends who'd say to me that I'd be good on that show, it'd be a bit of craic. I just so happened to be on the RTÉ app one of the days when it came up that they were looking for participants over the age of 36. If nothing else I thought - at least I fit that criteria,” laughs Derek.

“Humming and hawing,” as Derek puts it, he was helping a friend out at their house when he told them about the prospect of him entering the First Dates dining room. The response was immediate.

“I said to myself before that, if he hesitates, I won't do it. So I asked him straight out. 'I see First Dates Ireland are loo...'. But he cut me off. 'Absolutely' he said to me. 'Do it'. So that was it. I was easily persuaded.”

Derek, as many will know, is no stranger to appearing before an audience. A talented actor, he's currently rehearsing with The Cornmill for an upcoming production of Tom Murphy's 'A Whistle in the Dark' at the end of February.

“It definitely helped with the process I think. I wasn't at all fazed by it. Knowing the cameras were there didn't really bother me as such. I took it all in my stride, not to sound too big headed. But I was there for all the right reasons and the experience, of trying to meet someone.”

A broadband engineer with Arden Broadband, producers of the show played up the notion that Derek may be susceptible to offers of cups of tea and even the odd biccy while out on the job. The question was put to the biscuit lover: 'Which is his favourite?'- Kimberly, Mikados or Coconut Creams?

Derek laughs again, though he is coy about giving away his answer and any other potential details of his date with Karen before details of their date are broadcast later this week. All he'll divulge is that his date was “brilliant, really lovely”.

“It was a brilliant experience.”