Roscommon romantic gives First Dates Ireland another go

Roscommon Town’s own James Kilmartin is stepping back into the bright lights of First Dates Ireland tonight, Thursday, March 5th, and he promises viewers a date that’s “cute,” “a good laugh,” and sprinkled with just enough cringe to keep things interesting.

James, 41, says he turned to TV matchmaking after exhausting the modern tools of romance.

“I’d tried all the dating apps and everything else,” he explained. “So I said, look, I’ll give matchmaking on television a go.” 

If his name rings a bell, that’s because this isn’t his first tango with the nation’s favourite restaurant of love. He appeared previously in 2020 — “just for a bit of craic” — though Cupid didn’t quite hit the target that time.

This round, however, things might be looking brighter. James is paired with 39 year old Joseph, who also works in a software company.

Giving the Roscommon Herald a hint of what viewers are in store for tonight, Thursday he said: “We got on really, really well. We bounced off each other… we had very much the same line of thinking.” 

Naturally, James employs his trademark sense of humour — though he admits it may come back to haunt him as he admits he comes out with a couple of one liners on the show “that I’m mortified by now.” 

Nerves aside, he says being filmed is far less intimidating than people imagine: “Five minutes in, you’ve no idea of the cameras. That just goes to the back of your head and you're just having the craic.” 

He also praised the structured nature of the show. “It’s almost planned for you — you don’t have the stress of saying, ‘What will we do?’” Despite his easy going nature, the Roscommon native admits he’s “very nervous” about the episode airing — so nervous, in fact, that he has only just told his mother.

And could we see him back for a third television date if love doesn’t strike this time?

“You could see me back a third time. If I’m asked,” he says with a grin.

To see how James gets on, tune in to First Dates Ireland tonight Thursday, March 5th at 9.35 p.m. on RTÉ2.