Bagenalstown man looking for love on RTÉ's First Dates
Mark (right) from Carlow with his match on RTÉ First Dates, Hansun
A BAGENALSTOWN art student went looking for love on RTÉ’s programme and would heartily recommend the experience for all those singletons out there.
Mark Kirwan (25) is a second-year student in Grennan’s Mill Craft College in Co Kilkenny and having been single for longer than he wanted, took the plunge and applied to appear on the series. He was matched with a fellow called Hansun, who had gone to the First Dates restaurant with his best friend Killian.
“I applied on a whim when I heard that they were looking for people. I didn’t really think about it until they rang me. I thought, ‘wow, this is wild!’ I was nervous but I did it anyway,” said Mark.
“I thought that I’d give it a go because other dating options weren’t working for me. Once we got into conversation it was grand because the cameras aren’t very visible and you forget that they’re there. It was really about meeting a new person that I was nervous about, but it was great.”
Mark made a great impression on his date Hansun because he was wearing a hand-made top, with crotchet being one of Mark’s many skills.
“I wanted something for us to talk about and maybe impress my date. I do crotchet, but I didn’t have a pattern for that top so I was winging it. I had a vision of what I wanted to make and thankfully it worked out!” said Mark.
Mark is the son of Linda McAssey and Des Kirwan from the Bagenalstown area, with his mother accompanying him to Dublin on the train on the day the filming took place back in August.
While the conversation between Mark and Hansun flowed well during their date, they decided that they’d rather see each other as friends. However, Mark is still looking for love and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the experience.
“They really have someone for everyone. I would do it again because it was great fun. It was a way of getting out of my comfort zone, and even though I didn’t find love, I made new friends. I’m still searching for love, though!” said Mark.
