One of the nicer moments we’ve seen on the show…
The dust is settling on the latest episode of First Dates Ireland, and for once, we weren’t hiding under a couch with embarrassment for the entire episode.
While the awkwardness of it all is half of the entertainment, sometimes it’s nice to have a change of pace and actually watch two people that get on very well.
On Tuesday’s show, that was the meeting of 25-year-old Stephen and 27-year-old John, which just so happened to be the first date carried out on the show using sign language.
Stephen is a HR professional and the reigning Mr Gay Ireland, and after growing up with a severe speech impediment, became interested in other forms of communication and is now fluent in sign language.
John is a design student and a member of the deaf community, and the pair had actually met and chatted a couple of times before coincidentally appearing on the show.
The pair hit it off on their date with the chemistry between them being clear and decided that they’d like to meet again outside of the show.
This went down very well with the viewers at home…
https://twitter.com/nfitzm/status/958466423885631489
Signing off tonight’s episode, we have another match – Stephen & John-Charles! 👍 ❤️ 👍 #FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/tmQuvhcLTz
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) January 30, 2018
And now I believe in love again because of Stephen and John Charles #FirstDatesIRL
— shauna (@_j0hnnychrist) January 30, 2018
Unlikely that you’ll see anything more adorable on TV this week. #FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/lhbUH8BYVZ
— Love, Wolfie 🏳️🌈 🇺🇦 (@Golden_Gaytime) January 30, 2018
Stephen captured the hearts of the nation…
I'm obsessed with Stephen. What a dote #FirstDatesIRL
— Colette Sexton (@colette_sexton) January 30, 2018
Your man Stephen seems so sound #FirstDatesIRL
— Aidan Lynch (@Grangegodden) January 30, 2018
Stephen you are equally amazeballs! #FirstDatesIRL
— teresa (@ttlovescc) January 30, 2018
I thought I was a positive/happy person but Stephen is like the HAPPIEST person I have ever seen🤣 #FirstDatesIRL
— Ross Forde (@RossForde) January 30, 2018
Although some people also paid tribute to COCO Television.
You know what the best thing about Irish Sign Language date on #FirstDatesIRL tonight was? The fact that @COCOtv didn't do a voiceover for the date. Such a small but powerful thing to do because it really made people pay attention to what a beautiful language ISL is! #YestoISL
— Caroline McGrotty (@CarolineMcTweet) January 30, 2018
If you enjoyed it, you know what you can do…
Fancy someone who is Deaf and want to learn our language for a potential date? Check out https://t.co/nCmY1QXMH9 for #IrishSignLanguage classes…. Who needs tinder! #FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/3fP5Voy4tI
— Irish Deaf Society (@IrishDeafSoc) January 30, 2018
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