James Kavanagh is ready for his country era.
The influencer-turned-TV presenter will be moving from Dublin to Cork with his partner, William Murray in the coming months.
“The big next is moving and we’re in the process of looking at sites in Cork. I want my Grand Designs moment, like do up an old crumbling cottage or something like that. My country chapter is next!” he tells VIP Magazine as we catch up with him at the Platinum VIP Style Awards launch.
“I’m ready now. I’m in my country era. I think my next chapter is with chickens. I feel like I’m half country anyway! I went to boarding school in West Meath. I’ve properly tested it.”
Of course, James wouldn’t leave us without some entertainment as they are currently in the process of filming a show about their big move.
“We’re filming a new show of us moving from Dublin to Cork. So we’re in the process of the mortgage brokering, meeting the architect, all that sort of stuff. I’m dying for my chickens and my vegetable patch. I’m gunning for it!” he tells us.
And the whole family is involved in the show, which we joke should be named Keeping up with the Kavanaghs.
“We’ve been able to get our parents involved. My mother was the first person asking if she had a slot,” he laughs.
“It’s nice and it’s going to give a good flavour of what we are up to. Especially Currabinny Caravan, we’re filming at that.”
He adds that he hopes that the show will help anyone else thinking of making the move out of the Big Smoke.
“The show is going to be good in terms of if anyone wants to know the process of leaving Dublin and moving down the country. I think post-COVID a lot of people are thinking of it. With the housing crisis and the cost of houses in Dublin a lot of people are looking down the country. It’s a good show in that sense.”
We can’t wait to watch! And that’s not the only show that James is getting involved in as he is one half of the presenting team for upcoming series, Grá ar an Trá.
The show will follow a group of singletons trying to find love all through Gaeilge and will air later this year on Virgin Media.
“We’re filming it in May and at the minute we’re looking for applicants,” he explains before enthusing about how excited he is to get stuck in.
“I’m excited for the cross-breeding. I’m excited to see a lad from Crumlin with a farmer’s daughter from Louth. It’s going to be a grown-up Gaeltacht. There’s going to be ceilí, probably a bit more kissing. It’s going to be the Gaeltacht with cameras, it’s a cross between Big Brother and Love Island. But through Irish.”
While James isn’t a Gaeilgeoir himself, he admits that he has been learning plenty as they prepare to start filming.
“There are two presenters, I’m the as Béarla presenter and we have an as Gaeilge presenter so everyone will be able to understand it. The whole thing is about encouraging people to use their cúpla focal.
“You kind of forget how much you know and how much you absorbed in school. Even though I’m not the Irish presenter just going through bits in the production I’m starting to remember loads of words. So the couple with the most focal will win!”
Watch this space!
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