After a lot of humming and hawing about when the show would return, Grá ar an Trá is back for a second season.
The bilingual dating show, which pairs Gaeilgoirí and Béarlóirí are paired up.
And the couple with the most focal win in the end.
Meet this year’s contestants…
Na Gaeilgoirí
Name: Sonia
Age: 21
Home county: Wexford
Occupation: Health Advisor & Social Media Ambassador
What do you have a grá for in life?
Running, traveling, mostly spending time in the outdoors in forests and beaches.
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I’m half Estonian and I speak 5 languages (English, Irish, Spanish, French and Russian)
Describe your perfect partner.
Tall, funny, kind, ambitious, outgoing, adventurous and wants to travel!
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
Someone who sits at the dinner table with their phone propped up against the salt watching a YouTube video or Netflix. Andddd skinny jeans!!!
Where did you learn your Irish?
I went to an Irish-speaking secondary school. I also went to the Gaeltacht in Galway for a few weeks when I was 16.
What is your favourite Irish phrase/word?
Smugairle róin (jellyfish)
Name: Cian
Age: 28
Home county: Wicklow
Occupation: Marketer
What do you have a grá for in life?
Food. Football. Gaeilge.
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I’m terrified of butterflies – I once nearly got arrested for almost killing an endangered species in the middle of a butterfly-induced panic attack!
Describe your perfect partner.
Sporty, loyal, funny, chill, sexy!
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
Vaping.
Where did you learn your Irish?
College!
What is your favourite Irish phrase/word?
Gafa (obsessed!)
Name: Oisín
Age: 27
Home county: Monaghan
Occupation: Software engineer
What do you have a grá for in life?
An Ghaeilge, fitness, MMA, magic, poetry.
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I’m a pretty open book, but I’d say one thing is that I enjoy the big questions in life: religion, space, etc!
Describe your perfect partner.
A chill girl, intelligent, who is a big fan of Irish! Pretty is obviously a bonus!
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
The biggest red flag is dishonesty and lying!
Where did you learn your Irish?
I’m mostly self-taught, I did it in school in Monaghan but didn’t appreciate it as much, and as a result wasn’t that good at it. Since then, I listened to podcasts, watched a lot of TG4 and did independent study.
Worst dating story?
That time I took a girl to mini-golf and she wiped the floor with me!!
Name: JJ
Age: 28
Home county: Kilkenny
Occupation: Dryliner
What do you have a grá for in life?
The thing in life I have the most grá for would be adrenaline, but I also love trying and learning new things.
Describe your perfect partner.
My perfect partner would be an active woman who loves adventure and trying new things.
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
If their only idea of fun involves drinking/ going out.
And beige flag?
If she eats her pizza crust first!
Where did you learn your Irish?
I went to a Gaelscoil from 3rd class onwards.
What is your favourite Irish phrase/word?
Athníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile (it takes one to know one!)
Na Foghlaimeoirí (Irish Learners)
Name: Kristina
Age: 30 flirty!
Home county: Dublin
Occupation: Events & entertainment, travel freelance
What do you have a grá for in life?
With all of our amazing gifts, travel, people, cultures!
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I was actually supposed to be a lawyer or a midwife. Dream job – astronaut!
Describe your perfect partner.
Tall, broad, dark features, unexplainable energy, that oomph factor that words cannot describe!
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
Having a Snapchat high score, texting on dates, having icks without any explanations!
Why do you want to learn Irish now?
Let’s do something to preserve our national language! Don’t let it die!
What is your favourite Irish phrase/word?
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin! (There’s no place like home)
Name: Daniel
Age: 31
Home county: Wexford
Occupation: Business manager
What do you have a grá for in life?
I absolutely love fashion, skincare and make-up!
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I am adopted!
Describe your perfect partner.
I thought my ideal partner would have muscles and big arms, but my ideal partner should be kind, open and show an interest in me as a person.
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
Not showing interest in getting to know you.
Why do you want to learn Irish now?
I stopped learning Irish from first year and didn’t make any effort to continue after that!
Best/worst dating story?
The best date I went on was with a guy who brought me all over Dublin from walking around Phoenix Park, going to the zoo, Blanchardstown for food and then dropping me back to my house in Wexford! He had loads of green flags! The worst was with the same guy who brought me to one of his gigs where he left me in a corner on my own for the night, without introducing me to anyone and after it was finished he went out for a smoke, forgot about me and went home!! Can safely say I was interested after that lol!
Name: Holly
Age: 36
Home county: Originally Tipperary, now living in Galway
Occupation: HSE worker
What do you have a grá for in life?
Music, festivals, gardening, cooking, my dogs and cats!
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I’m allergic to the colour purple, and I have an ex-BF’s name tattooed inside my mouth!
Describe your perfect partner.
Tall, big arms, nice teeth, family-orientated, kind, good fashion sense
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
Someone that has previously cheated, or lies!
Why do you want to learn Irish now?
I moved to Galway years ago, and the Irish language is so much more loved and used here!
What is your favourite Irish phrase/word?
Dá fhada an lá tagann an tráthnóna (no matter how long the day, the evening comes!)
Name: Kealan
Age: 21
Home county: Kerry
Occupation: Musician
What do you have a grá for in life?
Trad music, GAA, rugby.
Tell us something not many people know about you.
I’m a picky eater!
Describe your perfect partner.
Good craic, and good looking!
If you could pick a song that would be played as an entrance song every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
Don’t forget your shovel, by Christy Moore!
What do you think is the biggest red flag?
A really high Snapchat score!
If you could pick one word to describe your relationship with Irish, what would it be?
Motivated!
