Virgin Media’s Irish-language dating show Grá ar an Trá is set to return for its second season on October 14, with a major step forward in representation and inclusivity. For the first time, the show will feature a gay contestant, marking a milestone in Irish reality TV. While other popular series like First Dates Ireland have featured LGBTQ+ participants before, Grá ar an Trá will become the first Irish dating show to include an openly LGBTQ+ contestant in a primary role, setting itself apart from mainstream hits like Love Island and Love is Blind.
In its upcoming season, the show aims to outshine other reality dating shows by embracing inclusivity, with a diverse lineup of gay and straight singles all living together in a house filled with cameras. The contestants, aged 18 to 30, will be paired up not just based on attraction and compatibility, but also on their Irish language skills. The show blends romance with cultural immersion, as participants take on challenges to improve their fluency in Irish, ranging from ‘cúpla focal’ to fluency.
One of the show’s goals is to present the Irish language in a modern, fun, and relatable context. Host Síomha Ní Ruairc tells The Irish Sun: “It’s refreshing for people to see Irish in a new, sexy environment. It allows viewers to realise that their relationship with the language doesn’t have to be defined by how they learned it in school.”
Brand New: Grá ar an Trá 🌊
Coming Soon to Virgin Media One 📺#VMTV #GraArAnTra pic.twitter.com/Op2JJpQuz9
— Virgin Media Television (@VirginMedia_TV) August 22, 2024
James Kavanagh, a popular media personality and member of the LGBTQ+ community, praised the inclusion of queer contestants, noting, “The representation of a gay person in there is brilliant. Hopefully, shows like Love Island can see that it does work.”
The winning couple will walk away with €10,000—and hopefully the love of their life. As a platform promoting both love and language, Grá ar an Trá continues to push boundaries, setting new standards for representation in Irish television while promoting the richness of Gaeilge in a dynamic and engaging way.
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