Grainne Seoige on awkward dating, turning 50 and controversy on Gra ar an Tra

Hailing from Spiddal in Co Galway, broadcaster Gráinne Seoige is a proud Gaeilgeoir. She loves that she’s bringing her native language to a brand new audience in a creative way and through the medium of love on Virgin Media’s dating show Grá ar an Trá. She tells RSVP: “There is so much to be proud of and our language is an integral part of our culture.” Gráinne has been in the headlines recently as she’s been selected to run for Fíanna Fáil in the next general election, but that topic is off limits as we chat about her TV duties. Here, Gráinne opens up about awkward dating, making Gaeilge cool again and her recent “roundy” birthday.

Dating can be so awkward, especially in the early stages. What advice did you give to the contestants on Grá ar an Trá?

Those awkward moments are part of the fun of it. At the start of a relationship, those awkward moments can be a ‘in joke’ and a fun thing to break the ice. As long as you are being natural with each other. The only advice I gave to anybody on the show was to be themselves. The contestants are living together 24 hours a day and getting to know each other could take months in the real world, but it happens in days on the show. They get to see every facet of each other very, very quickly from how they eat, toilet habits and if they snore.

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The premise of the show is that one Gaeilge speaker teaches the language to a non-speaker. Do you teach your husband Leon Jordaan Gaeilge at home, and does he teach you Afrikaans — his native language from South Africa?

We’ve taught each other plenty. I am quite good at Afrikaans having lived in Pretoria in South Africa for about five years. Leon can greet people in Irish.

There is a huge love for the language these days. It has become very cool.

It’s incredible. Irish is a fascinating language to people outside of Ireland because it’s one of the oldest languages in northern Europe and because of its beauty. It’s so different from the Latin language. The big thing is having it appreciated at home. I love when I see so many young people taking it up or coming through the Gaelscoil system and being able to speak the language. That fills my heart with joy.

Irish band Kneecap are central to that as well. Their movie has gotten a massive response.

I’ve never met them. While we were getting ready to record our pieces for Grá ar an Trá, we played a lot of Kneecap. No more than Cillian Murphy getting up on stage and saying “Go raibh míle maith agaibh” when he got his Oscar or years ago when Glen Hansard thanked people as Gaeilge. There is so much to be proud of and our language is an integral part of our culture. Kneecap are helping by connecting to a new audience. It’s great.

Do you enjoy your role on the show?

It’s fun. It’s a role, it’s kind of like acting. I remember walking in and I could see the vein popping in one guys’ neck. Then there was this involuntary swallowing, people were genuinely nervous. At the end of the day there is a lot of money up for grabs. And there’s bragging rights and your dignity! When you’re bringing the jeopardy into that you can almost hear the heartbeats across the room. As the show goes on, the couples leave, the stress levels increase. I realise I’ve a position of power and I tried to be as fair as I could.

The budget is huge. It got €500,000 in funding by the media regulator.

I’m very proud that after 25 years on air, TV3 and now Virgin Media are making programmes as Gaeilge. As an independent producer, they are acknowledging the market that’s there. The market wants content that’s fun and reflective of young people and how they live their lives.

There was a bit of controversy last year when winners Zak Rather and Murphy eliminated favourites Saoirse and Femi.

That’s the beauty of that kind of show, there are always twists and turns. Zak and Talia won a sandcastle-making challenge and they got to send a couple home. They chose to send home Saoirse and Femi. That was the game. They agonised over their decision for 20 minutes on the beach, all we could see was shaking heads. They had all become really close and they had to make a horrible decision. But if you’re handed an advantage like that you will send home the biggest competition you have.

Would you like to see your sister Síle join the show to help the cast with yoga?

Anything is possible, I think that’s a great idea. I’ll put it to the producers for next year. I’ve done it with her a couple of times. She does chanting yoga, she’s excellent at it.

You had a big birthday earlier this year when you turned 50, how did you celebrate?

We had a family birthday celebration because my dad had a roundy birthday five days before me. We had a wonderful birthday celebration with my family. It was really great.

This interview first appeared in the October 2024 issue of RSVP Magazine.