To go halves or not to go halves?
It's a classic 'First Dates Ireland' issue and one that comes up on many a first date - who should foot the bill?
Traditionalists say it should always be the man but what if it's two men or two women? What if the date didn't go that well? Is going half the most fair for all or should one person foot the bill on the first date?
This issue raised its head on 'First Dates Ireland' again last night when Waterford beauty blogger Diane met Eoin from Rathfarnham. The pair got off to a great start having actually somehow got chatting on the Luas on the way to the 'First Dates Ireland' restaurant.
All was rosy until it came time to pay the bill, and while Eoin suggested he could cover it if she wanted, he ultimately took Diane up on her offer to pay half, and she was not impressed.
Almost falling at the final hurdle… but getting there in the end. 💋
Is there a lesson here? Should the man always pay for the first date? 🤔#FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/7IFDlg9wYC— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) February 14, 2019
The pair got over it and agreed to see each other again, but viewers were left divided over what went down.
I'll go halves if you want??
And it was going so well#FirstDatesIrl pic.twitter.com/0F0Fhgg3gW— Elaine (@ElaineKelly82) February 14, 2019
#FirstDatesIRL why offer to pay half if you had no genuine intentions then turn around and get vexed 😭😭😭😭😂😭😂😭😂😂😂😂😂
— instigator (@effenvodkaaa) February 15, 2019
"I'll pay for it...if you want"....oh dear... not a good line....#FirstDatesIRL
— 🎼SUSAN🌼📚☕🏍️ (@HappyIrishHiker) February 14, 2019
She's so used to getting everything for free that must've stung #FirstDatesIRL
— Carol mullane (@carolmullane81) February 14, 2019
Ah Eoin! Rule #1 ALWAYS PAY!!! #FirstDatesIRL
— Bren (@aoifemcbrennan) February 14, 2019
Ah stop he should of paid #FirstDatesIRL 🙈
— 🎃☠️👻🐧Linda 🎃☠️👻 (@lindyloudoo) February 14, 2019
For the men watching this evening, the issue wasn't with the man paying only half the bill. It's the way he said "I'll pay the bill....if you want". Either pay it, or say "Let's go halves". #firstdatesirl
— 🎼SUSAN🌼📚☕🏍️ (@HappyIrishHiker) February 14, 2019
21st century and all but always pay for the thing. #FirstDatesIRL
— Tony Maher (@Piomaher1979) February 14, 2019
#FirstDatesIRL would never just assume that he’s gonna pay and would always offer but would always prefer if he did as it’s just manners for a first date #oldfashioned
— Cat O Donnell (@CatODonnell) February 14, 2019
The bill paying will always be an issue with women. They want equality but don’t want to pay their half of a bill, for the most part anyway. Many make a judgement on a man based on his offer on what percentage of the bill to pay. Something isn’t right there. #FirstDatesIRL
— Brian Cronin (@Barnflake) February 14, 2019
He let me pay half (after I offered to pay half) and that pissed me off.. #FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/YZIYVzjPGo
— Derek Fallon (@Derekfallon) February 14, 2019
Always split the bill on a first date, if there’s more dates take it in turns to pay. The guys deserve to be treated aswell #firstdatesirl
— Lisa O' (@biddleres) February 14, 2019
Right, lets put it out to the rest of you, what do you think? Answers on a postcard. (Or the poll below).
You can find out what 'First Dates Ireland' maître d Mateo thinks below in a recent interview on The Telly Show (head to the 9 min. 15 sec. mark below).