Two Laois ladies hoping to find romance on RTÉ’s Love in the Country

Presented by Anna Geary, this heart-warming series matches rural singletons with people who are keen to try out the country way of life, with lots of sparks flying and plenty of laughs along the way.

The show is currently looking for daters who might be compatible with their six rural romantics and who are willing to give country living a try. The six singletons spending the Summer of ‘24 looking for love include Lisa Walsh and Danielle Cusack, both from Laois.

Farmer and beauty therapist Lisa, 34, enjoys a mix of glamour and getting her hands dirty on the farm. “It’s funny like, there last week, I was lambing a ewe and then half an hour later, I was doing somebody’s nails. Don’t worry, I washed my hands in between,” says Lisa on her promotional RTÉ clip.

“It is a funny combo, but it works perfect. And I love animals. I’ve always loved animals. I think my perfect date would be the Zoo. If anybody wants to bring me to the Zoo?

“Who is my perfect man? You don’t have to be a farmer. I do like somebody from the countryside though. For me I suppose the perfect man is somebody that his kind. Kindness is key. Whatever comes after is good.

“Tinder isn’t for me. As one of the girls said, maybe I need to get out of the house. It’s not like he’s going to knock on your door and rob your house and give you a Wedding Ring." Lisa’s mother tells her: “Please God you’ll meet somebody nice, because you were a wonderful daughter.

“Good looks are not everything. It’s what’s inside. You could have a fine looking fella, a flashy car, but he might be totally hollow inside.”

Lisa said her Mam and Dad “are such a unit. I know I’m never going to get that. But I’d like one little per cent of that because it’s so lovely. I know I’m farming at home and everything like that, but as Mammy and Daddy said to me, if you did fall in love with someone, who wasn’t farming, who wasn’t local, they’ll say ‘what’s for you won’t pass you’ and on you go.

“You have to make your own path as well. Daddy said you have only one spin on this Earth so you might as well take a chance. So this is my chance. If it works out, it works out.

“And if not, I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone and doing something I probably would never. So we’ll see how it goes.” If you're interested in going on a date with Lisa, email love@kiteentertainment.com and put ‘Lisa’ in the subject line.

Veterinary surgeon Danielle Cusack, 34, is kept busy running her veterinary business, while helping manage her family's farm in Laois. She'd love a partner that is happy to muck in.

“With work commitments at the moment, it’s hard to find the time to meet somebody,” said Danielle. “Going out and socialising at the weekends is a bit of a challenge. I don’t really find the dating apps too appealing.

“It is hard dating in rural Ireland because I find a lot of people my age have emigrated. Obviously then, you have your local pubs. Where we live here, you wouldn’t have a big night life. It would be the same people every night, or every weekend, still standing in the same spots.

“My dream guy would be a tillage farmer with maybe 200 acres of straw right now - no I’m only messing,” laughs Danielle. “The man has to have time to fit into this. He’ll have to be ok with coming up here and helping. I suppose that’s why I’m single.

“To come into my life is going to be a really big commitment for them, because my job is 24/7. I’m hoping to find somebody that is not afraid to get dirty, or romantic Sunday afternoons spent around the farm cleaning.

“My ideal person would be 50-50. Somebody who loves the farm and can come out and help me but equally has something completely different to offer. Somebody to bring me out of me.”

Anybody who wants to date Danielle will have to pass the ‘Daddy Test’. “That person has to have the same enthusiasm about the horses – they are 24/7,” says Danielle’s Dad. “You’re married to the animals as much as to whoever you’re married to.”

Danielle said she is ready to make the right sacrifices for the right person. “It’s not all work and no play. I definitely want to find that balance. When I’m at work I’m very serious, but when you get me on a night out, then I’m a great laugh and great fun and I’d be the first one jumping around the place having the craic.”

Danielle is looking for someone to spend her life with, and who is ready to settle down. “I have so much love to give. I want to give that now to somebody, and to share my life with somebody.” If you're interested in going on a date with Danielle, email love@kiteentertainment.com and put ‘Danielle’ in the subject line

Featuring three great guys and three gorgeous girls, with a broad range of ages and interests in the mix, there might be someone who catches your eye?

Speaking about the six-part series, Anna Geary said: “It’s very exciting to get back on the road, traveling the length and breadth of Ireland, helping people of all ages find love. I get to be almost like their wing woman, their confidante, cheering them on.”

Members of the public who would like to go on a date with one of the singletons, can check out the Entertainment page on RTÉ.ie to view the participants’ profile videos.

Prospective daters can apply to take part by emailing love@kiteentertainment.com and remember to put the name of the person you are applying to date in the subject line.