FORMER Ireland AM star Grainne Seoige is set to return to screens to host Virgin Media’s hit show Grá Ar An Trá.
The second season of the popular dating show was set to air late last year but the broadcaster pulled the series from the schedule at the eleventh hour to “comply with Media Codes and Rules”.
Grá Ar An Trá will air next week[/caption]
In August last year, the show’s host Grainne put her name forward to contest the election for Fianna Fail in Galway West.
Shortly afterwards, the TV star was officially chosen to run for the party alongside Cllr John Connolly in Galway.
As an early election was likely to be called for November, the 51-year-old’s hosting gig would have put herself and Virgin Media in breach of the media regulatory authority’s, Coimisiún na Meán, guidelines that requires ‘fair allocation of airtime’ during elections.
Virgin Media has now decided to broadcast the popular Irish-language programme following the end of the election.
In celebration of Seachtain na Gaeilge, season two of Grá Ar An Trá will air for five nights in a row, beginning on March 10.
The series features Bean and Man Tí, Síomha Ní Ruairc and James Kavanagh who throw open the doors of their Love Teach.
Meanwhile, Grainne takes on the role of the ‘Cinnire Grá’ – the ‘Captain of Love’ – and is keeping a watchful and expert eye on the singletons.
The eight singletons taking part in the show are being put through their paces to learn Irish to find love.
Contestants split their time between flirting and foclóir with the ultimate aim of being crowned ‘Couple with the most focail’ to walk away with €10,000.
But this year, contestants are able to secretly vote for the couples that they don’t think are making enough effort to teach and learn Irish.
And the couples who are voted will face the Cinnera Grá.
Sharing the news to social media, Virgin Media wrote: “Rolla druma, le do thoil. The terrific trio are back!
“The grá goddess herself, Gráinne’s calling the shots! But we can’t forget Siómhá, our Bhean an Tí agus James, our Man an Tí, bringing the craic, the chaos, and maybe even a cúpla comhairle grá along the way.
“#graarantra – Monday 10th March at 9pm on Virgin Media Play & Virgin Media One.”
Grainne was left disappointed after she was officially eliminated from the race for the Dail in December.
The former TV star failed to win a seat in Galway West despite a high-profile campaign.
‘DISAPPOINTED’
Seoige — who denied claims she was a celeb candidate — was aiming to retain the seat of seasoned TD Eamon O Cuiv in her political debut.
The presenter was excluded following the ninth count.
Speaking to Virgin Media, she said: “I’m disappointed it didn’t work out, but I’m very proud I took the opportunity.
“Nobody achieves anything in this life unless they leave their comfort zone and I did that.
“That’s something I’ll always bring with me, you never know what’s going to happen in the future.”
Deemed a “celeb candidate”, Grainne doubled down claiming she was far from just a well-known face.
She said: “The celebrity thing is a tag people like to attach, it’s not a nice one.
“It makes someone out to be without substance, and I have plenty of substance – the Tanaiste himself said I was a substantive candidate.”
