First Dates star barman Neil Kenna reveals his fascinating journey to the job

In the April/May edition of Laois Life magazine, we sat down with Durrow native and First Dates star barman, Neil Kenna. Keep an eye out for Laois Life, as the latest edition will soon hit the shelves!

Long before he became one of the most recognisable faces behind the bar on Irish television, Neil Kenna was a young boy in Durrow who loved to interact with people.

He didn’t realise it at the time, but while he faced correction in school for his chattiness in class, this trait would turn into a natural flair for hospitality.

“I always dreamed of becoming a chef, I was good at making a meal out of nothing! When I was in school, I did lots of aptitude tests, they all pointed towards hospitality,” he explained.

“I have always been a people person.”

While attending Heywood Community School, he immersed himself in a range of subjects. Music was a particular favourite, though he admits he couldn’t play an instrument. Technical drawing and woodwork were also less than successful ventures.

“I was absolutely awful at them, I felt I had to do them because my brothers did,” he laughed.

Neil’s first job as a teenager was behind a deli counter, a role that gave him his first real taste of interacting professionally with the public.

“I finished school and started working in a high profile kitchen, and I hated it! I couldn’t stand the abuse, every head chef had a Gordon Ramsay complex,” he explained.

“I left the job, it was not for my character. I then worked in the Castle Arms in Durrow, and then went to Castle Durrow. At 26 I applied for a job with a restaurant chain in the US, and I went to Burlington, Vermont. It was my first time leaving home, and I loved it,” Neil said.

Returning to Ireland after his stint abroad, Neil knew he needed to take the next step.

“I knew it was time to move on from Durrow- I love it, but there was more for me in Dublin. I ended up managing the bar and restaurant at the Merrion Hotel, it was my first Dublin job.

“I was there for two and a half years, before I became Head Waiter at Chapter One. Then I worked in Luna, it was a really cool New York vibe restaurant. I went back to college and studied management, and was then manager of The Old Spot.

IN PICTURES: Young Laois hurling and camogie dynamos sparkle at GAA HQ

“I stayed there for five years, and I learned a lot from an amazing manager. I am now the manager of a restaurant in Dublin,” he said.

His path to television, however, came about almost by chance.

During the pandemic, Neil spotted a casting call for First Dates Ireland on Instagram where producers were searching for singletons to take part in the show.

“My friend and I used to joke that we would be deadly on it! I went for it and got to the end stage, they had my time slot booked and a date organised. My manager at the time told me that a TV show was looking for a bar manager, and put me in contact with Coco producers. I knew straight away it would be for First Dates. They took me off as a dater and gave me the job, and I am so glad they did!” he said.

Five years later, he describes it as one of the best matches the show has ever made.

“One of the best matches First Dates has ever made is me with that job, I love the bar,” he said.

What keeps him passionate about the role is simple: interacting with people.

“I love making people happy, and giving people an experience they wouldn’t have in another restaurant. People take this industry for granted. It’s an experience and it all has to work together- you want people to leave saying, ‘that was amazing’,” he said.

Neil sees the challenges facing the industry first hand, and noted the struggles many businesses face.

“Irish hospitality is dying, especially in the cities. We are famous for our welcoming energy, and it’s dying. It’s all about that friendly warmness- for me, a quiet restaurant is a boring restaurant. You get to speak to so many different people in this line of work,” he said.

Despite the pressures, Neil remains optimistic. For him, a quiet restaurant is a boring one!