Three blind dates

Blind dating can be a social minefield. You've very little ideaof what to expect and whatever you imagine about your date isunlikely to be accurate - and that's before you have to deal withsomething as intangible as 'chemistry'. We organised three dates forsix strangers who knew nothing about each other. What could gowrong? CIAN TRAYNOR reports

Date 1: Cathy McGouran and Paul Murray Pizza making at Milano

PAUL AND Cathy were making their own pizza in a private, glass-walled room in Milano, Grand Canal Dock, with the rest of therestaurant - including Bono - watching on.

"There was a little part of me thinking, 'oh God, I don't knowwhether I like being in this room, just us'," says Cathy, a 33-year-old studying for a PhD in consumer behaviour at UCD.

"If you were out in the restaurant with the hustle and bustle, itwould be more what you're used to."

Fortunately, Paul had called to introduce himself the nightbefore. He suggested they go for a drink ahead of dinner to relievethe pressure of having their picture taken within minutes ofmeeting. "I was really impressed that he took the bull by thehorns," says Cathy. "That's kind of important. He sounded lovely andchatting away wasn't really difficult - to a point. Obviously it'sgoing to be slightly weird but it was fine."

Cathy had been on a couple of blind dates before, one "a completedisaster", but Paul, a 32-year-old who works in fraud for Bank ofIreland, was experiencing it for the first time. He had signed up tointernet dating before but hadn't pursued it and since he knewnothing about Cathy, he was expecting thumb-twiddling and awkwardsilences.

In reality, Cathy's jovial, breezy nature was a relief - "She wasvery open and easy to talk to" - and they had more in common thanexpected: two Liverpool supporters talking about Fernando Torres'exit to Chelsea on the eve of a match between the two teams.

"I suppose you're thinking, 'is this going to be the love of mylife?'" says Paul, nonchalantly, of the things going through hismind.

Later, though, when they moved on to a packed bar in BaggotStreet, it was clear that things would remain platonic. There was notalk of meeting again and Paul mentions, on three occasions, thatCathy was feeling tired.

"She said she had to get a taxi, so I thought 'fair enough'," hesays.

"It was pretty rainy outside so it was all very rushed. I gaveher a text the next day just to make sure she got back alright andhad a good night."

"I think you know very quickly if the spark is there, if there'sa connection," says Cathy. "We both got on very well but I wouldn'thave thought he felt a big spark either." There wasn't, Paul says,but it was a worthwhile experience nonetheless.

"It definitely opened my eyes to [blind dates] as a possibilityand I wouldn't be so daunted in the future. I would do it again."

To book a Milano pizza-making party see milano.ie or emailcustomerservices@milano.ie

Date 2: John Lambert and Christine Muinami Dinner at Salamancatapas restaurant ONE OF John's New Year's resolutions was to say"yes" more often and to try new things. However, after he'd beenwaiting outside the restaurant for half an hour, all he could thinkabout was the trouble you could get yourself in just by hitting"enter" on a keyboard. There was no sign of Christine and hedidn't have her number. "I was thinking she might have just got coldfeet," he says. "And I was sympathising, to be honest." WhenChristine arrived, John stepped forward and tapped her on theshoulder . . . only for a "giant dollop" of water to roll off thecanopy above the restaurant, splashing across his forehead. Christine was too flustered to notice: the Luas had delayed her andshe had worried about giving the wrong impression. "You can imaginebeing late and nervous," she says. As they moved inside, John'saccount of the big splash made for a good icebreaker and theydecided to wave the waitress away - it was their first blind dateand they needed time to settle. "I nervously ordered a red winewithout thinking," says John, a 35-year-old graphic designer. "ThenI realised we had complimentary drinks right in front of us. I wasalready loading up two drinks!" Yet within minutes, they bothrealised it wasn't going to be a struggle. The conversation flowednicely from Lady Gaga to meditation, and the tapas were light enoughto share without distraction. "He's a perfect gentleman," saysChristine. "The way he approaches things, from his work to hisfriends, I came to understand that he's very gentle and focused. Iliked that about him. He seemed very settled within himself." Christine is a 30-year-old childminder from Kenya and her variedpast - growing up on a farm, living in Greece and spending the lastthree years in Dublin - meant that John never ran out of questions,even when they went on to the Library Bar on Exchequer Street. Though John was conscious of "blabbing on" in places, he feels thenight went well. On the prospect of another encounter, he says: "I'mnot sure, I don't want to say too much." Christine, by contrast, isdirect. When it comes to the spark, she says: "I found himattractive but I didn't feel that chemistry. "But I'm the kind ofperson who takes things slowly." She would like to see John again,for friendship, at the least. And perhaps there will be as both ofthem mention they've already arranged to meet for a coffee laterthis week. Date 3: Megan Molloy and JP Canning Comedy night atShebeen Chic

JP HAD a couple of drinks to calm the nerves and got there early,just to be sure. "It's the apprehension and the anticipation and thebuild up to it," he says. "The waiting!"

Any tension quickly dissipated. His date, Megan, a 32-year-oldfrom Washington DC studying for an MBA at Smurfit, made a good firstimpression.

"She's very attractive," says JP, a confident, witty 33-year-oldwho works in music administration for the Irish Music RightsOrganisation (Imro). "Very well spoken, lovely manner; great senseof humour."

The pair seemed to click. A few glasses of wine and half-eatenstarters followed before a set of amateur comedy, a couple moredrinks and a live jazz band.

"I think we were both on the same page - I hope, anyway," laughsJP. "If she comes back now and says something completely different,I'd be distraught!"

Both JP and Megan say they had a great night, although theirreporting of it is different and JP does mention he has reservationsabout the date being the subject of an article.

Megan is his type, he says. "I think I did give the impressionthat I would like to see her again," he says. "I know she's gotquite a lot on in terms of college and everything else but I thinkshe would be interested in seeing me again. I'd like to think so,anyway."

For her part, Megan is more cautious and business-like whentalking about the date. "American guys," she says, "are a littlemore expressive. There's more variety in activities back home. Hereit's dinner, film, that's about it." Of JP, she says: "He's verydifferent to me. He's arty and I'm much more sporty."

When it comes to the topic of attraction and chemistry she says:"I don't know how he felt. But probably more platonic [for me].

"I think he's a great guy and really interesting and fun person.We got along - I don't know romanticall,y but on a friendship level,for sure."