Irish-Language

Dating disaster leads to fundraiser for Derry girl

The moment Liam opted for a car voucher rather than a date with Corey 
The moment Liam opted for a car voucher rather than a date with Corey  The moment Liam opted for a car voucher rather than a date with Corey 

A FUNDRAISING page has been set up for a Derry girl after she was turned down in favour of a car voucher on a dating show.

Corey Hanna appeared in the latest episode of TG4's Pioc Do Ride (Pick Your Ride) after being contacted by the show’s producers.

She said that she was attracted to the show by her love of the Irish language as much as the chance of a date.

“My brothers and sisters are forever slagging about how I'm always single and I love the Irish language so anything to promote it was a plus,” she said.

In the dating show, Corey was given the choice of a blind date with one of three bachelors.

As the guys’ faces were hidden behind ‘Stig-style’ helmets, Corey had to make her decision based on the condition of their cars. 

It wasn’t until she picked 'bachelor number one,' Liam Antaine from Co Kerry and his Peugeot 306, that the show's twist was revealed.

Liam was given the choice between a €250 voucher for a romantic dinner with Corey, or a €250 Advanced Pit Stop voucher to spend on servicing his car.

As you can see below, Liam opted for the second option, choosing the €250 voucher to go towards fixing up the car, which actually belonged his mum.

Corey has said that she had no idea that the final decision was down to Liam and was completely taken aback by the twist in the tale.

“When you see my facial expressions you can see why they kept it from me,” she said.

“At the time all I could think was ‘Oh god, I just got rejected on national TV.'”

Yet Corey took Liam’s decision in her stride, writing on Twitter in Irish “Well that’s it. He chose the car…I’m still single.”

There has been a huge reaction to the episode on social media, which Corey describes as being "mixed but mostly positive."

Most notable is the #JusticeforCorey hashtag and a gofundme page which aims to raise the €250 that Corey missed out on.

Despite her experience she said she would recommend the show to fellow gaeilgeoirí, describing the show as a "fun experience" even though she warned that they "might cringe when they watch it."

She also revealed that she was friends with Liam on Facebook, but added that they have not kept in touch since the show.

Episode one of Pioc Do Ride, featuring Corey and Liam, will be repeated at 11.30pm tonight (Monday) on TG4 and can also be viewed at TG4.ie.