Siobhán McSweeney is back for another season of The Traitors: Ireland
There’s a nip in the air, the kids are back at school and the evenings are drawing in. It can only mean one thing: The Traitors: Ireland is back.
When the Irish version prepared to make its debut last year, some cynics questioned whether it could live up to the UK original.
The Traitors: Ireland ended up breaking into the top ten most-watched programmes in the country last year – a feat usually reserved for The Late Late Toy Show and major sporting events.
Cork’s own Siobhán McSweeney was an instant hit as master of ceremonies, while a delightfully entertaining cast of characters, from prison officer Paudie to Garda Eamon and clairvoyant Oyin, kept viewers hooked.
Can this year live up to the betrayals, bonkers theories and backstabbing?
Well, we headed back to a gloriously dark and spooky Slane Castle for round two this Sunday.
As the snazzy black Mercedes-Benz SUVs full of players start descending on the grounds, people already have their guards up.
“What do you do yourself?” is the first question out of the gate, and the lies start.
“I won’t be telling anybody that I am a qualified psychotherapist,” 39-year-old Denis from Cork says. He’s just a writer (hey!) from now on.
“I am a mummy,” Edelle, 44, from Donegal says.
“The mammy card came out early,” civil servant Ian, 34, says suspiciously. “I’ll mind ye,” Edelle promises, already forming an alliance with her car of young fellas.
Carla, 27, meanwhile, has extra nerves, admitting: “I’ve never been away from home by myself.” Yes, the housing crisis has already made an appearance less than five minutes in.
“Oh, it’s fabulous,” Fionula, 61, from Cork coos as the Castle comes into view. She’s an actor and drama teacher, but she’s only letting on the latter half of that occupation.
Fellow Corkonian DJ, 39, is also taking some liberties. He’s a car salesman but says people think they tell a lot of lies, so he’s changed his occupation too. He is now just… a car parts salesperson.
