Viewers who tuned into Thursday's episode of First Dates Ireland were left emotional after a wonderful pairing opened up on harrowing adoptions stories.
Phillip and Clare were one of the duos partnered together in Dublin's Gibson Hotel, and they had more than a fair share in common.
One emotional thing which had touched both of their lives was adoption.
Grace admitted she was adopted, with Philip noting that he was the same.
However, he admitted that he had struggled to get in touch with his mother, who he said pushed him away when he tried to make contact with her
His mother, who he was told was either from south Limerick or north Kerry, gave him up as a baby and then married his father afterwards.
Later on in life he went looking for his birth parents after accessing information.
But in his own words: "They didn't want to meet me. They'd pushed me out."
In a heart-breaking admission, he revealed that he applied for access to his original birth certificate, but was denied access after it was deemed that it would be detrimental to his mother's mental health.
He knew that he was born in the Coombe - and not much else.
Grace opened up that she had been adopted when two and a half years old but "it didn't work out", however she had found her original family, including new siblings.
But there was a happy ending, as the pair agreed to a second date, with producers adding in that they had been on a couple more since the show aired!
Social media was touched by their honesty.
One person tweeted: Philip from Galway if you're reading - You're a good boy!
A second added: "Grace and Philip…favourite double yes from any show #firstdatesirl seem to be two lovely genuine people
While a third wrote: "How sad that even as adults they wanted nothing to do with him! If he has siblings they deserve to know"
