'I almost spit out my Pepsi': The Traitors Ireland premiere sparks social media frenzy

The highly anticipated release of The Traitors Ireland premiered on RTÉ One at the weekend with the first episode proving to be an instant hit with fans around the country. 

The new series is being hosted by Siobhan McSweeney and was filmed in Slane Castle in County Meath earlier this year. 

In the premiere episode, viewers were introduced to 24 players all across Ireland to compete in the ultimate game of deceit, treachery, and trust for a prize pot of up to €50,000 on the line. 

The premise of the show is that in the first episode three 'Traitors' are chosen by McSweeney, spoiler alerts ahead, and all those not selected become 'Faithfuls'.

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It is the Faithful's job to seek out and banish the Traitors so that they do not make it to the final and potentially steal the entire prize pot.

The Traitors job however, is to deceive and manipulate the Faithfuls to banish each other, and to 'murder' one Faithful each night to scheme their way till the end.

If any of the Traitors survive the final banishment they will steal the all the prize money from any remaining Faithfuls in the finale.

Before they even got to step foot into the iconic Slane Castle, a shocking twist saw two players eliminated before the game even began. 

Andrew, who was voted most trustworthy by the group, was tasked with picking the three players he deemed most untrustworthy.

He chose David, Gemma and John. Siobhan then told him in a shock twist that he must select two to banish right then, with Andrew choosing Gemma and John. 

John is gone - ok he might have been one of my favourites #traitorsirl #TheTraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/copmCNbAcJ

— Niall Horan (@niallhoran) August 31, 2025

Sunday's episode saw McSweeney select Leadership Consultant Katelyn from Galway, Garda Eamonn from Tipperary and retired Prison Officer Paudie from Limerick as this seasons Traitors. 

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Fans of the show have taken to social media to share their opinions of this years Traitors, which is largely in favour of Siobhan's selections: 

That Garda playing it cool five minutes after becoming a traitor #TraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/v2xUrSAnQ5

— Daithi (@daithigor) August 31, 2025

The guard there completely pulled a Linda jumped out of his skin #TheTraitorsIRL #TraitorsIreland pic.twitter.com/ImMlM38OKz

— Caoimhin McEnteggart (@Cavinio) August 31, 2025

Already predicting that Eamon will crash and burn and be out by Episode 3, Paudie will have a Linda like run where he somehow survives multiple rounds despite being an obvious traitor, and Katelyn will be the brains and will be cruelly backstabbed by a late recruit #TraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/GTQXiNIksx

— Reba News and Updates (@BAB00SHKA_1) August 31, 2025

Paudie has that dog in him. You better believe he’s selling his son down the river at the first opportunity. #TraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/buMllCoDbl

— Ben Smith (@hewhodares182) August 31, 2025 

Later in the episode in typical Irish fashion, it was revealed that two of the players knew each other but had no knowledge that the other was going to be compete on the show - and not only do they know each other they are related!

Read next: When are tickets on sale for Electric Picnic 2026 with secret headliners already booked?

It was revealed that Traitor Paudie is actually Faithful Andrew's father, the duo have since decided to keep the connection a secret, but that is not the only secret Traitor Paudie is keeping from his son. 

FATHER AND SON....

WHEN I TELL YA I ALMOST SPIT OUT MY PEPSI MAX#TheTraitorsIRL

— Rachel . (@Skish31) August 31, 2025

ANDREW IS PAUDIES SON AND THEY DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE BOTH GOING ON. WHAT ON EARTH #TraitorsIRL #TheTraitors pic.twitter.com/wYvKye1CFq

— infamous | track 3 (@_infamous1_) August 31, 2025

Of the three Faithfuls being considered for the Traitors first murder; David, Michele and Mark, eagle-eyed viewers have been quick to notice that David, is 'EP Cinderella Man' from a TikTok that went viral at Electric Picnic a number of years ago.

In the clip a fellow festival goer comes up behind David and taps him on the shoulder saying: "I think I found your glass." holding out the missing lens to the broken sunglasses  he was wearing.

Users across social media have dubbed this moment as the 'Irish Cinderella moment' with the clip resurfacing each year around the time of Electric Picnic.

Omg this is my fave internet moment and now he’s on the traitors #TraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/1JTzViqIYj

— Kiera (@kkiera1993) August 31, 2025

Can’t believe the Cinderella Dave is on The Traitors Ireland #TraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/9WmNPlHH8i

— Charlee-Jane (@CharleeJaneK) August 31, 2025

Some people on social media have begun speculation on who will be murdered in Monday, September 1, night's episode, with one user posting:

A sneak peak of tomorrow's #TraitorsIRL no doubt... pic.twitter.com/Ar3aJ912xx

— Barry O'Rourke (@orourke28) August 31, 2025

Elsewhere, fans of the show have been praising Siobhan McSweeney as host with a resounding amount of approval for her after just a single episode. Praising both her as host as well as the casting of the show, fans have taken to social media to share their feelings.

Wow I’m impressed!

great first episode of The Traitors Ireland, production is great, Siobhan McSweeney is perfect and a great mix of characters!

Still has big shoes to fill against the BBC version but a great start#TraitorsIRL

— CM (@conormurrayTM) August 31, 2025

If that’s Siobhán McSweeney’s performance on EPISODE ONE. We can only imagine how more iconic she’s going to get as the season moves. Contestants personalities are one thing but without a competent and engaging host, the series wouldn’t work. It bloody does. #TheTraitorsIRL

— Paul Ryder (@ItsPaulRyder) September 1, 2025

They literally can’t tell the time but they’ve two of the traitors clocked already… Very promising faithfuls so far! #TheTraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/SucLGouF4H

— Shrine (@shrinepod) August 31, 2025

With one user declaring:

I need all the episodes now! #TheTraitorsIRL

— Khalilah (@kha_lilah_) August 31, 2025

Fans of the show can continue to tune in and watch The Traitors Ireland on RTÉ One and RTE Player every Sunday at 9:30 pm and Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:35 to watch the game unfold.

Viewers can also catch up on all the betrayal, banter and behind-the-scenes bombshells with The Traitors Ireland: Uncloaked directly after The Traitors Ireland.