Hats, secrets, and a €45,850 prize pot defined the reality television journey of Denis Ryan and Diego Caixeta, the secret Cork couple who won season two of The Traitors Ireland, Irish Examiner reported on Sunday.
- Denis Ryan and Diego Caixeta kept their relationship secret throughout filming, worried they would immediately become a target inside the castle.
- Diego secured victory alongside fellow faithful Anna Murphy, splitting the €45,850 prize fund.
- The pair plan to officially marry in January with a small celebration, following their television success and upcoming honeymoon plans.
The couple’s relationship began 12 years ago outside The George nightclub in Dublin, Irish Examiner reported. Denis was living in Romania working on video games at the time and was home for a brief visit when they met. Diego flew out to see him four days later, and they later moved back to Ireland together.
As fans of the show, they filmed each other’s audition tapes and applied together. They were clear about their relationship from the offset with producers, but faced interviews individually. When they found out both had been cast, they decided to maintain absolute secrecy.
“The first day, I was a bit nervous in case someone knew us, because I worked in sexual health in Dublin for years,” Diego explained to Irish Examiner, detailing their game plan.
Keeping the romance under wraps quickly turned from a strategic hurdle into second nature. Denis remarked to Irish Examiner that “lying’s not that difficult” and said that it eventually became enjoyable.
Other contestants tried to guess who the secret couple might be. “Janet came to me at the start and said ‘there’s a couple here and they’re queer’. I asked her who she thought it was and she said Kayleigh and Anna!” Diego told Irish Examiner.
| Contestant | Role | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Diego Caixeta | Faithful | Winner (Split €45,850) |
| Anna Murphy | Faithful | Winner (Split €45,850) |
Denis’s run as a faithful ended following his murder in episode six. “If I’d known what I know now, I wouldn’t have worn the hat,” Denis told Irish Examiner, reflecting on the wide-brimmed headwear that became an instant talking point among viewers.
Diego admitted that he considered leaving the game after Denis was murdered, missing his husband immensely under the intense pressure. He eventually pushed through to the end alongside Anna Murphy, securing the win despite widespread underestimation.
“I think it’s a combination of things,” Diego told Irish Examiner regarding how he flew under the radar. “One thing me and Carla have in common — people underestimated us, and I knew people would.”
Life has since returned to normal in Cork. Denis has a comedy series optioned and is in talks with publishers regarding a children’s book illustrated by fellow player David. Meanwhile, Diego has returned to work at Cork University Hospital, learning robotic surgery with hospital consultants.
The pair plan to legally marry in January following a three-day celebration, with honeymoon plans currently looking toward February in either the Maldives or a trip to Brazil.
