Proposal drives friends up the (city) walls

A Donegal woman was left speechless after her boyfriend pulled off an unusual marriage proposal.

Siobhán Gill, Bridgend, thought she was going for a nice lunch with Matt Grant in Derry over the Christmas.

As they met at the Guildhall, Matt had a special surprise planned. With the help of 18 friends and a lot of work by his painter/decorator dad, a giant proposal was held aloft from the walls of Derry.

Siobhán was initially surprised when someone called her name out loud. But she was left stunned and almost speechless when she saw the giant letters which read “Will U marry me?”

When she turned her head around again Matt was on one knee with the ring in hand, and luckily for him she said “yes!” When she agreed, Matt then gave his friends and family a big thumbs-up and they then flipped over the signs to reveal the word “Congratulations”.

Matt also had friend Tony Carlin hiding nearby with a video camera so they have the entire romantic episode on video.

Matt joked he was delighted that Siobhán agreed to his proposal saying it would have been an even bigger YouTube hit if she had turned him down.

The proposal was nearly two weeks in the planning with Matt creating what he described as “the fellowship of the ring” — a tight-knit group of people which included his and Siobhán’s closest friends and family who he enlisted to help make it all happen — and to ensure Siobhán didn’t find out anything about it.

“I was an emotional wreck all week but it was a really amazing day and most importantly, she said yes,” said Matt.

“I joked to Siobhán afterwards that I only proposed so she would buy me a PS4 for Christmas, well, I was half joking.

“I’d like to thank everyone for all their help in making this happen, it’s something that the two of us will never forget.”

The couple met outside the Gweedore Bar in Derry two years ago.

They are now planning their wedding but Matt admits that’s the end of his surprises.

The one thing he is surprised about is about how many people now know about his romantic side.

“I was up the town the other day and people were shouting at me and beeping their horns,” he said.

“These were people I’d never met before. It’s gone crazy.”