Wedding of the Week: Singer Finbar Wright performs at daughter's wedding in UCC

A night at the movies set the scene for romance for Cork couple Ileana Wright and Ian Ross.

Farran native Ileana and Ian, from Kinsale, first encountered one another when Ileana’s cousin Joseph Wright, who is also Ian’s best friend, organised a trip to the cinema. “The outing was with a few friends, but it was with the intention of setting us up — we were both unaware of this plan at the time!” said Ileana.

Ileana Wright and Ian Ross, who met on a night out to the cinema.

And while the film (Rush) may now be but a distant memory, Ileana and Ian made a lasting impression on one another. “We met again a few weeks later as a group and after that Ian asked me out on a date and Joseph revealed that had been his hope all along!” said Ileana.

And Joseph was by Ian’s side as best man when Ian exchanged vows with Ileana in the Honan Chapel, University College Cork.

Ileana Wright, with her mother Angela and father Finbar, her grandmother Eileen Desmond, and her brother Fergus Wright.

Father Joseph Coghlan, a family friend, conducted the ceremony, with Bishop John Buckley presiding, while Ileana’s dad, singer Finbar Wright, performed during the Mass. “He even waived his fee which is just as well — we couldn’t afford him otherwise!” joked Ian.

The reception took the wedding party across the county bounds, to Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co Kerry.

The bride’s mum and dad, Angela and Finbar, and the groom’s parents, Monica and David, along with Ileana’s grandmother, Eileen Desmond, led the celebrations.

Ileana Wright and her father, singer Finbar Wright, who performed during the wedding Mass.

Ileana’s friends and bridesmaids Stephanie Mannion, Hannah Daly and Katie O’Callaghan helped the couple plan the event to perfection as did best man Joseph, the bride’s brother Fergus Wright, and Ian’s friend Jason Woods, who were groomsmen.

The couple got engaged on December 17, 2018, while on holiday in Lanzarote.

“Ian suggested a walk on the beach towards a nice bar overlooking the water,” said Ileana. “We stopped on the way to sit and admire the sunset and I couldn’t get him moving again at all!

Apparently he was waiting for a quiet moment but people kept coming along. I was beginning to wonder what was wrong with him but eventually he asked me if I’d like an early Christmas present and got down on one knee!

They describe their wedding as “the most amazing day of our lives”. “It was very relaxed from start to finish,” said Ileana. “The thing we were most worried about was the weather, but the Child of Prague statue worked its magic.”

Ileana Wright and Ian Ross with their wedding party at UCC. The couple got engaged while on holiday in Lanzarote.

Wedding band The Guilty Judges had everyone dancing during the reception. “We had a lovely ‘happy ever after’ party the following day in Ballyseede with good food and trad band The Reel Brothers to continue the celebrations!” said the bride.

Ileana looked stunning in a Kenneth Winston dress she sourced in the Brides of Eire boutique in Clonakilty. The bridal hairstyling was by Lynsey O’Leary with makeup by Christine O’Connor. Photographer Padraig Healy captured the big day on camera.

Leading wedding photographer Padraig Healy captured the big day on camera, and Daisy Chain, Kinsale, created the floral arrangements. The Kinsale-based newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon that took them to Miami, followed by a cruise to Mexico and the Cayman Islands.