Wedding of the Week: Sealed with a kiss at Killarney post office

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney are wed in St Mary's Cathedral and hold their reception in Killarney Great Southern

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney at An Post, Killarney Post Office, New Street. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

Two Kerry postal workers gave romance the stamp of approval when they said “I do” recently.

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney both work for An Post in Killarney, Amanda as a clerk in the post office in the town’s New Street and Alan as a postman.

Sealed with a kiss: Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney at An Post, Killarney Post Office, New Street. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

They became an item when they met on a Thursday night out in July 2017 in the town’s Grand Hotel. Five years later, Alan popped the question when he whisked Amanda off to Co Clare’s Cliffs of Moher.

“Alan handed his phone to American tourists and told them, ‘Record this!’ – and got down on one knee to propose,” says Amanda, from Kilcummin.

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney at the Killarney Great Southern. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

She and Alan, from Glenflesk, were married recently in St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney, by Fr Kieran O’Brien and held their reception in the Killarney Great Southern.

“I wanted to get married in the cathedral as it was my late grandfather John Joe Lyne’s favourite church,” says Amanda, who was chauffeured to the church by Alan’s cousin Pat Ahern in a Rolls-Royce. 

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

The groom and his party arrived in two vintage Toyota Corollas. “The boys made a quick stop in The Corner Bar, Barraduff, for a pint of Guinness and a game of pool to calm the nerves,” adds Amanda.

The church music and singing was by Paud O’Donoghue and Mary O’Callaghan, from Glenflesk.

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney strike a pose at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

The couple’s photographer, Dylan Clifford led them on a wedding shoot, which took in Killarney Post Office and Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, of which the groom is a member. Daragh Twomey was the videographer.

Toasting to their future happiness at the reception were Amanda’s mother and father Anne and Patsy, Alan’s parents Catherine and Donie, and her grandparents Maura Lyne and Cait O’Connor. 

Amanda Lyne with Shauna Lyne, Gillian Fitzgerald, Katie O'Riordan, Helena O'Donoghue and Amanda Courtney.

Amanda’s sister Shauna was her maid of honour and she chose her friends Gillian Fitzgerald, Katie O’Riordan, Helena O’Donoghue and Amanda Courtney to be her bridesmaids.

Alan’s brother Steven was by his side as his best man and his friends Philip Kelly, Jeremy Moynihan, Kevin McCarthy and Adam O’Reilly were his groomsmen.

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney with their wedding party. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

Amanda’s brother Adam was the pageboy, with her cousin Aoibhinn Lyne and goddaughter Lily Hickey as the flowergirls.

Glenflesk husband-and-wife musical duo Derry and Rosie Healy entertained during the drinks reception.

Amanda Lyne was chauffeured to exchange vows with Alan MacSweeney in a Rolls-Royce. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

“Music on the night was by a local wedding band called Arklight, who kept the floor packed and the guests rocking. The DJ afterwards was Donal Clifford, who played all the right tunes for a brilliant end to the amazing day.

“We had many guests join us from all over the world, including Boston in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Spain.”

Amanda Lyne wore a Fox Bridal gown she sourced in Finesse Bridal in Listowel. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

Amanda looked chic in a dress by Australian label Fox Bridal, sourced in the Finesse boutique in Listowel. The bridal hairstyling was done by a friend and neighbour, Lorraine Moynihan, and Maeve Carey, Tralee, was the make-up artist.

The groom and his party were dapper in tuxes thanks to Formally Yours, Killarney.

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

“Our wedding rings came from Melbourne, Australia, where we lived for one year previous to the wedding. I also had my great-great-grandmother’s wedding ring as my ‘something old’,” says Amanda.

Alan Brady, from Blooms of Killarney, created the floral décor and the bouquets.

Amanda Lyne and Alan MacSweeney. Pictures: Dylan Clifford

“Alan also included in my bouquet two charm pictures of both grandparents who had passed away, John Joe Lyne and Pats O’Connor,” says Amanda.

The newlyweds, who live in Headford, Killarney, enjoyed a mini-moon in Parknaskilla Great Southern Hotel in Sneem and will honeymoon in Greece.

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