Wedding of the Week: Big day in Killarney follows Phoenix Park proposal
Katie O'Sullivan and Patrick Kelleher. Pictures: Micheál O’Sullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com
Katie O’Sullivan and Patrick Kelleher laid eyes on one another for the first time four-and-a-half years ago when they were set up on a date by two colleagues.
Katie, a teacher, arrived a little late for that initial meet-up with Patrick, an engineer, in January 2020.
“It was just before covid — the usual first-date drinks. I was a few minutes late — Patrick remembers it as being 20 minutes, I remember it as being 10 minutes,” says Katie, from Dublin.
But time means nothing when you’re having fun, and Katie and Patrick, from Macroom, Co Cork, continued to see each other every week until March 2020. “Paddy was living in Dublin so it made things easier,” she says.
March brought the covid pandemic and lockdown restrictions. “Lockdown was an issue for a new couple, but we managed to get through it within our 5k limit,” adds Katie.
This included weekly walks to the Phoenix Park with Katie’s dog Pippa — now also shared by Patrick. And Pippa was present when Patrick got down on bended knee on that very walking route on April 8, 2023.
“Katie doesn’t like surprises and replied, ‘Oh no I can’t handle this!’ — after which she said yes!” says Patrick.
He and Katie were married recently in the Prince of Peace Church in Fossa, Killarney, Co Kerry, by Canon Tom Looney and held their reception in the five-star Muckross Park Hotel, Killarney.
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Katie’s childhood friend Elena Browne together with her cousin Rebecca Leen were her bridesmaids with Nora Byrne as the flowergirl and Patrick’s friends Denis Hurley and John Sheehy were his groomsmen.
The couple both have strong connections with Kerry. “My grandparents were from Lixnaw, in north Kerry, and most of my family are still in Kerry, living throughout the county, and Paddy’s mother’s family are from Mangerton and his father’s family are from Cork and Kerry,” says the bride.
“I always went on holidays to Kerry as a child and when Paddy and I eventually got to holiday for the first time after lockdown we spent it in Killarney, so it holds a special place in our hearts. We wanted a fun-filled day celebrating love with all our most important family and friends. Everyone we know and loved was there and we would do it all over again.”
The bride looked chic in a dress she sourced at Wed2be, Drumcondra, Dublin, and Morley’s, Cork, ensured the groom and groomsmen were dapper.
Joanne Henderson was the bridal hairstylist hairstylist and Sandra Flynn was the makeup artist.
Award-winning photographer Micheál O’Sullivan (www.osullivanphotographyirl.com), based in Kerry, captured the occasion on camera and Elizabeth Cott from Wonderous Weddings, Cork, created the floral décor.
It was “the best day ever”, adds the bride. “It was all thanks to the fantastic team at Muckross Park Hotel and Fr Tom Looney, Micheal, Sandra, Joanne — the whole team,” she says.
The newlyweds, whose summer plans also included moving into the house they bought together in Glasnevin, Dublin, embarked on a Mediterranean cruise as their honeymoon.
- If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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