Wedding of the Week: Cork's coolest cat helps Kinsale bride and groom say 'I do'

Kinsale celebrations as Allison Gordon and Des Donohoe are married in St Catherine's Cultural Centre with reception at Actons Hotel

Leo was thrilled to be part of the action as groomsman.

One groomsman all but stole the show at this New Year’s nuptials.

Sleek and dapper in his tux, Leo was the coolest cat in Cork and purr-fectly attired for the black-tie do as his humans, Kinsale bride and groom Allison Gordon and Des Donohoe said “I do”, on December 31.

Allison Gordon with the couple's cat and groomsman, Leo the British shorthair.

The handsome four-year-old British shorthair played a key role in the preparations and post-vow festivities. 

“Leo didn’t make it to the ceremony as he doesn’t like crowds so he hung out with me and my bridesmaids at home the morning of the wedding. He was delighted to finally get to play with the box my dress arrived in once I had to take it out to steam it,” says the bride.

Leo the newlyweds' cat was also decked out in a tux for the blacktie event.

It was love at first sight when Allison, from Easkey, Co Sligo, and Des, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin, spotted one another across a Dublin bar on June 17, 2017. 

“Allison approached me — end of story!” he says. She adds: “I was the one to start a conversation with Des as he looked like someone I knew. We hit it off that day and have been together ever since.”

Allison Gordon and Des Donohoe. Pictures: James O’Driscoll, jodphotography.ie

The couple relocated to the Co Cork seaside haven the following year and it was at their home there, at The Rock, that Des popped the question, on January 1 last year.

Allison, the daughter of Triona and Tommy Gordon, and Des, the son of Willie and Phyllis Donohoe, were married almost 12 months to the day later.

Allison Gordon and Des Donohoe with the bride's parents Triona and Tommy Gordon.

Rev Jane Killingbeck officiated at the ceremony, in St Catherine’s Cultural Centre Ringcurran, Kinsale. “Our big day was amazing and very special,” says Allison. “Alice de la Cour of St Catherine’s was the event manager at the church and did an amazing job. Despite the very stormy weather the church looked stunning and was so cosy.”

Des Donohoe with his dad Willie Donohoe.

Actons Hotel, Kinsale, was the venue for the black-tie reception. “The celebration was unreal!” adds the bride. “We’d like to thank both Ian Eaton, banquet manager, and Thomas Wrixon, general manager.”

Allison chose her sister Andrea Gordon, Easkey, Co Sligo, to be her maid of honour, while her friend Monika Folkierska-Zukowska, originally from Gdansk in Poland, now living in Toronto, Canada, was bridesmaid along with her cousins Aoife Cowley, Easkey, Co Sligo, and Emer Long, Ballina, Co Mayo. 

Allison Gordon and Des Donohoe with their wedding party. Pictures: James O’Driscoll, jodphotography.ie

“Monika’s parents Gosia and Marek also travelled from Poland to attend our wedding,” says the bride. 

“Monika is my best friend (from Gdansk, Poland, living in Toronto) who I met while studying our master’s degree in cognitive science together in UCD in 2011.”

Cian Donohoe, Jason Stubbs, groom Des Donohoe, Des’s dad Willie Donohoe, Liam Donohoe and Brian Donohoe.

Des’s friend Jason Stubbs, Ashford, Co Wicklow, was the best man, and his nephew Cian Donohoe and brothers Liam Donohoe and Brian Donohoe, all Kinsale, were groomsmen.

Allison looked uber-elegant in a Milla Nova dress sourced in Warsaw, Poland.

Bride Allison Gordon.

As only best friends do, Monika also came to the rescue at a crucial moment — when Allison’s wedding shoes failed to arrive due to a delivery issue over Christmas. “Monika bought my shoes in Toronto last minute and brought them with her to Ireland,” says the bride.

Groom Des Donohoe.

The groom purchased his stylish attire from Red Church, Cork City. “Eoin Murphy of Red Church was amazing and very helpful in the selection process,” adds Allison. The best man, fathers-of-the-bride-and-groom and groomsmen hired their suits from Morleys on Grand Parade, Cork.

Allison Gordon with her dad Tommy Gordon. Pictures: James O’Driscoll, jodphotography.ie

Ensuring the bridal party was ready for their close-ups were hairstylist Lynsey O’Leary and makeup artist Jamie Lee Davis. Behind the lens were photographer James O’Driscoll ( jodphotography.ie), Macroom, Co Cork, and videographer Michael Costello, Apex Weddings, and Elizabeth Cott created the floral décor. 

Bride Allison Gordon.

The best man Jason is a musician and “rocked the place” both at the wedding, and at the day-two event, the White Lady Hotel, says Des.

Sealed with a kiss: Allison Gordon and Des Donohoe. Pictures: James O’Driscoll, jodphotography.ie

The newlyweds have chosen New York for their minimoon destination.

Allison works for the probation services in Cork City and Des is the vice-president of sales at Keeper Security EMEA’s headquarters in Cork City.

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