Wedding of the Week: Cork bride and groom Emma and Conor's big day is perfectly pitched

Emma Farmer and Conor Cotter are wed in St Finbarr's, Kilmichael, with reception at The Heights Hotel, Killarney

Sat, 01 Feb, 2025 - 13:00

Eve Kelliher

The first goal for newlyweds with a passion for sport? To sprint off for a kickaround as soon as they’d said “I do”.

Cork couple Emma Farmer from Aghada and Conor Cotter from Kilmichael exchanged vows in St Finbarr’s Church in Kilmichael.

The bride and groom “are both GAA-obsessed”, says Emma. “Conor plays hurling and football for Kilmichael and I play ladies football for Aghada. We love soccer too — I’m a diehard Man United fan and Conor supports Arsenal.”

Emma Farmer and Conor Cotter. Pictures: James O'Driscoll

Emma herself has played soccer for Cork City and internationally and, in GAA, is an All-Ireland-winning Cork senior ladies football star. At club level, just two months before putting her best foot forward down the aisle, the bride kicked three of the points that ensured Aghada won the ladies county championship for the first time.

And despite her protestations — “I’m not into fashion at all,” jokes Emma — she looked every bit as elegant when she exchanged her beloved jersey for a
designer bridal gown.

Emma Farmer and Conor Cotter with their daughter Ellie. Pictures: James O'Driscoll

“I got my wedding dress from Say I Do in Midleton. It was a Jesus Peiro brand — that’s all I can tell you about the dress! — and my shoes were Converse as I don’t do heels. Conor got his suit in Suited Menswear in Midleton.”

Kilmichael GAA pitch was the picture-perfect backdrop for the post-ceremony photoshoot. “Our photographer James and our videographer Juraj Novotny were absolutely brilliant,” says Emma.

Emma Farmer and Conor Cotter and their daughter Ellie Cotter get a guard of honour from Emma's Aghada clubmates. Pictures: James O'Driscoll

The bride, a secondary school teacher in Midleton, and groom, who works in human resources at Cork County Hall, met seven years ago on a night out in Reardens in Cork and Conor proposed on the grounds of the five-star Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry.

They crossed the border again on their wedding day — first stopping off at Ross Castle, Killarney, for some camera-friendly moments before joining their guests again for their reception at The Heights Hotel Killarney. The newlyweds travelled in style thanks to Cork Wedding Cars and savoured every moment of their big day.

In the lead-up to her big day, Emma Farmer was on the Aghada team that won the Senior Ladies Football County Championship. She's pictured with her bridesmaids Lisa Ring, Laura Burchill, Emma Keoghan and Brid O’Regan. Pictures: James O'Driscoll

“The lead-up to the wedding was very chill — we had everything organised,” says Emma.

Emma had four bridesmaids, Lisa Ring, Laura Burchill, Emma Keoghan, and Bríd O’Regan and Conor’s groomsmen were Brendan Cotter, Oliver McCarthy, James O’Leary, and Denny Quinlan. The bride and groom were married by a family friend of the Cotters, Fr Joe Coughlan. “The ceremony was lovely and that’s all thanks to Fr Joe and Lynda Sloane-Cusack, our wedding singer, whose voice is amazing,” adds Emma.

Later that evening, at the reception, wedding band Bog the Donkey kept everyone on the dance floor. “Our first dance was to The Pogues song ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’,” says Emma. “We loved every minute of our wedding day. What really made it so special was having all our family, friends and teammates (Aghada ladies footballers and Kilmichael hurlers and footballers) present.”

Guests tucked into a delectable wedding cake by The Bake and Bite, Clonakilty/ Kilmichael and Nóra Ní Luasa created the floral decor. “My hair was done by the lovely Dawn Monaher and my makeup was by the beautiful Regina from Core Health & Beauty, Midleton,” adds Emma.