Wedding of the Week: Kerry newlyweds 'get the party started' as they walk down the aisle
Mary Sheehan and Stephen Long. Pictures: Trevor O'Donoghue Photography
Between the jigs and the Jaguars, Kerry bride and groom Mary Sheehan and Stephen Long enjoyed celebrations as melodic as they were magnificent.
Their eyes met across crowded Macra na Feirme meetings, and Mary, from Caherciveen, and Stephen, Knocknagoshel, were married in the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church, in the bride’s home town by Fr Larry Kelly. “It was a magical day,” says Mary.
Friends and family members were closely involved, including both sets of parents, Una and Patrick Sheehan and Mary and Albert Long.
Mary’s only sister Áine Cahill was her maid of honour, and her friend Theresa Kearney was her bridesmaid. Stephen’s brothers Con and Denis Long were his best man and groomsman.
The groom’s nieces Kiera Long and Alexa Burke were the flowergirls with his nephews Liam Burke and Damien Long as the pageboys and his nephew Conor Long was the altar server.
Róisin Ryan, Morgan Pierce and Assumpta O’Sullivan Short provided the church music, and the bride delivered a virtuoso accordion performance from the altar rails at the end of the ceremony.
“To his surprise, Stephen was presented with a triangle by my sister Áine — for his musical debut,” says Mary.
Guests joined the church musicians to “play" the newlyweds down the aisle. “It was wonderful to walk into married life to music,” says Mary.
“Everyone loved it and I knew it would get the party started.” A chauffeur-driven Jaguar (Pristine Occasions) whisked the newlyweds to the reception at the Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa in Tralee.
“Con, our driver, had a picnic and a bottle of bubbles for us in the boot!” says Mary.
"Con also minded my bouquet and got me in and out of the car and calmed the nerves before I headed up the aisle – a real pro.”
The couple met over the years via farming organisation Macra and had their first date at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, in August 2021.
They got engaged in 2024, on the longest day of the year, June 21. “We had been at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh — which was amazing — and before we left Scotland, we visited Edinburgh Castle, where Stephen surprised me by proposing,” says the bride.
Their wedding took them “about six months to plan”, according to Mary: “Stephen had cows calving in the lead-up — but thankfully all was quiet on the farm front weekend of the wedding!”
Choosing their reception venue was a no-brainer the moment they met wedding co-ordinator Amanda [O’Connor] of Ballygarry, adds Stephen: “For once, Mary was quiet and had no questions.”
They signed up the band No Strings Attached as soon as they set a date. “It was one of the first calls we made,” says Mary. “I knew they would fill the dance floor, and my feet were so sore the next day.”
The delectable three-tier wedding cake was a team effort. “Stephen’s sister Maeve Burke made the biscuit cake and my auntie Mary Walsh made the fruit cake, and it was iced my our friend Róisin's mom Ann Rice O’Sullivan,” says Mary.
Stephen was dapper thanks to Ryle Menswear, Tralee, and Mary looked chic in a gown sourced from Finesse Bridal Wear in Listowel: “It took me only 50 minutes to choose my dress, and I spent the rest of the time during my appointment walking around admiring myself!
"Mags and Liz of Finesse were super to deal with. For every appointment, it felt like I was like calling to my aunties, they were so friendly and welcoming and they both always listened, which I think is vital.”
Also part of the creative team were hairstylist Louise Sugrue, makeup artist Maeve Carey of Makeup by Maeve and Flowers By Jen.
LM Wedding Videography kept the movie camera rolling and key to the success of the entire occasion was their photographer Trevor, of Trevor O’Donoghue Photography (Todimages.com).
“Trevor O Donoghue was the nicest person we welcomed in to our house. He’s amazing at his job was so versatile when it came to our plans that for many reason had to change on the day. Fab guy,” says Mary.
Palma Nova was their honeymoon destination. “Mary’s brother-in-law James Cahill organised it and even checked us in online, so all we had to do was show up with our suitcases,” says Stephen.
Mary, who works for FBD Insurance, and Stephen, who works for Dairymaster, live in Lyreacrompane.
- If you would like your wedding featured in email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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