Wedding of the Week: ‘Relaxed Kiwi approach’ was just what the GAA couple ordered
Sinéad O’Halloran and Fergus Gahan. Pictures: Jakub Walutek
Their paths crossed on a GAA pitch at the other side of the world when they played for the Marist Rangers club in New Zealand.
And Sinéad O’Halloran experienced match-day emotions, six years later, as she entered Honan Chapel at University College Cork to exchange vows with her bridegroom, Fergus Gahan.
“I’d probably compare it to the feeling just before playing a county final — that mix of excitement and calm confidence, knowing all the preparation is done and your family is there cheering you on, but with a touch of nervous anticipation for what’s about to unfold,” she says.
Sinéad, from Ennis, Co Clare, and Fergus, from Gorey, Co Wexford, got chatting during an expat Christmas dinner in Auckland in 2019.
“Later that day, we ended up on the beach, spending time together pucking a sliotar back and forth,” says Sinéad.
“We got engaged on Christmas Eve 2023 after a hike with some friends. On the way back, we stopped for ice cream and sat on a bench overlooking the water at Whangārei Heads in Northland, New Zealand — where Fergus proposed.”
They were married in August by the groom’s uncle, Rev Fr Raymond Gahan, parish priest of Kilaveney.
“Fr Raymond retired two weeks after the wedding, making it a particularly special occasion as his final wedding before retirement,” says Sinéad.
The reception was held at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale. “The team at the Trident delivered everything we hoped for and more throughout the entire weekend,” says the bride.
Celebrating with the couple and their 99 guests were the bride’s parents, Philomena and Thomas, and the groom’s mother and father, Stasia and Raphael.
“We chose Kinsale and the Honan Chapel because both hold a special connection for us,” says Sinéad.
“I studied at UCC, and Fergus originally studied Furniture Design and Making before taking on the role of design technician at Joseph Walsh Studio, which brought him to live and play GAA in Kinsale for four years.
During that time, he collaborated with Joseph Walsh and the late Michael Holland, historian of UCC, to design and create the plinth that holds the university’s ceremonial mace.”
Sinéad’s sister Aishling O’Halloran was her bridesmaid, and Fergus’s brother Paul Gahan was the best man.
“We’ve always loved the relaxed Kiwi approach to weddings — nothing too formal — but having our families around us was really important, so celebrating in Ireland felt right,” says the bride.
Sinéad found her dream wedding dress in Felicity Bridal in Auckland, and Fergus rented his suit from Tango’s Dress Hire in Dublin.
“There’s a lot of pressure to find the perfect dress. In the end, I found I was much more comfortable going to fittings on my own, so I could figure out what I truly liked without too many opinions,” she says.
The hair and makeup team were Christine O’Sullivan and Christine O’Connor, both from Cork.
Capturing the day on camera was Jakub Walutek Photography (Walutek.com) and videographer Uray Weddings.
Daisy Chain, Kinsale, created the floral décor, and wedding band The Brass Monkeys kept the dancefloor full. “Our friend Ben Murray created a brilliant custom-DJ mix for our reception entrance,” says the bride.
Sinéad is an occupational therapist who works in a community stroke rehabilitation service, and Fergus, a director at Adaptable Consulting, where he leads the Power Platform team, delivering innovative digital solutions for clients.
They have since returned to their base in Auckland, New Zealand and plan to honeymoon in Tasmania over Christmas.
- If you would like your wedding featured in email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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