Wedding of the Week: 'Two bands provided the soundtrack to our big day, the atmosphere was electric'

Aine Keogh and Dessie Lennon are wed in the Church of the Holy Family in Gowna, Co Cavan, with reception in Crover House

Sat, 17 Jan, 2026 - 01:00

Eve Kelliher

They wanted a “chilled, relaxed, fun” big day, and that’s precisely what they got, say Áine Keogh and Dessie Lennon. Áine, from Gowna, Co Cavan, and Dessie, from Ballinalee, Co Longford, were married in the Church of the Holy Family in Gowna, by Fr Michael Bannon and held their reception in Crover House, Cavan. “Our wedding day was amazing from start to finish,” says the bride.

“Crover House is a fabulous venue for a wedding. Megan, the wedding co-ordinator, and Dee, the banqueting manager, and the entire Crover team were incredibly helpful — no task was ever too big.”

Aine Keogh and Dessie Lennon with Croía Lennon. Pictures: Hu O’Reilly Photography

Áine and Dessie’s daughter Croía Lennon, enjoyed taking centre stage as flowergirl, and Áine’s sister Shona Keogh and friends Elaine Gaffney and Mary McLaughlin were the bridesmaids.Dessie’s cousin, Stephen Lynch, was his best man, with his cousin Des Reynolds and friend John McKenna as groomsmen.

Aine Keogh and Dessie Lennon with members of their wedding party. Pictures: Hu O’Reilly Photography

The couple’s niece Penny Keogh was a flowergirl and their nephews Rowan McCann, Cooper Keogh, and Levi Keogh were pageboys.

Aine Keogh with Shona Keogh, Elaine Gaffney, Mary McLaughlin, Croía Lennon, Penny Keogh and Rowan McCann.

Áine and Dessie, who met online during the covid pandemic, got engaged in July 2023, on their first family holiday after Croía was born.

Dessie Lennon with Stephen Lynch, Des Reynolds and John McKenna.

The musicians hit all the right notes for their big day. “We had some amazing suppliers, but the one that truly stood out — and that everybody still talks about — is Raglan,” says Áine.

Folk/trad band Raglan performed during dinner, followed by the band Longtime Coming. Pictures: Hu O’Reilly Photography

The folk/trad band from Armagh performed during the meal at the reception. “They set the tone for the evening by playing This is the Life as our entrance song and again for our photo-dash around the room,” says Áine.

“The music continued throughout the evening, and they interacted so well with the crowd, getting everyone up on their feet dancing. By the time dessert came out, the atmosphere was electric.”

Aine Keogh and Dessie Lennon with Stephen Lynch, Des Reynolds and John McKenna.

Longtime Coming took up the baton as the second band for the occasion. “Although they had a tough act to follow, they definitely rose to the challenge,” says the bride. “They kept the fun and craic going well into the night.”

Áine herself also serenaded her bridegroom and guests. “People were up singing and dancing with Raglan, myself included, performing Beeswing — funny then, mortifying now!”

The bride looked elegant in an Eva Lendel Design. “I sourced it at MK Bridal in Navan, where Mairead was amazing — so friendly and really put me at ease,” says Áine. The bridal upstyle was by Edel Hennessy with Deirdre O’Reilly as makeup artist. “Both are incredible at their job and went above and beyond in settling my nerves the morning of the wedding,” adds Áine. Dessie was dapper thanks to Spirit Clothing, Longford.

All smiles: Bride Aine Keogh. Pictures: Hu O’Reilly Photography

“Eoghan was absolutely wonderful as well. He and Hu worked seamlessly alongside each other throughout the day, and Eoghan captured little details you wouldn’t even think of. We are so thrilled with our photographs and video — looking at them now with Croía lets us relive the most magical day.”

Aine Keogh and Dessie Lennon. Pictures: Hu O’Reilly Photography

Áine Granard, Co Longford, created the bouquets, and Magic Moments Weddings designed the artificial flowers in the church.

The newlyweds’ honeymoon took them in a cruise around the Greek islands.

Áine, a primary school teacher, and Dessie, who works for Abbott Ireland Diagnostics, Longford, and Croía live in Cavan and plan to move to Ballinalee, Longford.