Wedding of the Week: ‘The cliché is true — it was the best, and fastest, day of our lives’

Aoife McCarthy, Ovens, Co Cork, and Ciarán Jones, Dundalk, Co Louth, are wed in St John the Baptist Church, Ovens, with reception in Fota Island Resort

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026 - 01:00

Eve Kelliher

Now enjoying settling into their newly renovated country home in Meath, Aoife McCarthy and Ciarán Jones met six years ago when Ciarán moved to Cork.

Aoife, from Ovens, Co Cork, says: “My bridesmaid, Rebecca, introduced us in the summer of 2020 — despite my living in Canada at the time! We arranged to meet for a drink in between lockdowns, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

She and Ciarán, from Dundalk, Co Louth, were wed in St John the Baptist Church, Ovens, by Fr Liam Ó hÍci and held their reception at Fota Island Resort.

Aoife McCarthy and Ciarán Jones. Pictures:

Just over a year and a half earlier, Ciarán had proposed.

“It was on March 16, 2024 — the same day we received the keys to our new country home,” says Aoife.

Mid-attempt to open a bottle of bubbles on the patio, she was completely surprised when he got down on one knee.

“We celebrated that evening with a gorgeous stay in Carton House,” says the bride.

Aoife’s sister Clíodhna McCarthy was her maid of honour, and her sister-in-law Sandra McCarthy — together with her friends Sinéad O’Neill and Rebecca Wagner — were the bridesmaids.

Ciarán’s brothers, Pete Jones, best man, and Brian Jones, groomsman, were by his side — as were his friends Cormac Ó Brolcháin and Rory Liston as groomsmen.

“Our little attendants were my nephew, Culann McCarthy, as pageboy and my niece, Aoibh McCarthy, as flowergirl,” says Aoife.

The five-star reception venue provided a stunning backdrop for their photos, by Shane O’Neill, Aspect Photography (Aspectphotography.net).

Aoife McCarthy and Ciarán Jones.

“The beautiful gardens and woodlands on the grounds of Fota — too stunning to pass by,” says Aoife.

They wanted their wedding to be “a big, joyful party surrounded by family and friends”, she adds: “The cliché is true — it was the best (and fastest!) day of our lives.”

Ciarán Jones with his family, including his parents Olive and Ted, on his wedding day.

Celebrating with them were the bride’s parents, Joan and John McCarthy, and the groom’s mother and father, Olive and Ted Jones.

Aoife McCarthy with her dad John McCarthy.

“With large families and wonderful friends, the atmosphere was full of energy, laughter and pure joy. Sharing the day with the people we love most made it unforgettable,” says Aoife. “Friends and family travelled extraordinary distances to attend — including Ciarán’s brother Brian from Bermuda and groomsman Cormac from Australia.”

Aoife McCarthy and Ciarán Jones with the Aoife's parents Joan and John McCarthy.

The bride looked elegant in an Edwina O’Gorman design, and her hair was styled by bridal hair specialist CathyAnn Kelleher with Rebecca O’Donovan as the makeup artist.

“I wore pearls that belonged to my grandmother, Mary McSweeney,” adds Aoife.

The groom was dapper in a suit sourced from Louis Boyd Menswear.

Videographer Colin Hickey, Orchid Pictures, captured the occasion on film, and Ailish Calnan (@FloralSculpture) created the floral arrangements. Aoife and Ciarán honeymooned in Croatia.