Wedding of the Week: Cork-based couple fall for simple autumn ceremony

Finola Cooke, Dunhill, Co Waterford, and Maurice O'Donovan, Ballinlough, Cork City, who were married at Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork

Finola Cooke and Maurice O'Donovan who were married at Hayfield Manor Hotel.

Finola Cooke and Maurice O’Donovan’s paths crossed in the workplace. Finola, from Dunhill, Co Waterford, and Maurice, from Ballinlough, Cork City, first met in 2020, during the covid-19 pandemic.

“I work for BreastCheck screening service, and Maurice works at Cork University Hospital [CUH]. We met when I was redeployed from BreastCheck to CUH for 18 months.

“I had started a new job at BreastCheck Screening Service in Cork City in January 2020, and then in March 2020 I was redeployed to CUH.

“Just for some context, I had never been to CUH for any reason or to visit a patient, so I felt completely overwhelmed. I knew where it was, but when I arrived at the reception I didn’t know where I was going, and I was completely terrified because of covid and didn’t know what lay ahead,” she says.

But Maurice, who already worked at CUH, helped put Finola at ease. “I was based in the BreastCheck office on the ground floor of CUH, and I first met Maurice on the stairs, and we locked eyes a few times and then started chatting,” says Finola.

The conversation has continued, and the couple exchanged vows in September at the five-star Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork.

Finola Cooke and Maurice O'Donovan had a small civil ceremony at The Boole Suite.

“The rest is history, and here we are — married!” says Finola. “We moved in together in 2020. We got engaged in June 2024. Maurice proposed to me at home, which was just perfect.”

They exchanged vows in a civil ceremony at The Boole Suite led by registrar Alison O’Donoghue from the Cork City civil registration office.

“This was followed by dinner at Orchids private dining room, all at the hotel. We had 15 guests,” says Finola.

The bride was ultra-chic in a designer dress, and the groom cut a dash in a dapper suit. “We didn’t have bridesmaids, groomsmen, or flower girls and page boys. We are older, so the wedding was very simple and just about the marriage rather than a show-off wedding,” says Finola. “Our photographer was my brother-in-law. I made my own bouquet. We didn’t have any music or band or first dance.”

“Our big day was exactly how we imagined it would be. I had a vision in mind for the wedding. I love the autumn. I was born in October, and I thought if I ever get married and in the autumn this is what I’ll do.”

Finola Cooke and Maurice O'Donovan who were married at Hayfield Manor Hotel.

How did Finola feel as the big day dawned? “I felt dreamy on the morning of the wedding,” she says.

“We both got ready at home and travelled together to the hotel in Maurice’s BMW. We didn’t have a wedding car.”

Finola and Maurice also gave their beloved pooches plenty of attention. “We adore our precious golden retriever girls — Jules is six and Jingles is four — so we had to get photos with them on the morning of our wedding,” says Finola.

Finola Cooke and Maurice O'Donovan with Jules and Jingles.

Jolisha Carmen Barreto, Hayfield Manor Hotel’s wedding co-ordinator, also helped the couple plan the event to perfection. “We’d like to give a big shoutout to Jolisha, who made our day so special,” says Finola.

The newlyweds, who live in Ballinlough, have booked Tenerife as their honeymoon destination.

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