Coveney marries long-term sweetheart

ONE of Ireland’s most eligible bachelors tied the knot at the weekend when he married his long-term sweetheart.

Fine Gael deputy Simon Coveney married Ruth Furney, an IDA Ireland employee, at a Church ceremony attended by a number of politicians.

Among the gathering were Laois-Offaly TD Olwyn Enright and her TD husband, Joe McHugh, who represents the Donegal North-West constituency.

Lucinda Creighton TD, Dublin South East, also attended with Waterford TD John Deasy and Kerry North TD Jimmy Deenihan.

Ms Furney wore a white fitted lace dress at the wedding at the Sacred Heart Church, Minane Bridge, Co Cork. The couple held their reception afterwards at the sumptuous Cappella hotel in Castlemartyr. Friends said the 35-year-old TD made a speech during which he referred to his sadness that his father, Hugh, wasn’t present. The late TD died after losing his footing and falling off a cliff in March 1998. Simon subsequently took over his Cork South Central seat and later became an MEP, before relinquishing the job in Brussels to concentrate on full-time politics in Ireland.

His mother, Pauline, attended the wedding along with her second husband Dr Paul McCarthy.

Simon’s brothers, Dave, Tony, Patrick, Rory and Andrew were also in attendance along with their sister, Rebecca Egan.

A number of Ms Furney’s colleagues from the IDA joined in their celebration.

The couple have delayed their honeymoon as Simon’s brother, Rory, plans to get married in two weeks’ time.

With the Dáil still in recess, Simon and Ruth are planning a tour of Africa in September.