Just get me to the polls on time

It was a case of get me to the church on time, but via the polling booth.

There were a few raised eyebrows, which quickly gave way to broad smiles as a blushing bride appeared in her wedding dress at a small national school in Co Cork yesterday.

If it wasn’t for the fact that Ciara O’Halloran was marrying her beau, she’d actually have been working as a presiding officer for yesterday’s referendum vote. The 31-year-old, who is an assistant staff officer with Cork County Council and comes from Ballinhassig, should have been acting as a presiding officer in Turner’s Cross, but had a more important date in her diary.

However, despite her imminent appointment at the altar, she felt she had to exercise her constitutional right.

Her father, Gerard, walked Ciara into the polling station at Ballyheada National School and a few minutes later escorted her the few yards to the church in Ballinhassig, where he then accompanied her up the aisle.

“It was my old primary school and dad also cast his vote there,” Ciara said.

She married Stephen Lynch, 32, who is originally from Arklow, Co Wicklow. He works as an electrician with O’Shea’s Electrical.

Ciara said ‘yes’ to Stephen, but would not say if she voted in favour of abolishing the Seanad or the setting-up of a new court of appeal.