Anne O’Hea from Clonakilty and Noel Murray from Templederry in Co Tipperary met at their friends’ wedding in Dunmore House Hotel. The couple, who have been seeing each other since December 2016, got married on May 10, 2019, in St Fachtna’s Church Rosscarbery, followed by a reception in Fernhill House Hotel and Gardens in Clonakilty. Anne is an Occupational Therapist in the Mercy University Hospital Cork and Noel is Head of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Cork Institute of Technology.
Tell us about the proposal?
Noel: We were away with friends in Doolin, Co. Clare for a night, but Anne and I were staying for an extra night on our own in Lahinch. We climbed down to a beautiful spot on the cliff looking out over the sea just outside the town of Lahinch, just before sunset on a sunny August evening. I got down on one knee and popped the question, Anne was speechless at first, but once she got over the initial shock, she quickly said yes…thankfully! We were actually camping that night, but were hit by a storm with torrential rain; we could not stop laughing because it seemed so ironic, which has actually made it really memorable.
Why did you choose Fernhill for your wedding?
We both love the West Cork coastline, so the church in Rosscarbery was an ideal setting. We were thrilled to be able to host our reception in Fernhill House Hotel and Gardens, due to its stunning setting and its outstanding reputation for food. The gardens provide a unique experience for the drinks reception part of the day and our guests were absolutely blown away by quality of the service, the friendliness of the staff, and the culinary experience provided on the day.
Did you have anything out-of-the-ordinary planned for the day?
We had planned for the entire wedding party to go to the Long Strand for photos. However, what we had not planned was ending up enjoying the beautiful food at the Fish Basket, compliments of Peter, which was so relaxing and was a really enjoyable part of the day.
Most enjoyable and most stressful parts of the wedding planning experience?
Most enjoyable – the drinks reception in Fernhill House Hotel and Gardens; the sun was shining, and everybody was really enjoying themselves. We had our speeches in the Marquee before the meal, which everybody seemed to enjoy. In addition, the management and staff in Fernhill were so accommodating with everything we asked for.
Most stressful was undoubtedly the guest list; unfortunately it is not possible to invite everyone you would like to.
Did you ‘lock horns’ on any of the wedding details?
No we didn’t at all. I think the key was planning what tasks needed to be completed each week. Being organised is key to avoiding stress.
Did you share the planning?
Yes, I think we were both heavily involved in practically all aspects of the day. Once we got closer to the day, we each took responsibility for different aspects.
What was your favourite part of the day?
We enjoyed the whole day from beginning to end but the main highlights were; the drinks reception, meeting all our friends and family who had made an effort to be there, and the really relaxed atmosphere throughout the day.
For Anne it was when her cousin Fintan nearly drove the wedding car through the front door!
Any funny stories from the wedding planning experience or day?
Anne: Noel’s eight nephews and six nieces found a new best friend on the day of the wedding – my brother Mike! To say they enjoyed the dancefloor on the night was an understatement. They (including Mike) practically put on a show on the dancefloor and set the tone of pure unbridled fun for everyone, for the rest of the night.
Where did you go on honeymoon?
The Highlands in Scotland, and then on to Croatia
What are your hopes for the future?
The big issue now for everyone is hoping that we both have good health. If we have that, we can probably figure out everything else as we go along.
Advice/tips for other couples about to tie the knot?
Plan your timeline of what needs to be completed by certain dates to avoid stress.
