Wedding of the Week; Cork couple who grew up just four doors apart marry

A couple who lived just four doors apart enjoyed a special wedding day.

Samantha Crean and Denis Sheehan are both from Cloughduv and were neighbours. They now live in Ryecourt Woods in Cloughduv, around the corner from both their family homes. Samantha said: “Denis and I always knew each other growing up, but had different groups of friends.”

Denis was three years older and worked abroad at a young age, while Samantha spent most of her time in the city, in college.

“Our paths didn’t cross until the night of my 21st birthday in October, 2015,” said Samantha. “Denis was home from Holland on rotation from work, he came to my 21st with my brother Dermot as they are great friends. At the end of the night we had our first kiss.”

Denis was leaving the next day, and Samantha was going working on a cruise ship soon after, but they texted back and forth while they were both overseas and went on their first date in May, 2016, when she returned from the cruise.

Denis proposed on July 3, 2021, during Covid, while they were walking at Ryecourt Woods.

“He decided we would take a short cut, only to round the corner and have our families jump out of a bush, saying ‘surprise’! 

A little marquee was set up with roses, balloons and champagne. It was very romantic, I was shocked.

The couple were wed at St Joseph’s Church in Cloughduv on June 2 by Fr Kieron O’Driscoll.

The bride wore a dress from Vows in Blarney along with the bridesmaids - Jazmin (Maid of honour), Neisha, Maria, Denis’s sister Michelle and first cousin Stephanie. Denis’s suit and the groomsmen’s suits were bought in Red Church Cork city. Groomsmen were William (best man), Johnny, Samantha’s brothers Dermot and Gavin and Denis’s nephew Keelan.

Make-up artists were Sarah Cummins and Ruthanna Crowley, and hair was by Rebecca, of RMC Hair and Beauty in Ballincollig.

Breakfast on the morning was by Catering by Paul in Cloughduv. Flowers were from Darling Buds in Innishannon.

“We were very blessed to have both set of parents at our wedding,” said Samantha, “along with Denis’s sister and nephew and my two brothers, and all our extended family and friends.

 My grandmothers, Chris, 80, and Eileen, 95, also attended our wedding, which was very special for us.

The church singer was Mairead Conlon, and a highlight of the ceremony was when the bride’s father and his brothers sang The Voyage.

The reception was in Killarney Heights. Samantha said: “I think maybe the most memorable part was the speeches by our two fathers and best man and Denis.”