Wedding of the Week: Proposal on live TV led to wedding bells for Cork couple 

A proposal live on TV led to the wedding of Cork couple Barbara O’Connell and Garrett Fleming.

Both Barbara, from Ballyphehane, and Garrett, from Bishopstown, describe themselves as “sports mad enthusiasts” so it is no surprise that sport played a part, not just in how they met, but also on their big day.

Barbara is a sports columnist for The Echo and plays soccer with Wilton United, as well as coaching for Wilton and the Cork boys’ and girls’ underage teams.

Garrett is an audiologist and has his own business, Audivox Hearing.

He is also a current world and European champion at TaeKwon-Do.

The couple, who now live in Carrigaline, first met in 2018 when Barbara wrote an article about Garrett winning the world championships.

They got engaged last December, live on TV, when Barbara captained the TG4 Underdogs soccer squad who played Galway in Eamonn Deacy Park.

How could she not say yes on TV, the bride joked.

The wedding invitations were made by one of Barbara’s best friends, David MacAskill, who she met while playing in Portsmouth back in 1994. These were designed as football tickets to the “perfect match”.

The couple were married at Ballyphehane Parish Church on October 19.

The date was particularly significant for Barbara as it was on this date, almost six decades before, that her parents married in the very same church.

Barbara’s dad tragically passed away in a house fire in 2021, so while the couple said it was difficult not to have her dad walk Barbara up the aisle, “it meant a lot getting married on a day that celebrated her parents’ wedding in the same church 56 years earlier”.

Barbara’s mom and her brother walked her up the aisle.

“It was great to have an old friend Father Hickey do our mass. Also great to have Barbara’s nan’s friend Br Vianney present on the day,” the couple said.

As a member of the Blackpool Pipe Band, Gar and some of the band’s members performed for guests before Barbara arrived at the church.

The bride’s sister Lynda O’Connell was maid of honour and Barbara’s daughters Jesse and Alix Mendez, and her sisters, Susan O’Dea and Mary Kenny, were bridesmaids.

The best man was Gar’s brother Des Fleming and his groomsmen were Ciaran Sheehan and Mick Hurley, and his sons David and Adam Fleming.

The flower girls were Barbara’s nieces Kaitlin O’Dea and Darcy Murphy while the page boy was the bride’s nephew Oisin O’Dea.

The bride wore a Justin Alexander dress from Cinderella’s Closet. “Karen Kenny who was superb to deal with,” Barbara said.

Her make-up was by “the fabulous” Jeannette Cronin, with hair by 3 degrees.

The bridal party suits were from Simply Suits.

The couple said that one of the most memorable moments of the day was emerging from the church where they received a guard of honour from Barbara’s soccer team in Wilton.

“It was fantastic. It also meant a lot to Barbara to have her mom’s neighbours gather outside the house to see her before she left for the church,” the couple said.

Afterwards, the couple held a reception for their 250 guests at the Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig.

Their cake was made by “the talented” Valerie O’Mahony and the band was Deuces Wild.

“They had the dance floor full the entire night, which made it a fantastic night.”

The couple’s first song wasn’t what they initially intended.

“Barbara accidentally gave the band the wrong one, so we ended up with Love Story,” the couple said.

The photographers were Ray and Irene Terry, who the couple said were “absolutely amazing”.

“They were much more than photographers. They guided us through the entire day and had everyone in great form which set the tone for the day,” they said.

Photos by Ray and Irene Terry.