'I loved my time at UCC so much, I returned to get wed there'

A former Cork student now living in New Zealand returned to her alma mater at UCC to get married.

Sinéad O’Halloran wed Fergus Gahan at the Honan Chapel - the groom’s link to Cork was that he worked in Kinsale for a furniture company for four years.

Sinéad, of Kilmaley, Co. Clare, loved her time in UCC, and made great friends there who attended the wedding.

She said: “While Fergus worked in furniture design in Kinsale, he visited the Honan Chapel as he was involved in designing a piece for the university to house their ceremonial mace used for graduations and so on.”

Sinéad and Fergus, who is from Ballyoughter, Co. Wexford, are now living in Auckland, New Zealand.

The bride works as an Occupational Therapist in a community stroke rehabilitation team there, while Fergus is a Business Analyst in an IT consultancy firm.

The couple met in Auckland at Christmas, 2019, through their GAA club, Marist Rangers, and shared friends.

Sinéad said: “Fergus proposed on Christmas Eve, 2023, after doing a hike with friends.”

They wed on August 8 and had their reception at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale, a town which Fergus grew to love during his time living and working there.

Sinéad said: “We did our first look photoshoot at Charles Fort, which was a brilliant experience with photographer Jakub Walutek and videographer Uray, and a touch of sightseeing as I had never been.”

She said the Trident Hotel “was a pleasure to deal with and made planning a wedding from the other side of the world so much more manageable. They added personal touches and made us feel like royalty.

“Trish, Norma, Eleanor, and the staff were amazing.

“The day itself went so smoothly, we couldn’t have asked for more. There may have been a minor suit malfunction the day before the wedding so perhaps that was the most stressful part, but everything worked out in the end.”

Sinéad’s bridesmaid was her sister Aishling O’Halloran, who lives in Dubai.

Her mother and father, Phil and Thomas O’Halloran, were among the guests, along with her brothers, Patrick, who came from Florida, and Brendan.

Fergus’s groomsman/best man was his brother Paul Gahan, who lives in Dublin.

His other brother, Kevin, and sisters, Linda and Annette, attended the wedding with their children. Fergus’s parents are Raphael and Stasia Gahan.

As for the couple’s favourite part of the day?

“I really loved the speeches, they were all heartfelt with some good stories and a few laughs,” said Sinéad.

“We also really enjoyed our photoshoot and the calm, intimate moments this provided in an enjoyable but hectic day.”

For their honeymoon, the couple plan to travel around Tasmania over Christmas.

As for their hopes for the future, Sinéad said: “Many more years of not taking ourselves too seriously and enjoying each other’s company.”