Wedding of the Week: Chance encounter led to wedding bells for Cork couple

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026 - 11:00

A chance connection led to wedding bells for Cork couple Emma McDonnell and Shane Mahony.

Emma, from Carrigaline, spotted Shane, a builder from Cobh, when he was working one day.

“I said to my friend, in the car with me, that he was handsome.”

What Emma didn’t know was that her friend was acquainted with Shane’s brother’s wife.

“She said it another day to her friend that I liked him. He added me on Facebook a couple of weeks later; we started talking, went on a date, and the rest is history,” recalled Emma.

“I used my dad’s car on the day, and then, after we where married, a lovely man my now mother-in-law knows, let us use his BMW convertible for the rest of the day. The kindest thing to do for us,” said Emma.

That chance encounter was 12 years ago.

Emma and Shane welcomed their son in April, 2020, with Shane proposing to Emma that Christmas. “He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him in front of our children at home. It was lovely and totally not expected,” she recalled.

The couple didn’t set a date immediately, given the uncertainty during the pandemic, but in August, 2025, made the decision to wed the following July. “I knew I could do it in the year,” said Emma.

Wedding of the Week: Couple introduced at village pub in 2011 are wed

They were married at Fota House and Gardens on July 30.

The couple sourced their rings from Jewel Haven in Cobh, and Michels in Cork city

“We were surrounded by our four children; Lee, Jake, Archie and Alisha. My maid of honour was my sister Aishling and bridesmaid was Shane’s daughter Alisha. Shane’s best man was Christopher and my two sons Lee and Jake were groomsmen. Archie, our son, was page boy. We kept it small, just the way we wanted,” said Emma.

The bride sourced her gown from Vows in Blarney, with alterations by House of Marie in Cobh. Hair was by Sarah in Ego Hair Salon, make-up was by Shirley Cronin, and tan and nails were by Kelly Kwok in Blush Beauty in Cobh. Emma’s bouquet was by Floral Impressions in Cobh.

Emma and Shane were wed at Fota House and Gardens.

Emma and Shane’s rings were from Jewel Haven in Cobh, and Michels in Cork city, respectively.

After the ceremony, the couple held a reception for their guests at the Radisson Blu in Little Island.

From a chance encounter to wedded bliss. Emma and Shane tied the knot in July, 12 years after first meeting. Pictures: Daven Casey

“We took out photographs in Fota gardens. Our photographer was Daven Casey. He was fantastic and did exactly what we wanted.” The wedding cake was by Carrie Cakes in Cobh.

Reflecting on the day, the couple said they wouldn’t change a thing about it.

“We just had the best day surrounded by friends and family.

“We wouldn’t change a thing about it. It went by so fast, but I have the memories and pictures to last forever.”