Sixty years married for Cork couple who are 'wonderful individuals but even stronger as a couple'
Donal and Norma Murphy, Ballincollig, who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.Picture Denis Minihane.
Amy Nolan
Hopes of a more elaborate celebration were dashed by Covid-19 restrictions, but a Cork couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with a quiet party at home.
Norma and Donal Murphy today celebrated 60 years of marriage with three of their children who live within 2km of them.
The couple met at an An Óige night out in MacCurtain St in 1957 but did not officially become a couple until quite some time after.
“They kept up contact for about a year, with my dad dropping mum little notes, until he asked Mum to a dress dance and they became an item after that,” one of their daughters, Fionnuala Murray, told The Echo.
“They got engaged on Dad’s birthday in December 1958 and married on April 28, 1960, in The Lough Church.”
Donal and Norma Murphy, Ballincollig, who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary, with their wedding photograph from the Lough Church on the right.Picture Denis Minihane.
Norma and Donal, who are both 87, are now living in Ballincollig.
Ahead of their 60th wedding anniversary, Fionnuala paid tribute to her parents and the bond they have.
“My parents are two wonderful, separate individuals but even stronger as a couple,” she said.
“Anyone who knows them will agree that they have that special rare connection and love.”
One of five children, Fionnuala said she and her siblings Orla, Conal, Mary Anne, and Donal, were surrounded with “unwavering and unconditional love and support” growing up.
Reminiscing on fond memories, Fionnuala recalled how her mother ran the household with “military precision” and how her father, who worked in the printing business, used to return home some Friday evenings with chips from Lennox’s.
“Sunday afternoons were family time, with compulsory afternoon spins with ice cream and the inevitable fracas in the back of the green Capri,” Fionnuala said.
Donal and Norma Murphy, Ballincollig, celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary with their daughters (from left) Orla, Mary Anne and Fionnuala while keeping their social distance.Picture Denis Minihane.
Norma was also a founding member of The Lough Flower and Garden Club and Fionnuala jovially recalled her mother’s pre-competition nerves.
“The stress levels rose in the house as competition time approached with flowers and foliage lining the bath and bathroom,” she said.
Wishing her parents a very happy 60th wedding anniversary, Fionnuala said she and her siblings are very lucky to have them in their lives.
“They have always taken such good care of each other and even better care of us,” she said.
