How I Met My Partner : If not for the anime society at Cork MTU campus 'we would never have met’

Munster Technological University (MTU) fostered more than just a love of learning for this Cork couple, who met on campus nine years ago.

Now clerical officers at the university, Kelley Pierse, 27, and Adrian Coleman, 30, attribute their love story to MTU’s Anime and Manga Society.

Kelley, who is from Tralee but now lives in Bishopstown, told The Echo that she met Adrian, who is from Bandon, when she joined the college society in September of 2016.

“We met for the first time [when] I was in my first year of the BA in creative digital media at MTU, which was then CIT, and he was a third-year in the BA in software development,” said Kelley.

“He was already in the Anime and Manga Society for two years at this point, and I had just signed up. We both joined the committee. He was the chairman and I was the public relations officer.

“We worked together then on that committee for three years; we were friends for a long time, at first.

“I for sure had a schoolgirl crush on him at the beginning, but after we started becoming friends, he got a girlfriend, so I said, ‘Cool, feelings aside, he’s a taken man’,” she added.

“I also started dating someone else then, so at the start of our friendship we were with other people, but we developed a strong friendship throughout and we worked great as a team together in the society.”

Romantic relationship

A few years later, both Kelley and Adrian found themselves single again, and decided to give a romantic relationship a go.

“During my third year of college [in 2019], we dated very briefly — for about three months — but it just didn’t work out at the time, so we decided to stay friends,” said Kelley.

“During covid lockdown then, in 2021, we still hung out as friends online and we reconnected romantically once I was finished my master’s [in PR and new media].

“The first time we got together, how it happened was there was a lot of flirting and I kind of maneuvered him to ask me out on Valentine’s Day, but the second time, I think he realised that he still had feelings for me, so he came over one night before I went back to Kerry and we had a chat about it and we’ve been together ever since.”

Speaking about the couple’s plans, Kelley said that she and Adrian are preparing to head off on their “dream holiday” next month, and once they return they will begin saving for a house.

“We’ve spoken about the future and it’s looking good,” said Kelley.

Committed

 “We’re both committed to continuing this relationship down the line, getting married, having kids, and we’re saving for a house.

“We’re constantly checking in with each other to make sure we’re on the same page.

“We’re going to Japan next month with a few friends. We’re really looking forward to that. This has been in the making for a long time; it’s our dream holiday since for ever,” she added.

“Once we’re back from Japan, we’ll put more savings away over the next two to three years to get a house, and, ideally, we’d get something around the Bishopstown area.”

Kelley reflected on why she fell in love with Adrian. “I feel very safe with him. He makes me laugh so much, he’s just genuinely kind. I can trust him with anything,” said Kelley. “I just love him so much, he’s my rock.

“If it wasn’t for me joining the anime and manga society, we wouldn’t have met, which is crazy to think about.”