How I met my partner: First date on the Marina led to living in Canada and Australia before settling in Cork

From the Gold Coast to Goleen Harbour, love travelled to far-flung corners of the world for this Dillon’s Cross-based couple.

Kate Philpott, the director of the Creative Society, and Seán Philpott, who works in business operations at Dell, began their 11-year-long romance right here in Cork.

Kate, 35, who is originally from Clare, told The Echo that she first met her husband, 35-year-old Seán, who is from Douglas, in 2014.

“It was the summertime. I was in my house with my house mate, Shane, and he asked if he could have a couple of lads over,” said Kate.

“I think the World Cup was on, and in walked Seán.

“After we met for the first time I realised I recognised him: Seán, his brothers, and his dad would often go to Wild Ways for breakfast on Prince’s St, which was the café next to the clinic I worked at, and I remember thinking that he was handsome.”

After their chance encounter, the pair began chatting regularly, before going on their first date in Blackrock a few weeks later.

“For our first date, we went to the Marina and literally just sat down and had a chat and a stroll,” said Kate.

“We started dating properly then in October of that year.

“Within six months of us going out, Seán brought me to Il Padrino’s in town, and told me that he was planning on moving to Toronto and he asked me to go with him.

“In 2015, we moved to Toronto together.

“We lived there for about a year, came back [to Cork], and then, in 2016, we moved to Australia.

“We lived on a farm while we were there for about four months, and we absolutely loved it.

“Then, we moved to Brisbane for the rest of our time there.

“We were in Australia for about two years, before coming back to Cork in 2019.”

Following their return, the couple moved into Seán’s grandmother’s home in Dillon’s Cross, where they reside to this day, with their dog, Burleigh, and their daughter, Fia.

“When we got back from Australia, we moved in here, and I remember it was our six-year anniversary, and Seán surprised me with our dog, who is our first baby,” said Kate.

“He brought me down to Macroom — he told me we were going to do an obstacle course, and I was allergic.

“We drove up to someone’s front door and I remember saying, ‘Please don’t tell me this obstacle course is in someone’s back garden’, but it was all a hoax and Burleigh was there.

“She’s such an important part of our journey. We named her after a beach in Australia that we used to live near.”

Since the couple brought Burleigh home, Kate started up her business, Seán started his new job as a sales strategy and planning advisor, the pair purchased their house, found out they were expecting their first child, got engaged, and subsequently married.

“I didn’t have a clue that he was going to propose, to be honest with you,” said Kate.

“Marriage was on neither of our radars — we knew we’d eventually get married, but it wasn’t a priority.

“In September of 2023, we booked a stay at these cabins in Goleen — they’re literally on Goleen Harbour, so you’re looking out on the water.

“The reason we booked it was because it was dog friendly, we wanted to bring Burleigh with us, and it was a lovely weekend,” she added.

“We went to Schull and then to Barleycove Beach for a little dip, and that was right before the engagement.

“We went out to Goleen Harbour, and we were looking out onto the ocean — he was like, ‘ Will we get a selfie?’ and that is rare — so he set up my phone, and I was holding Burleigh, trying to get her in to the picture; I was looking at her [and] when I looked up at him, he was down on one knee.

“It was the biggest shock of my life. About two weeks beforehand, I found out I was pregnant — we were over the moon.

“We decided to go for a really intimate ceremony with our immediate family, so we actually got married in February of 2024 — we did it at the registry office; we had a reception at Seán’s parents’ house in Frankfield, and then we went out to the Angler’s Rest for some grub.

“It was probably the busiest year of our life — we got engaged, bought the house, got married, and then had Fia in May.

“Seán was amazing [during my pregnancy], and he has turned out to be the most incredible dad — I am just so proud of him, and he’s brilliant with Fia, she just adores him.

“If we’re lucky, we’d love to have another baby eventually, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”