I attended a wedding ceremony today. It was in Ballyhaunis. The couple, Seamus Kenny and Claire Healy were married by Fr Stephen Farragher. It was a lovely and uplifting ceremony and great to see people so obviously happy. Séamus is from Urlaur and Claire from Ballyhaunis. I wish them every happiness and blessing throughout their married life.
Will get back to a bit more writing in the coming days …. Thanks for checking in.
I had a wedding on Friday last in Lisacul Church. It was the wedding of two friends – Brian Tansey and Claire Corrigan and I was glad to be involved. I’ve known both of them for many years and look forward to keeping in touch with them long into the future.
With Brian and Claire Tansey after their wedding
I celebrated today (August 12th) with my cousin Lauren Gaffney and Jeremy Sternberg as they married in St Agnes’ Cathedral, Rockville Centre. It was a lovely gathering of family and friends. I was happy to be part of it and wish them every happiness and blessing as they start out on the journey of marriage. May God bless them and keep them ever close and loyal to each other.
Later we went to the Bridgeview Yacht Club for Jeremy and Lauren’s reception. It was a lively affair with such a huge variety of food on offer. I had to go for a walk to stop myself eating!! Okay, I didn’t rush into the walk but I DID go! I took some photos outside the reception that give a flavour of the day and place. A few indoors as well, from First Dance to evening’s end. I met some McDonnell cousins there too and it was good to catch up with them.
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Sunday, August 16th, saw us all in Coolaney, Co. Sligo for the marriage of John Duffy and Maura Conheady.
John is a parishioner here in Ballaghaderreen and the younger brother of one of our diocesan priests. Maura has been one of my best friends since we met in sixth class at primary school in Mullaghroe in 1975-76. She moved, with her family, from Tulla in Co. Clare and her father taught in the Vocational Schools in Gurteen and Ballymote.
We lost contact for a while when I went to St Nathy’s College and Maura to the Convent Boarding School in Swinford. Neither did we see each other when I was in Maynooth and she in Teacher Training College in Dublin. Our paths did cross though, shortly after my ordination when I said Mass in Ballymote one day – filling in for a local priest – and Maura came to see me after Mass. She was with her mother Teresa (R.I.P.). I suppose that was over twenty years ago now and, since then she has been one of my most constant friends.
I had a part to play in John and Maura meeting and I am so glad that their meeting led to yesterday’s gathering in Coolaney. They were both so happy. There was a guest book passed around and I wrote something along the lines that if I have the chance to look back over my life, this day and having a part in making it happen, will certainly be one of the good things I will look back on and take some joy in.
Fr Eugene was the Chief-Celebrant at the Wedding Mass and Fr Pat Holleran, the parish priest in Coolaney and I concelebrated. It was a worthy celebration! Pat Holleran even supplied “roses” of the chocolate kind after Mass. Nobody complained!!
Ann, Maura's sister and Terri (her niece) arriving at church
Bride and Flowergirl
Just before Mass (Maura used to teach in the school in the background)
The photo is out of focus but they're FOCUSED!
Candles representing Teresa, Maura's mother and Henry, John's father, R.I.P.
Eileen, John's mother
Paddy, Maura's father
Vows and Rings exchanged
The family that prays together ............
Marriage candles - new light - new life
Le cheile!
Leaving the church - John and Maura Duffy!
Parting shot! Photo taken just before I left the reception ...
On August 1st I celebrated with Brendan Carroll and Aoife Spelman their marriage in the Cathedral, Ballaghaderreen. It was a later than usual wedding – taking place at 4pm and was followed by a reception near Brendan’s home in Urlaur (Parish of Kilmovee). Interestingly, when filling in Aoife’s marriage details (today) I realised that she was baptized and married in the Cathedral on the same day of the year – August 1st. I won’t say how many years have passed between the two gatherings!
Brendan and Aoife just after the wedding Mass
Register signing (thanks to Noelle for taking this picture)
The Bridal Party
The Wedding Mass has just ended. Heading to the reception in a while. Thought I’d post a few (the only few I have) photos. Ceremony went well. Different to home in some ways but the same in the central ways so was comfortable enough.
Sarah waits in car before the ceremony. Ahead of time! That's different to home!
Bestman James and Groom Ben wait in sacristy before Mass
Altar Servers ready for the moment
Soon to be blessed and always to be worn
The procession begins
Cathedral View
Husband and Wife - Ben and Sarah Barbarotto
Greeting Guests
The Robbins Family (Sarah's aunt, uncle and cousin)
With Ben and Sarah after Mass
Three Grandmothers and one Grandfather were there. Sarah’s Grandmother was married for sixty-five years – her husband died about two years ago. Ben’s paternal grandparents will be married sixty years next month so all points towards a long and happy marriage.
Later in the day I went to Ben and Sarah’s Wedding Reception. A very lively affair – music and dancing accompanied the food throughout. People wanted to dance and they did! I met a good number of the guests and it was good to have some time with them. Among them, I met more of my cousins and was at table with Barbara McDonnell, her daughter Teresa Ganly and her daughter Jennifer. Also at table was John and Diane Gaffney, Diane’s sisters, mother and brother-in-law. Certainly I felt I was treated as family. Borrowing from the movie title of some years ago, John referred to me as “my cousin Vinny”!!
With Barbara McDonnell
Theresa, Barbara and Jennifer
John and Diane
Ben and Sarah - enjoying the moment
Sarah's Grandmother
John and Lauren
"Dance with my father"
Let's dance
Tonight we had the rehearsal for Ben and Sarah’s wedding on Saturday next. The rehearsal was taken by Brendan Donegal who works here in the parish. I was pretty much an onlooker so had the chance to take a few photos.
Gathering for rehearsal
Sarah putting her niece and flower girl on the right path!
Standing with the groom
Standing with the bride
Ben and Sarah listen carefully
Taking it all in
Sarah's parents look on
Ben's parents
Rehearsal nears conclusion
Lauren, Sarah's sister and bridesmaid
Mother and daughter - Diane and Sarah
A few shots from days around wedding of two friends in Arlington, Virginia and a tune to share!
Last weekend, I had the chance to attend a wedding in Worcester, Massechussetts of Liz Parker and Joe Gagne. It was celebrated in the Memorial Chapel of Holy Cross College. I was only a few days there but really enjoyed the time – not least the chance to spend some time with the Jesuit Community at Holy Cross. My thanks to Fr. Jim Hayes and all the others I met there. The hospitality was superb and the chance to spend a bit of time on campus most enjoyable.
Joe and Liz
The wedding was a prayerful celebration and took place at 10am! A bit earlier for a wedding than I’d be used to! Fr. Jim was celebrant of the Wedding Mass and I preached the “cupla focail” (few words). The church was amazing and a credit to all who care for it so well. Indeed I had the chance on Friday to meet some of the caretaker team and they were so obviously proud of the chapel.
Memorial Chapel, Holy Cross College
I was glad to meet some old friends at the wedding, Corky and Jeanie Korves as well as Carrie and Guillermo and also to meet some new people as well – The Hodgens Family, Andrew (from Wigan) who flew in from Ohio and many of Liz and Joe’s respective families.
Wedding Collage
A good few days! Thursday to Sunday a bit short though for Trans-Atlantic travel!!
I am in Arlington, Virginia, today waiting to celebrate with Chris Korves and Erin McCabe their marriage in St. Mark’s Church, Vienna. I have known Chris for more than a decade now, first meeting him in Huntington NY when his grandmother died, R.I.P. She was Margaret Jordan, a native of Lisacul, and I was doing some summer placement in St. Patrick’s Parish, Huntington. I attended Margaret shortly before she died and was amazed to discover she was from Ballaghaderreen. Our friendship formed around her death and I am happy to say, has remained strong and important to this day. Hence my being here!
I came to Washington on Wednesday and stayed with Chris’ family in the days leading to the marriage ceremony. Weddings here tend to differ from home in that there can be a lot of pre-ceremony parties and get togethers! That’s another story! For now, glad to be here and look forward to the ceremony later in the afternoon. My aunt, Mary Margaret, is here as well. Chris’ family and Mary Margaret have become good friends through the years and I’m glad I had some part in making that happen. She lives in Richmond, about 100 miles from Chris’ parents, Jeanie and Corky and they meet regularly enough.
