John Reynolds Photography

Katie & Declan

2012-01-11T15:28:00.001Z

Katie & Declan live in sunny Sydney, so a windy, wintry Westport isn't what they're used to these days. Not that it mattered, as they have very sunny dispositions, and this was a fun-filled day from start to finish.

It's fair to say that working in the west of Ireland, you come across a few grooms who aren't all that turned on by photography and don't enjoy "working the camera" in America's Next Top Model style. Declan definitely didn't fit into that category - he was very confortable strutting his stuff in front of the lens, while the beautiful Katie is always going to look good on camera.

We had a stop at Westport House en route to the hotel. The wind whipped Katie's veil off, but Declan was quick to the rescue. It's a beautiful location to take photographs; I'd love to get back there in 2012 on a warm Summer's day. Then we had a quick whistlestop tour of the winecellar and swimming pool in Knockranny House before dinner & dancing.

Nicola & Graham - Kilronan Castle, 28th December

2012-01-11T14:01:00.000Z

I got straight into the swing of things after Christmas back in Kilronan Castle. Nicola and Graham had been down in the studio a couple of weeks earlier where we did some pre-wedding shots. Badoo the dog was with them that day, but he didn't get to come to the wedding, other than to appear figureatively on the top of the wedding cake.

The jetty at Lough Meelagh was still underwater, but given the miserable weather, we were happy to head back to Kilronan for the welcoming glass of champagne and to use the Castle interiors for photographs. Down in the function room, Nicola & Graham's friemnds had put together a fantastic "Candy Counter" with all sorts of exotic confectionary. I even saw sherbert-filled flying saucers for the first time in twenty years, which had been specially sourced in Germany. With such an after-dinner sugar rush, I'm sure the guests quickly filled the floor once The Good Guys started playing....

Michelle & Connell

2012-01-05T12:54:00.000Z

I definitely couldn't describe Michelle as shy, but she wasn't sure about having any photos on the Blog, until Connell persuaded her it would be all right. So I've limited it to a few here, just in case!

This was a great day out, and we were lucky enough to get beautiful light down at the shore of Lough Gill. Even the swans came out to play. It was dark by the time we got to The Mill Park, but that didn't dim the welcome from Mary and the staff at the Hotel. A special mention for youung Seamus Patrick who came all the way from chicago for the big day and looked very smart in his suit and cap as you can see below as he and PJ march into the church with the big boys....

Caroline & Padraig

2012-01-05T12:32:00.000Z

As we moved into December, my next wedding was in Kilronan Castle, where Caroline & Padraig tied the knot. There was a big exodus from Kildare for this one, with plenty of GAA representatives, given that Padraig is a Kildare County player. The disappointment at losing to Donegal had abated by the time the wedding came around, and the mood was upbeat all day, led by bridesmaid Laura who also got the chorus line going with the singing waiters later.

The ceremony itself took place just down the road in Keadue Church, and despite the cold and miserable conditions, the bridal party braved the elements at Lough Meelagh. The jetty was actually underwater after the amount of rainfall we'd had, but with the great interiors in the Castle, it didn't really matter.

The flowers came from Calla and the dancing from the always-fantastic Late Nite Radio. After the wedding, Caroline & Padraig were heading for the sunshine in the Maldives, the lucky things.

Marese & Mark

2012-01-05T12:10:00.000Z

Marese & Mark's wedding took place in Conacool, Tubbercurry on a fairly wintry day. It was certainly wild and windy up at the Chieftain statue in the Curlews, where we stopped to take a few photographs en route to The Landmark Hotel. Our reward was a dramatic, storm-cloud filled sky as a backdrop for the shots.

Brian Duignan was alongside me on video for the third time in four weddings - we were like pair of strikers who play together regularly, knowing exactly where the other was going to be at any moment for a pass. After the excellent speeches, Gobsmacked provided the music for the night.

Clíona & Sean

2011-11-22T13:11:00.001Z

It was my first time to photograph a wedding in Carrick Church since its renovations, and it was looking good at Cliona & Sean's wedding. Sounding good too, as the full St Mary's Carrick Choir were in fine voice. Clíona's parents, John & Catherine would normally be in the gallery with them, but they had other things on their mind that day.

I started the day in Enhance, where Gráinne was applying the final flourishes to Clíona, Emer & Catherine. The it was out to John & Catherine's new house for the final preparations. The weather was iffy, but we did get a few dry spells, and the rain held off as Clíona arrived at the Church. I can't rememeber who it was scurrying past to get inside before the bride, but Cliona was obviously happy to see them.

It was raining at The Abbey, so, as always, Tom Greally was on hand with champagne and mulled wine to lift peoples' spirits. We did get five minutes outside in the grounds, but had to keep the umbrellas close by at all times. Clíona & Sean's little boy Tadgh was a star of the show. He was one year old the next day, and he loved the camera.

Brian Duignan was alongside me on video, Norma Duignan provided the flowers, and the fantastic Late Nite Radio rocked the joint until the early hours of Saturday morning.

Caitriona & Craig

2011-10-29T17:10:00.002+01:00

It's not every day that you have a Bishop concelebrating a wedding, but we did last week for Caitriona & Craig - The Bishop of Achonry, Brendan Kelly. He was very low-key though, no mitres or croziers. One of the other celebrants was my former school chaplain, while Craig & Caitriona's friend, Fr Chris was the one to actually conduct the ceremony.

The first surprise of the day was the arrival of the wedding "car" to Caitriona's house. Craig had arranged a vintage VW Camper van for the day, as both he and Caitriona are keen on sporty road-trip activities - kayaking, cycling, surfing. It went down a treat with Caitriona, though I'm not sure her mother, Mary, was quite so keen. It got Caitriona and Eamon to the Church on time, though it ran into a spot of bother later. There were monsoons throughout the day, with water lying everywhere on the roads. The poor old camper van couldn't cope, and gave up the ghost just as it got into Mohill. Pushing didn't help, so a rope did the trick, and the bride & groom arrived to Lough Rynn in style, being towed behind Eamon's car.

As you'll see from the pictures, despite the rain and the breakdowns, Caitriona & Craig kept smiling throughout the day - this was a fun wedding with great atmosphere and lovely people. I didn't get to hear enough of Caitriona's brother Liam's Rugby World Cup adventure, but he picked up a few souvenirs along the way, with Jonathan Sexton giving Liam his boots and Brian O'Driscoll presenting him with a jersey. Caitriona & Craig are enjoying a cycling holiday in Grenada for their honeymoon, something I'd love to do sometime. I'm sure Caitriona won't need her wellies there, but they certainly came in handy on Saturday.

Natalie & Anthony

2011-10-26T10:57:00.002+01:00

I was back to the seaside and The Diamond Coast in Enniscrone for the second time in a couple of weeks for Natalie & Anthony's wedding. First though, it was off to Natalie's house in Charlestown for hair & make-up, before going on to her parents' to get into the dresses. There was a high sense of anticipation and a fine crowd there - hardly surprising, as Natalie has ten brothers & sisters. You can get a sense of the activity in the pics from the kitchen below.

The Church of St James was beautifully decorated with flowers, candles and ribbon by Mayo Wedding Florists, which transformed it into a warm, intimate, atmospheric space. En route to Enniscrone, we braved the elements and stopped by Lough Talt. The mist was on the mountain, but the rain held off. After a couple of "standard" shots, the craic started, and we had good fun before moving on. Brian Duignan was shooting the video alongside me, and as the weather was holding out, we braved a brief stop at the beach. No sooner had I clicked the shutter for the last time than the heavens opened. Sometimes timing is everything.

Hazel & Diarmaid

2011-10-26T10:24:00.000+01:00

There was a strong black & white theme running through the Hazel & Diarmaid's wedding. It was a black tie affair, with Hazel looking stunning in her white Lyn Ashworth dress, while the bridesmaids wore little black numbers. Diarmaid and the boys cut quite a dash too, sporting very natty waistcoats. There was no shortage of colour either, especially in Ballintubber Abbey, which was bedecked with candles for the occasion.

I arrived in time to report that the condemned man ate a hearty breakfast, before joining the ladies for their preparations. Hazel got ready in a beautiful suite with bright sunshine pouring in through the bay windows. The mood was relaxed, and we had plenty of time before heading for Ballintubber. After the ceremony we had a stroll through the cloisters before heading back to the hotel for a warm welcome and champagne-a-plenty from Aoife.

Despite some showers, we got out into the fabulous grounds of Mount Falcon Estate before dinner. After the very entertaining speeches, videographer Paschal Brooks played a highlights reel from the day before The Aristocrats got the crowd onto the dancefloor. The flowers were by Josephine from Calla Floral Design. It was good to see Fr Barry Horan again too, who I last met at Aoife & Donnacha's wedding a couple of years ago. I'm not sure where Hazel and Diarmaid are right now, as their dream honeymoon takes in Paris, Aruba & New York. Wherever you are, hope you enjoy these...

Marguerite & Noel

2011-10-20T13:25:00.001+01:00

Red was the colour for Marguerite & Noel's wedding - there was a bright splash of it in the bride's dress and even the cars were bedecked in red ribbons for the occasion. To top it all, Marguerite and Noel travelled to and from the Church in a bright red vintage fire engine. Noel's firefighter colleauges also turned out in full dress uniform to form a guard of honour. Even the fantastic cake (made by my cousin Lorraine) was fire-brigade themed. The reception was held in Lough Rynn, and the weather held out for us to get down to the walled gardens. Paul Noone was on video alongside me on the day, our first time to work together, though I'm sure it won't be the last.

Roisin & John

2011-10-20T13:03:00.001+01:00

It was something of a city chíc wedding, as The Radisson Blu in Athlone was the venue for Roisín & John's wedding on 30th September. Rain didn't dampen anyones' spirits as we took a walk through the streets and across The Shannon after the ceremony. There's a touch of the famous Beatles Abbey Road album cover about the zebra crossing picture, as my Fab Four made their way down to the river. A special mention to Geraldine & Adonis from Floradale who did a great job on the bouquets and floral designs that embellished the venue. The shoe shot is for Roisín, who apparently rivals Imelda Marcos in her love of footwear.

Kate & Kieran

2011-10-19T21:01:00.003+01:00

Kate is a Boyle girl, and she got both of Boyle's photographers for her big day, as I shared the photography with my friend Tony Murphy. She went a bit further for her husband though - Kieran is from Melbourne. I started the day with the lads- a nice relaxed bunch of Aussies. Luke was so relaxed he slept it out and just about reported for duty on time. The biggest challenge when Kate arrived was to try and get all seven flowergirls to stand still in the same place for a second. It reminded me a little bit of this from Kate Moss's wedding! After the wedding, we stopped for some pictures by the Cliff Baths - the tide was high and the light was bright and contrasty. Then it was on to the Hotel and the usual warm welcome from Mary and all at the Diamond Coast.

Aoife & Karl

2011-10-19T20:34:00.000+01:00

I was on the rocky road to Dublin next for Aoife & Karl's wedding in Blanchardstown. Everything went well until we tried to get to the church, only to find that the route was blocked by a Garda open day which had closed the road, leading to big tailbacks around the area. A far cry from one wedding I had last year where we got a high-speed Garda escort back to the reception. The extra wait might not have done much for Karl's nerves, but it didn't impact on the day, as the sun shone in the grounds of the Carlton Hotel after the ceremony.

Catherine & Paddy

2011-10-19T12:52:00.000+01:00

The inclement weather continued on Saturday for Catherine & Paddy's wedding in Athlone. There was a monsoon during the ceremony and the skies were dark all day. During a brief break in the rain, we made a little sortie out onto the course at The Glasson Country House & Golf Club. It lasted about thirty seconds before the heavens opened again. It hardly mattered, as everyone was happy inside at the champagne reception, but once again, patience had its reward as we got a few minutes between the downpours before dinner.

Laura & Aidan

2011-10-19T12:39:00.001+01:00

Catching up on a few weddings that should have been blogged over the past few weeks, so again I'll spare you the commentary and just get on with posting the pictures. First up are Laura & Aidan who got married in Darane, with their reception in The Abbey Hotel in Roscommon. Our planned stop at the Castle was interrupted by a downpour before we got started, but luckily the clouds cleared back at the Hotel and we got a chance to have a stroll through The Abbey's beautiful grounds.

The Chapel Sessions - Declan O'Rourke

2011-10-06T12:42:00.001+01:00

Though I still have some weddings to post from the past couple of weeks, I'm skipping the queue with something different. Aoife McCormack (introducing the show below) & Phoebe Campbell are promoting a new series of gigs - The Chapel Sessions - in St George's Chapel, Carrick-On-Shannon, which kicked off on Saturday night with Declan O'Rourke. It's a beautiful, intimate venue, bedecked in candles for the evening, and holding around 150 people. Donnacha from Late Nite Radio was acting as Lighting Engineer on the night and created an eerie atmospheric effect with two blue spotlights on the floor at 45 degrees, casting giant shadows on the side walls of the church. Beautiful for the audience, tricky for photographers! The gig itself was excellent, Declan clearly enjoying the intimacy and the unique setting. Hopefully it'll be the first of many.

Andrea & Darran

2011-09-19T14:14:00.002+01:00

Dublin won in Croke Park yesterday, but there was also a big match for the Dubs last Saturday, as Southside and Northside united in Carrick-On-Shannon for Andrea & Darran's wedding. Bornacoola Church was the venue, with the post-match celebrations taking place in The Landmark Hotel. It was almost a double wedding, as Andrea and Darran stepped out of the spotlight briefly for Andrea's brother John and his new bride, Sujatha to receive a blessing from Fr O'Brien, after their recent marriage in Boston.

On the way back to The Landmark we dodged between the showers in Drumsna and Jamestown, not all that successfully, and with the wind and rain whipping off the Shannon, decided the shelter of The Black Mint Bar was a more sensible place to take some photographs than attempting to venture outside again.

Ciara & James

2011-09-15T21:30:00.002+01:00

If every bride was like Ciara, the life of the wedding photographer would be an easy one. Not only beautiful, radiant and happy to be photographed, she was also the most punctual bride I've ever worked with. In fact, on several occasions throughout the day, I encouraged her to take her time or we'd be too far ahead of ourselves. My day started in O'Donohoe's of Abbeyknockmoy, where James had a little nerve-settling single malt in his Dad's pub, while contemplating the day ahead. We were soon joined by Sean himself, Brandy the Corgi, and Oscar the Dachshund.

As we headed off to The Lodge at Ashford, we were sent on our way by a trail of bonfires from Abbey out to and beyond Finn's Cross. I've seen this Galway tradition before, but never on quite the same scale. I even spotted one enthusiatic participant using a flamethrower attached to a Calorgas cylinder. Back at The Lodge we had a great laugh doing the photos in the grounds. Pageboy Adam found a frog which he presented to the Princess Bride - Ciara didn't have to kiss it to see if it would turn into a handsome Prince - she alrady had hers right by her side.

Deirdre & Gene

2011-09-15T21:07:00.000+01:00

A nice local one for me next, just down the road to Croghan, across the N4 to Cootehall, and then up the mountain to Cromleach Lodge. There were two dogs at Deirdre's House, one old and friendly, and the younger chap below. One of Deirdre's aunts told me he was grand, a typical bark-worse-than-bite dog. So I went over to say hello. Big mistake, as he went ballistic. Deirdre's Dad Padraig appeared, and said the dog would "eat me without salt". I decided to retreat and leave it til another day to try my Cesar Millan techniques.

Fr Brian conducted the ceremony with his usual good humour and style, sitting in the congregation and letting the bridal party take the spotlight front and centre. After that, we got down to Lough Key for a few photos before heading on to the hotel where Nicholas & Christy provided the usual warm Cromleach welcome and the party began.

Jackie & Niall

2011-09-15T20:47:00.000+01:00

This time of year, things always get hectic, but the way my weddings have fallen means that August & September have been manic. So it's hard to keep up with everything, the Blog has suffered a little bit, and I now find myself 4 Weddings behind. I'll spare you some of my usual guff, dear reader, and just get on with posting the pics instead.

Ger was with me for Jackie & Niall's wedding, looking after the lads beforehhand and putting together a lovely slideshow for the guests to enjoy over dinner in Castle Dargan. Donnacha, Ronnie, Donal & Dave - other wise known as Late Nite Radio - took it home from there.

Triona & John - The Athlone Sheraton, 26th August

2011-08-29T19:55:00.000+01:00

"Well if that doesn't beat Banagher!"
We've all heard the quote, and apparently it comes from the fact that Banagher was once a 'pocket borough', which meant the local lord was able to nominate its representatives in Parliament. The town became famous for this lack of democracy, so if something was really odd, it was said to 'beat Banagher.' Joyce, Trollope and Plunkett, amongst others, have used the expression in their novels. On Friday, Banagher would have taken a lot of beating, as a great crowd gathered for Triona & John's wedding. Most of them seemed to arrive in Triona's house before the ceremony too - I have never seen so many people in the bride's house on the morning of a wedding. Even so, Toby the King Charles, and Triona's Dad PJ were able to stay relaxed, while Pageboy Liam took to the trampoline to overcome any pre-wedding nerves.

The ceremony was conducted in great humour by the wonderfully-named Fr Pierre Pepper. As Triona works in The Railway Bar, there was another little ceremony to be conducted when she pulled John's first pint (Smithwicks) as a married man, before having a drink with some of her regulars. One of the dangers of stopping for a quick one in the local after a wedding is that it can be very hard to leave. John anticipated this on Friday, so he barred the bridal party, who were sent straight on to Clonmacnoise to wait for us. They took it in good heart though.

It was my first time to photograph a wedding in The Sheraton, and Nigel was a great help in escorting us around this large hotel, where we visited the bridal suite for the view over the Shannon and The Presidential Suite for a special request for Triona. Again, my groom was a big Liverpool fan - and he could prove it. I seem to be a magnet for Koppites at the moment!

Surekha & John

2011-08-23T13:24:00.002+01:00

Friday's wedding in Markree Castle promised to be a colourful affair, and it certainly lived up to expectations. Groom John is a London-based Fashion Designer, who has been making quite a name for himself in the rag trade, working alongside lots of well-known names, including The Clothes Show's Jeff Banks. He's a Sligo boy though, and he brought his beautiful bride Surekha back to his native county to wed her. Surekha is an East End girl, second-generation Indian, which added to the colour and excitement of the event. The bridesmaids and ladies in Surekha's family were resplendent in their Saris. There was even one guest, Gerry, who was dressed in traditional African ceremonial robes, (from Sierra Leone), for the first part of the day, before changing into a dashing tartan kilt for the evening revelries.

It was standing-room only as the guests packed into the Chapel in Markree, a lovely, ornate, but very dark space. The Ceremony began with the Civil declarations, and carried on with a combination of traditional Hindu and Gaelic elements, which made for a very unique celebration of marriage. There were garlands, fire, music, and recitals from Yeats.

Though the rain had fallen steadily all day, luck was with me once again, as the downpour stopped just before dinner, allowing us to get outside for a wander through the Castle gardens. The speeches were very entertaining - Surekha's brother Kerit was nervous over dinner, but delivered his with aplomb, and then the ghost of Eamonn Andrews appeared in the form of Best Man Declan, who walked us through an hilarious Episode of This Is Your Life. John seemed genuinely delighted to be reunited with his childhood Teddy Bear.

The music throughout the day was outstanding - there was a classical quartet during the ceremony, Sligo's own Tucan played in the evening - but the one who stole the show was John's nephew, Killian Filan. Only 16, he took to the stage during the ceremony and blew everyone away with his performance. Great voice and the poise and confidence to match. His uncle Shane was also present; there were no signs of a Westlife medley by the time I was leaving, but that may well have happened later.

Gail & Alan - 13th August, Village At Lyons

2011-08-17T13:25:00.002+01:00

I was venturing further afield on Saturday, and had been looking forward to this one for a while. It's always good to discover a new venue, especially when its as picturesque as The Village At Lyons. First stop was at Gail's house in Rathcoole, where I got a nice surprise when Gail's sister Gwen answered the door to me. Gwen was Chief Bridesmaid at Zarinah & Cathal's wedding last Summer but I hadn't made the connection.

Saturday underlined to me again just how important professionalism is to people on their wedding day. The bride and groom have never been through a wedding day before, but those of us who have - photographers, videographers, florists, make-up artists, hairdressers, musicians, chauffeurs, hoteliers, etc, all have a duty of care and a responsibilty to our Clients to help them through the process smoothly, allowing them to enjoy the day as much as possible. One of the most important aspects of that is paying attention to the schedule and timings. It is not good for the nerves when the bride still hasn't had her hair and make-up finished five minutes before the ceremony is due to start!

This would have rattled many couples, but Gail and Alan were able to take the delay in their stride. As you can see below, Gail looked stunning in her deStafford dress, and was all smiles when she arrived at the Church, though I'm pretty sure that quizzical look in Alan's eye as they sat down at the alter is asking "what time do you call this?".

By the time we got to The Village At Lyons, all we had to contend with was the weather. After a heavy shower put paid to our first attempt to get outside we took shelter in the bar with a glass of bubbly before regrouping and taking a stroll along The Grand Canal, bringing Patrick Kavanagh to mind -
"Leafy-with-love banks and the green waters of the canal
Pouring redemption for me"...
In truth it was less poetic and more good craic, as the bridal party enjoyed themselves. Groomsman Tom has a future as a male model if he wants. The pose below is only one of many he struck during his 60-second individual session.

For anyone studying the more technical aspects of photography, the first one below was shot hand-held at 1/13th of a second to blur the water flowing over the mill, while Gail and Alan were kept sharp by firing off-camera flash zoomed to 105mm from rear and left. Gail's Dad Jimmie is a recently-retired professional photographer so he might be interested at least! Thanks for sending on the evening pics Jimmie. Cathal Farrelly filmed the video on the day - it was my first time working with him, and it was a pleasure. Deuces Wild got them dancing, and the very elegant Bentley Flying Spurs came from Privilege Limos.

Karen & Mark - 12th August, The Landmark Hotel

2011-08-16T18:14:00.002+01:00

I have had an incredible run in 2011 - 28 weddings and not a single one rained off, despite the iffy weather we've experienced all year. It looked as though I was about to come unstuck on No.29 though, as the forecast was dire, and I drove to Arva in dismal conditions. They continued throughout the day, it rained cats & dogs at the Church, we got drenched in Drumsna, it was lashing as we arrived at The Landmark. Brian Duignan on video had cleverly brought his "Mac in a Sac", but I had no shelter from the storm. And then, just before dinner, the sun appeared. Not for long, but it gave Karen & Mark the chance to have a stroll along the boardwalk at the Shannon, and kept my run going for another while.

Karen was very cool about the weather, and took almost everything in her stride. The only thing that panicked her for a moment was when the pre-ceremony bottle of champagne was opened with a bang. You can see the cork in mid-air, but I think it's on it might actually be on its way back down after hitting the ceiling. Karen's Dad Michael looks pretty cool about it all, as he also does walking down the aisle, greeting friends in the congregation as he goes.

Mark is a sound man, with good taste in beers - all the tables were named after beers of the world - the top table was Pilsner Urquell. Sadly, he doesn't have such good taste when it comes to football. As an Everton supporter, I had to call on every ounce of professionalism to photograph the group of misguided lads below.

The happy couple are off to Bali and Australia for their honeymoon, which will be briefly interrupted for Karen to conduct an interview with NUI Maynooth while they're away. A Scientist, she's currently doing research in Oxford University, but Maynooth is a lot closer to home and to Cartron House where Mark is the head greenkeeper. He has obviously impressed some of the users of the course as among the messages of congratulations was one from the Irish Rugby side, signed by Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll, Declan Kidney and the rest of the squad. One to keep.

Patricia & Michael - 6th August

2011-08-15T18:16:00.001+01:00

I was back in The Landmark for the second day in a row for Patricia & Michael's wedding. Michael is a Kilnagross man, not too far from my own homeplace, so I spotted a fair few familiar faces in the crowd. First though, it was north to the other end of County Leitrim to Patricia's house in Dromahair.

I've talked before about the most emotionally-charged moments of the wedding day, which are as the bride walks up the aisle to meet her husband-to-be. For some reason, priests tend to tell the groom not to look around, but many grooms can't resist the temptation. Michael did, but you can see the anticipation, nervousness and excitement writ large in his face in the photograph below.

Leaving Sligo, the heavens opened, and as we drove through the deluge, had to abandon our plans to stop at the Holywell and Lough Gill. Hoping for better further down the road, we thought about Lough Arrow. No good, it was still pouring down. So I gave John Mitchell a buzz - the sun was shining in Boyle at Abbey House. As always, the lawns were beautifully manicured, so against all the odds we got our photo session done in perfect conditions.

Back at The Landmark Patricia and Emma rolled into action again, making everyone welcome and distributing cocktails to all. The legendary Sean Browne was on video duty, commandeering groomsman Martin to drive his car so he could get his "out the sunroof" shot. Brian McDermott and his band provided the entertainment.

Laura & Kenny

2011-08-15T17:43:00.000+01:00

It was a big Dubs day out in Carrick for Laura & Kenny's wedding as the Roches, the Browns and all their friends set off down the N4. Kenny has a connection with the area as his parents Alan & Siobhan have had a boat on the Shannon for years now. So where better to get married than Cootehall, and where better to celebrate it than The Landmark Hotel?

Laura was getting ready in the hotel, and as always, Patricia and Emma were in attendance. All their skills were put to the test, as they doubled up as hairdressers and florists before making running repairs to the cake that fell over in transit from Dublin. These two are up to any challenge! Meanwhile, the lads were across the Road in The Carrick Plaza and were gradually stirring themselves and finishing off their speeches.

After the ceremony, we had a stop at Lough Key before heading back to the hotel, and just before Dinner, we boarded the Brown's boat for a quick pic. It was specially bedecked in ribbons for the big day. A special mention for groomsman Johnny too, who kept the bridal party and me in stitches all day with his bawdy wisecracks.

Celine & Liam

2011-08-08T19:22:00.000+01:00

Celine likes her photography - she was originally going to book her neighbour Mark Capilitan, but he was already doing a wedding in my hometown of Carrick, so I went to his, in Strandhill. Mark kindly tipped me off as to where to get the nice view of Benbulben too. The brief was to do what I try to do at every wedding, be as unobtrusive as possible, get lots of natural pictures, and spend a little while taking some portraits. The people who book me don't want to spend a couple of hours posing for elaborate fashion-magazine type shots, they want the day to be captured in a freer, more relaxed way.

And the mood was very relaxed in Celine's when I arrived - Ann Young was busy helping the girls look even more beautiful, and everything was on schedule. Then it was on to the Church in Strandhill, which has recently been renovated, by Celine's Dad, Brendan. And a fine job he did on it too, as you'll see below.

For the second day in a row I hit the beach, but this time we avoided the crowds. Rain threatened, but didn't really materialise. Given the terrible forecast for rain all day, the gods were obviously smiling on Celine & Liam. Back at The Sligo Park the crowd were buzzing - Caroline Clancy was capturing everything on video - and Avril, Keith and the lads from Dejá Groove kept the dancefloor full for the night. Again, I'm a bit late with this one - this is the busiest time of year for me - but as it happens, today is a special day too, so Happy Birthday Celine! Enjoy those cocktails in Mauritius....

Paula & Jim

2011-08-04T23:08:00.001+01:00

I was back in Tullaghan on Friday, for the second time this year for Paula & Jim's wedding. I'd photographed Jim's sister Jacinta's wedding in March. That day, Enda performed the role of unofficial photographer, and we had a lots of banter throughout the day. He was much quieter on Friday as Best Man - having to carry out his official duties and make the speech obviously concentrated the mind. He did a great job of all of them too.

There was loads of activity when I got to the house where Paula was getting ready for the ceremony. The Smyth clan had all decamped from Cavan and travelled up for the wedding, so there was a good crowd in attendance, tying ribbons, pinning buttonholes and whatnot. Seamus, Paula & Jim's chauffeur for the day, was meticulously polishing an already gleaming car. Mine is a cross between a stable, a kennels, and a photo studio most of the time so I was very impressed to see how Seamus keeps his Audi in showroom condition.

After the ceremony, we spun up the road to Mullaghmore. On such a nice Summer day, it was pretty crowded, and it was quite a challenge to get a shot without hordes of paddlers in the background. So I decided if you can't beat them, join them. The opening shot reminds me a bit of days out at the beach when we were kids in the 70s. To escape the crowds, we headed up onto the foreland before going on the The Landmark in Carrick and the usual warm welcome from Patricia & Emma. Michael Freyne was on video, and the always-brilliant Late Nite Radio kept the crowd on the dancefloor for the night. Paula & Jim are on a bit of a US road trip at the moment, taking in California, Vegas and New York amongst others. Good luck in the Casinos!

Laura & Cathal

2011-07-28T12:15:00.000+01:00

It was a Reynolds Clan special last Friday with bride Laura, yours truly doing the photography, and Eamon from Big Apple on video - though none of us are related. I knew this one was going to be good craic, as both Laura and Cathal are outgoing, fun characters. I managed to cross the border from Laura's home in Cloone to Gortletteragh and make it back in one piece, to get to the lads beforehand. This is a real case of love across the barricades, as the local rivarly between the two clubs is very strong. The fact that Cathal is one of Gortletteragh's major stars, only heightens the drama. There's already some dispute over who young Jack will declare for in the future, though Cathal claims to have registered him for the green and gold.

We stopped by the lake at Aghnacliff for a wander on the boardwalk on the way to The Cavan Crystal Hotel. As Davy Connell's limo was pointing in the wrong direction, Laura hopped into my jeep to pop into PJ Hourican's to powder her nose. The Friday afternoon locals watching the horseracing were delighted to see a beautiful bride arriving in to add a bit of glamour to the place. They'd have been very happy to keep her there longer, but we had an urgent appointment elsewhere.

On to the hotel, where we were met by Riona, then dinner and speeches. Laura & Cathal aren't going on honeymoon for a few weeks yet. I think it might have something to do with Championship season. Laura might have more than one reason for wanting to see Gortletteragh go out early this year....

Trudy & Gerard

2011-07-28T10:00:00.001+01:00

Bit of a delay in posting these from last Friday week, but hopefully better late than never.... Trudy's house is in a beautiful setting on the slopes of a valley outside Ballymote, with colourful gardens that provided a nice backdrop to the pre-wedding photographs. Then it was off to Emlaghfad Parish Church, where Rev Adam Pullan was conducting his first Irish wedding since his posting from Wales a few months back. He got to grips with the local practices pretty well and all went very smoothly.

After the wedding, we had a stop in the grounds of John Mitchell's Abbey House, before continuing on to The Landmark Hotel. While the rain held off all day, there was a wicked wind blowing off the Shannon, whipping the red carpet off the ground. Always resourceful, Emma & Patricia found the perfect way of keeping it in place - sitting on it until the photo was taken!

Eamon from Big Apple Video was alongside me for the second week in a row and, as always, contributed to the fun and banter on the day. As the evening brightened up, we even had time for a quick stroll on the boardwalk across from the Hotel before dinner.

Deirdre & Seamus

2011-07-04T19:49:00.002+01:00

For a photographer, the drive down the N59 from Westport to the lovely Rosleague Manor in Letterfrack on a wedding morning is difficult. The temptation to pull over and take pictures of the stunning scenery is very hard to resisit. However, I managed it, and arrived in Rosleague just as Seamus was suffering a minor crisis after breaking one of his specially-commissioned wedding cufflinks. Luckily, the craftsman who made them is based in Clifden and rode to the rescue in jig-time.

Back at Kate's Cottage, Deirdre's Dad James was alone - the Doyle Girls were all still in the Beauticans - so we jumped in the car and popped up to see what was happening. Once all the make-up and mascara was applied, it was back to the cottage to change before heading for the Church. Deirdre's dramatic pink shoes turned a few heads on the day - for my fashion-concious readers, they were by Kurt Geiger.

After the ceremony, we had a wander on the picturesque deserted beach in Tullycross and a quick stop on the pier for some photographs. Then it was back to Rosleague, where Mark Foley welcomed everyone with champagne and oysters. The day was beautiful, and the everyone gathered on the lawn to socialise in the sunshine. Seamus had carried out extensive research in selecting the wines for dinner and was kind enough to give me a bottle of it to bring home. After the long drive back from Connemara, I was happy to crack it open on Saturday night. I can confirm that he has excellent taste in reds, and the Chateau Remaury 2009 Grande Reserve was very good indeed.

I should point out that Deirdre's mother Helena made the wedding cake below. The only significant absentee from the wedding was Deirdre & Seamus's Wheaten Terrier, Belle, who was in the kennels for a day or two. She did send a text though, and she is coming to the studio to view the pictures in a few weeks time...

Corina & Noel

2011-06-20T11:03:00.000+01:00

I knew Corina & Noel's wedding was going to be good craic, because they're both lively characters, full of fun, and always up for a laugh. And it really showed as I was glancing through the images to select a few for this post. They're smiling and laughing in so many of the pictures, with a dollop of dreamy romance thrown in for good measure.

The ceremony was beside the seaside in Kilglass, Enniscrone. The obvious thing to do would be to go to the beach for some pictures afterwards, so we did the opposite, and headed inland towards Cromleach Lodge. Corina and Noel liked the idea of greenery and lakes in their pictures - they're too used to shoreline. With an early start and Corina's time-management skills, we were able to relax, take some unhurried pictures and still be back at the hotel in plenty of time for a glass or two of champagne before dinner.

The weather was kind to us again - despite the fact that it seemed to be raining all over Ireland, the sun shone over Lough Arrow. Corina was radiant in her classical Maggie Sottero dress as we walked across the freshly-cut meadow to Ballindoon Abbey. The opening image of that walk is definitely one of my favourites from 2011. Eamon from Big Apple Video was alongside me all day and, as always, added to the fun and enjoyment. With William his second cameraman you can see there was more than one happy couple present on Saturday. Noel & Corina - enjoy the Thai beaches, and Corina, if you're looking for your sunglasses case, I'm keeping it safe in the studio here.

Lucy & Martin

2011-06-19T18:18:00.000+01:00

It was a blonde bombshell weekend for me, with Lucy & Corina's weddings. Lucy was first up, on Friday. From Sligo, living in London and marrying a Glaswegian, Lucy recently cycled from London to Paris with her bridesmaid Orlaith. Martin is no slouch either - he's not satisfied with ordinary triathlons, but instead competes in the Iron Man versions - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle, followed by running a full marathon. Every time he visits Sligo, he runs to the top of Knocknarae for some light exercise.

Running was far from his mind outside the Church on Friday, as he waited for Lucy. She was well worth the wait too, looking stunning in her Luci Di Bella dress. After the ceremony, we headed to Tobernalt and Lough Gill before going on to the reception in The Sligo Park Hotel. The promised rain never materialised; instead, guests sat outside and mingled in continental-style sunshine.

A recurring motif throughout the day was the series of caricatures that Martin's father Robin had drawn, which appeared on the invitations, booklets, seating plan, menus, and even adorned the label of the special edition Lumarmacy bottle of red wine. I was gone before best man James's speech, so didn't get to hear him deliver his carefully rewritten oration, which was amended after detailed negotiations with Lucy's mother, Helen. Caroline Clancy of Pink Lime will have captured it all on film I'm sure.

HiMac!

2011-06-17T08:36:00.000+01:00

This week I said hi to a new piece of equipment, and a new way of working. Technology changes at such a pace now that to keep working at the highest quality standards means continually upgrading and replacing gear. Already this year I've replaced my main camera, lens and flashgun. And with my trusty old Dell Dimension starting to slow down with the demands of newer RAM-hungry software packages, it was time to get something with a bit more power.

My mate Ger of Cedar Tree Digital Media has been a long-time user of Apple Macs and has spent the past couple of years nagging me to take the plunge and switch. So I finally did, and a new 27" iMac arrived the other day. At first it felt like writing left-handed, but it's all starting to make sense now. It's incredibly quick, the screen is fantastic, and no cables! Hopefully, it'll help me keep on top of a busy summer of weddings.

Anne & Gerard

2011-06-14T14:48:00.000+01:00

I was back in The Abbey Hotel for the second time in a week on Saturday. Anne & Gerry are pretty cool, unruffled customers - they only booked me a couple of months ago, but luckily I had the day free for them. When I spoke to them late last week though, things were pretty hectic and the pressure was on. Anne did a lot of the preparation work herself- she made the cake, and did all the flowers with her friend Jacinta - a great example to her Home Economics Leaving Cert Students.

When I popped into the church on my way to Anne's house it was already decorated with dozens of sunflowers, which also made up the bouquets. During his sermon, Fr Glennon spoke of the unforgettable sight of a vast field of sunflowers he'd seen in Turkey. When you added in the table decorations in the Abbey, there was probably a fair-sized field's worth used on Saturday, to great effect.

The day went smoothly and on schedule with only a brief hiccup when we tried to drive to the old Abbey Ruins instead of walking down from the hotel. After diversions into a couple of housing estates, we got sense, went to the Abbey, and strolled down. It's great to have different locations within a minute or two of the hotel - it adds variety and colour to an album - and as I mentioned last week, the mature trees in The Abbey gardens make great backdrops. Tom Grealy was as welcoming as always, and kept everything moving smoothly along until dinner was served.

Whan I met Anne & Gerry first, we were having a laugh about Gerry revealing his romantic side for the camera - well done Gerry, there's plenty of passion in the pictures!

Linda & James

2011-06-07T19:06:00.000+01:00

I rounded off my Whitsun Weddings in Longford on Saturday, as Lavagh girl Linda married Newtowncashel man James. I didn't realise until I got to her house that Linda's Dad is Longford football legend Liam Tierney, who played on the first Irish International side in the 1984 Compromise Rules Series, and now commentates on Shannonside Radio. He looked very proud walking Linda up the aisle, but was very modest when Fr Joe Brady spoke about his talents later.

I first met Linda at last year's wedding fair in Kilronan Castle - she's a big fan of classic black & white images, which is one of the reasons she liked my albums. Its ironic then that a lot of the the pictures from Saturday demand to be in colour, with greenery, flowers and blue skies at the Quarry Park in Newtowncashel, and beautiful mature trees in the grounds of The Abbey Hotel. As you can see from the pictures, there was a bit of rock-climbing involved at the quarry. Many brides might have opted to stay at ground level, but Linda was game and climbed all the way up to The Lovers' Retreat where she and James enjoyed a quiet moment or two together.

We had a giant family portrait session in the evening sunlight on the lawns of The Abbey before dinner, and having delegated the first dance shot to Linda's uncle Tony, I headed home tired but happy after my three-in-a-row. When you see a man sporting L Series glass on a 5D, he usually knows what he's doing. I'm back in The Abbey next Saturday and would love to get the same weather again.

Emer & Padraig

2011-06-07T13:06:00.002+01:00

I was back to Sligo and Carraroe Church for the second time in a couple of weeks for Emer & Padraig's wedding. I had photographed Emer's bridesmaid Karen's wedding a couple of years ago, so was delighted to hear that she now has a 10 week old baby boy, Cian. Emer would have been one of Karen's bridesmaids too, but she was expecting Hannah at any moment, so had to turn down the job. Little Hannah made a beautiful flower girl on Friday.

The reception was in the Radisson, so we headed up to Rosses Point to take a few photographs. Unfortunately, though the rest of the country was baking in the sunshine, there were grey skies overhead and a damp mist rolling in off the Atlantic. This triggered a frizzy hair alert, so we had to run for cover and head back to the hotel, where the craic was good, as there was plenty of time for people to mix and have a couple of drinks before dinner. Avril from Dejá Groove was a guest at the wedding, and no doubt she and the band rocked the joint later on. Padraig and his family are all musicians too and play in different groups and line-ups including Vinegar Bil, so I'm sure it was a late and lively night in the resident's bar.

Julie & Danny

2011-06-06T20:05:00.003+01:00

There was a feel of a Mayo All-Ireland Final Day on Thursday, as Kiltimagh closed up shop and headed to Kilronan Castle for the big match between Julie & Danny. This time they were guaranteed a win. The build-up had started on Tuesday, when all the key players checked into Kilronan, so the party had been going for two days by the time I arrived on Thursday morning.

The weather was glorious - blue skies & sunshine, just what everyone wants on their wedding day. Julie looked fabulous in her intricate lace dress, while her bridesmaid Jane did a Pippa on it in elegant blue. Danny too cut a dash, in his Hugo Boss suit from Louis Copeland and his brand-new Audi A5. The guests mingled over champagne on the patio outside the Dungeon Bar before dinner and it was obvious this was a very stylish affair. And there was one guest who attracted nearly as much attention as the bridal party - Julie's cousin Mark, who'd put a great deal of time and thought into his outfit for the big day, before opting for a Jeeves & Wooster look, complete with bowtie, man-bag and non-prescription glasses as accessories to complete the look.

There were lots of familiar faces around on the day - the lovely Annette Smyth did the girls' make-up, Michael Freyene was on video, Sinead Conway sang in the Church and again later as part of The Swing & Soul Review, Carmel from La Belle Fleur provided the flowers, while the cake came from Sharon in Cannaboe Confectionery. As I post this, Julie & Danny are in Frankfurt airport about to get on a plane for a dream honeymoon in Bali & Australia - have fun guys!

Alicia & Andy

2011-06-01T23:10:00.002+01:00

I'm very lucky in that I because I only take a limited number of weddings each year, I always meet my couples at length before each one. If I feel I'm not the right photographer for them, I'll recommend alternatives - if I am, then we get to know each other pretty well. So I don't have a stock of wedding nightmare or Bridezilla stories, unlike many photographers. However, it's still unusual to have a day when absolutely everything goes right - beautiful bride, cool groom, lots of time before the wedding with both the girls and the lads, friendly priest, great weather, lovely light, a fun bridal party, more photo time before dinner, and a beautiful reception venue.

Alicia & Andy's wedding was one of those days though - it went like a dream. It was always going to be fun - Alicia is funny & vivacious and I have at least two things in common with Andy - we're both Evertonians, and we're both into our music. I'm sure he's a better guitar player than me though. Instead of exchanging a coin with Alicia as a symbol of all his worldly goods, Andy gave her a silver plectrum. The wedding favour for the guests was a mix tape of their favourite love songs. There's some good stuff on it too.

Alicia had a large salon of ladies-in-waiting to help her - Laura, Louise and Janet Louise the senior bridesmaids, Saoirse & Caoimhe the junior bridesmaids, along with Gabriella and Alicia's two little sisters Alannhah and Eire as flowergirls. She took quite a risk in waiting until her make-up and dress were on before reading Andy's letter, which came with a big bouquet of flowers in the morning. We were expecting tears, but Alicia said she's used to receiving lovely letters, so the mascara survived. Later, the ladies-in-waiting took a break while hubby fixed the veil.

Brian Duignan swapped his still cameras for video for the day, and helped me to scramble up the wall of Lough Rynn's gardens to get the shot of the tower - in fact it was his idea. I didn't like the look of the 20-foot drop on the other side though. Ellen, Ciaran, Michael & Aisling looked after everyone as well as ever, Ellen even ferrying us to and from the gardens in the golf buggy. After the speeches, I made it back to Boyle for the second half of The Champions League final. I don't know if best man Paul got to see any of it. He's a dedicated Man U fan, but gave up his Wembley ticket to come to the wedding - that's friendship. He might have been better off in the ballroom than watching Barca, as it turned out...

Teresa & Stephen

2011-06-01T16:41:00.000+01:00

A slight delay in posting pictures from Teresa & Stephen's wedding in Ballinagh and The Crover House Hotel, due to a mixture of being away for a few days, a couple of commercial jobs, as well as a wedding and a communion last weekend. However, it's full focus on wedding work for the rest of the Summer, and with a new super-computer arriving next week, all should be back on track.

At the moment, Teresa & Stephen are kicking back in the sunshine on a Caribbean Cruise, so thoughts of the dire weather we'd had in the run up to the big day will be far from their minds. There was a big storm forecast for the following day, which duly arrived, but the heavens smiled on them, and all we had to contend with were a few heavy showers. In between, the sun kept peeping out, casting some lovely light over the grounds of Crover House. I was in good company too, with Eamon from Big Apple Video filming events.

The moments before the bride arrives at the Church are always tense, and Stephen looked very thoughtful as he waited at the alter. There's quite a contrast in mood with the picture in the Church door as they salute their guests.

One of the highlights of the day were the speeches - the Baxter Brothers are eloquent and loquacious young men. Groomsman Ronan, in particular, delivered a comic routine worthy of Tommy Tiernan or Dylan Moran. Of course Stephen was the butt of most of Ronan's jokes, but he took it all in the spirit in which it was intended. Don't be surprised if you see young Ronan on your TV in years to come. Meanwhile, Niall made the most of Man United's 19th League title to lord it over the groom. I'm not sure he'd have been laughing quite so much watching Barcelona beating them on Saturday though....

Olivia & Paul

2011-05-16T20:02:00.000+01:00

I was back in Meath for the second time in a couple of weeks on Friday. This time it was off to Olivia's house in Oldcastle. Struggling to follow my directions, I stopped and asked a friendly young man in a car. Turned out he was Olivia's brother Ollie, who led me right to the door. Inside, everything was calm - hair and make-up almost finished, and this was almost three hours before the ceremony. The only signs that there might be a few nerves around were the emergency supplies that the Child of Prague seemed to be minding on the window. There was so much time that I even took an extra trip down to the very picturesque St. Mary’s Church in Moylagh where I met Paul and the lads, who had arrived nice and early too.

The ceremony was lovely, with Sister Act providing gospel-style music throughout. The big surprise though, was from Fr Ray Kelly. At the point in the ceremony when there is often a reflection, the church was filled with the sound of an acoustic guitar, followed by the opening lines of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. I knew it wasn't Cohen, it sounded a bit like Jeff Buckley or Rufus Wainwright, but when I turned around, saw it was, in fact, Fr Kelly. He even doctored the lyrics to personalise the song to Olivia & Paul. It's a difficult song to sing, but he powered through it, hitting all the high notes with ease. Later, someone told me Fr Ray has made a couple of albums, but they might have been winding me up. He got a big round of applause from the congregation anyway.

Then it was off to Clonabreany House, another venue that was new to me. It is a beautifully sited country house set in rolling countryside among lots of mature trees. The old stables have been converted into guest accomodation, and the marquee was perfect for the late evening sunshine. Little flowergirl Maisie couldn't wait for the dancing to start, so took to the floor early. Olivia and Paul had a stroll around the grounds before dinner, during which I took a few photographs. Finally, I have to include an image of my cousin Stephen, Paul's best man, delivering his funny and entertaining speech.

The Killaraght Crew

2011-05-10T17:27:00.002+01:00

It's been a long time since I posted anything other than weddings here, which is something I'd like to change over the coming months. One of the things I've discovered about running a fairly new business is that there's always something more important to do than to wander out and take some photographs for pleasure. Of course, looking after a menagerie of creatures, playing regular football, and trying to get the gardens back in shape after another tough winter all take up a bit of time too.

So the other Sunday as we sat outside in the late evening sunshine I grabbed the camera for 10 minutes and had a walk around. The light quality was great, as we were in the middle of that beautiful spell of weather which seems to have ended now. The apple blossom was out, and the birds and animals were content.

Most of my brides and grooms will have met Ted by now. He always likes to check out visitors and show off to them. Many who didn't will have seen him on The Late Late Show. He has also been appointed as The Boyle Celtic Legends official mascot.

Ted's wife Hattie is quite a character - she has an extraordinary range of sounds - whistles, clicks, shrills, shrieks and contented little warbles. On warm days when the studio doors are open she often wanders in to check how the work is going or have a little snooze.

Pivo makes it quite clear that he's more interested in getting his hard feed than having his photo taken after a long day in the fields.

After the Arctic temperatures of December there have been lots of casualties - cracked pots and dead plants. All three of the eucalyptus trees are goners, even one which was over 20 feet high.

Lulu on the prowl

Lily Allen caught redhanded eating the flowers - again.

Tess has calmed down a little bit, but if she doesn't get at least one good walk a day there's trouble..... One of my grooms for next year, Martin,was the youngest ever winner of One Man & His Dog. I'd like to see what he could do with Tessie.

When the pond ran dry in the heat, Digby & CJ insisted on their own paddling pool.

Michelle & Dan

2011-05-03T17:11:00.001+01:00

The fabulous weather continued on Saturday, 20 degrees and sunshine, just what everyone hopes for on their wedding day - and perfect for enjoying the grounds and gardens at Lough Rynn Castle. First though, I headed to Michelle's house on Cairns Hill where it really was all happening. Niall Magahy was filming, Katie Bannon was hard at work doing the make up - I just had to include a close up of Michelle's great green and gold eyes. The pink champagne was flowing, and Chief Bridesmaid Stef was prescribing little nerve-steadying brandies to anybody who'd take one before we left for the church.

Meanwhile, down the road where the lads were staying, things were much more serene. Everyone was suited and booted in lots of time, with the only cause for concern the fact that Shane had had his top lip nicked at the barbers during his hot shave. A touch of make-up did the trick though, and we all agreed nobody would slag him for wearing L'Oreal - because he's worth it.

En route to Lough Rynn Michelle & Dan popped into Derreen Woods - the bluebells are only out for two weeks a year so it would be a shame to drive past them. The bridal party travelled on in style in Michael McMahon's stretch limo, before switching to alternative transport. If Aidan had been on a public road he'd have been pulled for overloading that golf cart I'm sure.

Stef, Trish, Kim and Debbie looked great in their four shades of pink, but even so, they couldn't outshine Michelle, who was stunning in her Jenny Packham dress. I couldn't finish without mentioning Michelle's Dad Tony, who was so proud of hs daughter - you can see him in the mirror below, and who gave one of the nicest, most heartfelt speeches I've ever heard from a bride's father.

Sandra & Ray

2011-05-02T18:44:00.002+01:00

After my away-day on Thursday, I was very much at home on Friday for Sandra & Ray's wedding in Boyle and The Landmark. I'd photographed Sandra's sister Joan's wedding for IWP four years ago, so I knew some of the characters involved. It was great to see Joan & Gerry's son Donnacha acting as the page boy, though his little sister Roisin is still a bit too young to be a flower girl. That honour fell to Martha Kate, who loved the flower basket Norma Duignan made for her, and carried it around all day.

St Joseph's is an unusual church in that it is really bright with loads of natural light, which makes photographing the ceremony easy. Afterwards, we had a stroll through the grounds of John Mitchell's beautiful Abbey House, which he had kindly given me permission to use for a nominal fee. (I'll buy you that pint Wednesday in Lavin's John). Then it was off to The Landmark with a quick stop in Derreen Woods along the way.

After an hour or so mingling with the guests at the drinks reception and enjoying the trad session, there was time for a wander round the boardwalk in the evening sunshine. I caught the start of the next-day party in Daly's on Saturday, and everyone was gearing up for another great night. It was tempting to stay and party, but I must be getting old and sensible....

Aoife & Enda

2011-05-01T19:05:00.001+01:00

With the May bank holiday, it was a three-wedding weekend for me, starting in Kells on Thursday with Aoife & Enda. I was due to go along to second-shoot for Ger, but he dislocated his knee while planting spuds a few days beforehand and a plaster cast from thigh to ankle left him a little bit immobile. He bravely came along and played his part though.

Everything when smoothly in Aoife's house - the clock shows she was ready to go in lots of time, so Enda wasn't left with a long anxious wait at the church. Brendan and Sandra look very proud as they see their daughter coming downstairs in her dress for the first time. I'm sure Brendan was also pretty proud yesterday when Leinster beat Toulouse.

Those doves took off like rockets - even shooting high-speed at 6 frames per second, this was the only shot I got of them in flight. Our journey to the Johnstown House Hotel was a little more leisurly, taking in a stop at Trim Castle along the way.

Brian from AbFab Video made the movie, while Cormac from AT&T was a very professional and attentive chauffeur. Just in case you're wondering why there's no pic of the handsome groom and his men - Hopalong Haughey did those despite his handicap!

Olivia & Pat

2011-04-19T10:23:00.000+01:00

Melbourne met Ballinaglera on Saturday, when Olivia married Pat. Despite a name like Patrick Francis Moran, Pat is an Aussie, and he he'd brought four cobbers with him as groomsmen. His Irish origins showed when he had no trouble pulling a pint of Guinness before the ceremony though. Olivia is from beautiful Slievenakilla on the side of the mountain, and even though she's been living down under for a while, there's no mistaking she's a Leitrim girl at heart.

When I got to Slievenakilla the lovely Marie Shivnen was busy doing the girls' make-up while Tim the hairdresser had also come all the way from Melbourne. Jasper the collie was keeping a close eye on all the comings and goings outside. I'd photographed Olivia's brother Adrian's wedding a couple of years ago, so it was great to see him and Sharon arriving with their first-born, Dara, who took the title of youngest wedding guest at only 10 days old.

We took some photos by Lough Allen before heading for Cromleach Lodge. Michael from North-West Limos drove the happy couple - Gerry chauffered the bridesmaids and had earned his pint at the drinks reception. There was one quick stop for Olivia & Pat just before we got to Cromleach to wander across a field to the fairy tree overlooking Lough Arrow. There's a fabulous view and we had a really dramatic sky, so all I needed was a strategically-placed off-camera flash to pop the stars of the day out from the background. Pyramid were getting the party going later, and I'm sure there were a few in Rynn's & Mulvey's back in Ballinaglera yesterday...

Justine & Brian

2011-04-17T18:43:00.001+01:00

I had a quick spin down the road to Ballaghadereen on Friday for Justine & Brian's wedding. After finding Justine's house in Derrinacartha, I nipped into town to Clarke's, which is owned and run by Brian's mother Angela. There were quite a few friends and relatives there getting in the mood for the day, so Brian and his best men James took a quiet moment in the George Melly snug. There aren't too many pubs west of the Shannon where you'd find the legendary jazz singer, author and raconteur on the wall, but Angela and Tom are fans. I saw him play in Ronnie Scott's in Soho almost 20 years ago... Meanwhile back at Justine's house Siobhan & Geraldine were making sure that the bride was looking perfect, helped by Emma, while her little sister Lilly took a pre-wedding nap.

Brian likes his cars, and travelled in style in a limited edition Lancia which turned heads all along the road to Kiltimagh. And even in these politically-correct times, what can you do with a sexy Italian sports car except drape some beautiful girls over the bonnet? Back at the Hotel, Claire provided a warm welcome for everyone with some trad music laid on in the bar, where there was lots of time for everyone to relax and mingle before dinner. Next stop for Brian & Justine is Chicago, then San Francisco and a tour of southern California. Sounds good to me.

Ruth & Robbie

2011-04-10T18:47:00.001+01:00

Tears of joy were the theme of the day on Friday at Ruth and Robbie's wedding. Ruth had told me that she'd be emotional, but the tears were catching - as Ruth came up the aisle, all three bridesmaids and Ruth's mother Mary were quietly crying to themselves. Robbie managed to hold a dry eye then, but later, when Ruth sang to him before dinner, I'm sure I saw him wiping a tear or two away.

Ruth is renowned for her singing and performs at lots of weddings herself. In the Church on Friday though, it was her colleagues from The Dublin Gospel Choir who thrilled the congregation with fantastic performances that had everyone talking about them afterwards. The other thing that turned lots of heads was Robbie and his Groomsmen wearing kilts. They were resplendent in their Gaelic tartan, which they wore in Irish, not Scottish, style.

We had a beautiful day, which was perfect for spending some time down by Lough Meelagh and to stroll through the grounds of Kilronan, which were looking beautiful in the evening sunshine. Then it was time to go to dinner, and for the second week in a row, I have to post a picture of the cake (or in this case, cakes), which were made by Robbie's parents Paddy & Geraldine. The traditional cake was supplemented by a carrot cake and a chocolate biscuit cake which was decorated to reflect Robbie's passion for fishing & beekeeping and Ruth's for music. And it was Ruth who brought the house down during the speeches, when instead of speaking, she sang a beautiful version of Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love" for Robbie. Ruth definitely sounded more like Adele than Bob though.

Katrina & Darran

2011-04-06T18:50:00.001+01:00

The great and the good were out for Boyle's High Society wedding of the year at the weekend, as Katrina, the Town Mayor's daughter, married Darren Rodden in St Joseph's Church. There was speculation that Christy might wear his Chain of Office, but it was Katrina who took all the limelight as they walked up the aisle together.

Unfortunately, the three dogs, Kirby, Jack & Ripper weren't available for their photo-op on the morning of the wedding. They'd already been dispatched to the kennels for bad behaviour by the time I arrived. With the terriers gone early, all was calm in the Brady household, and there was plenty of time to take photographs - not something I can say every week.

Ger met the lads at the church and took a few shots of them before they took their seats. After the ceremony, we had a stop at the old arch on the back way into Lough Key. It was a little bit muddy around the gates - ok for bridesmaids Paula, Aoife & Tara to walk through, but like a true gentleman, Darran insisted his bride be carried.

Then it was all back to The Landmark where Patricia, Emma & Daniel welcomed everyone and handed round the champagne. A plan to stroll on the boardwalk was abandoned as there was a wicked wind whipping off the Shannon, so we popped up to the Blackmint Bar for a few quiet moments before the meal. The beautiful flowers were by Chantelle from Pure Flowers in Boyle, while Darran's sister Ashling made the very tempting cake. Busy Fingers played as Katrina & Darran got the evening going with their first dance to "All I Want Is You".

Jacinta & Cillian

2011-03-28T20:44:00.001+01:00

It was a day by the seaside on Saturday as Jacinta & Cillian got married in Tullaghan before we headed on to the beautiful Lough Eske Castle Hotel in Donegal. Lough Eske recently won the weddingsonline.ie award for Ireland's Best Wedding Venue, so I was looking forward to working there for the first time.

Jacinta's house was full of hustle and bustle as everyone got ready for the big day, so I slipped away for a few minutes and popped into Bundoran, where Cillian and his groomsmen were settling their nerves with a quiet pint in Brennans. After the ceremony, we took a stroll along the beach - Jacinta, Martina, Antoinette, Olivia and Bronagh had planned ahead and swapped their high heels for flip flops. Much more practical for walking on sand.

After we got back to Lough Eske, best man Shane showed that he's not just a pretty face when he strapped on his accordian and joined in the trad session that was in full swing at the drinks reception. His fingers were really flying up and down the keyboard - he's a serious musician.

I often joke about West of Ireland men not being expressive of their emotions whether for romantic photographs or in their speeches. That certainly didn't apply to Cillian - his love and affection for Jacinta was very obvious, even before he told us all in his moving speech that had the audience reaching for the tissues to wipe away a little tear.

Michael O'Donovan was on video and The Elastic Band got them dancing. No doubt Shane played another few tunes later too....

Carol & Dave

2011-03-20T19:47:00.000Z

It was destination Westport and Knockranny House on Friday for Carol & Dave's wedding. This was one I'd been looking forward to, as I'd met Carol & Dave and Carmel, Carol's mother and Catriona the bridesmaid and Major the dog on different occasions over the past year, so we'd got to know each other pretty well. I'm not sure how Major feels about Carol marrying Dave, but he'd be disappointed to think he might not be the No.1 man in her life I'm sure. He looked happy in his wedding bow anyway.

Dave was the coolest groom I've ever met at the church door. Usually, with a few minutes to go before the ceremony, even the calmest of men are rattling in their boots, but there wasn't a sign of nerves from Dave. Then again, as an international boxer, holder of three all-Ireland titles and a World Title at the Police and Fire Fighters Championships he's probably been in the ring with tougher opponents than Carol!

The weather held for most of the day except for a few showers. The one disappointment was that the beautiful vintage Daimler wedding car couldn't travel fast enough for us to make it to Wesport Harbour for some photos. Instead, we used the grounds of Knockranny House, with Croagh Patrick in the background.

Anna was with me again and helped me not to leave any equipment behind anywhere, as well as being on hand to tie dresses, adjust bouquets and do anything that needed doing, as well as taking pictures. Carol's beautiful dress was by Maggie Sottero, Tommy Coppinger was as professional and discreet as always on video, while the Daimler came from U2R1 Cars and The Elastic Band were getting the crowd on the dancefloor later.

Natasha & Mohamed

2011-03-13T15:35:00.001Z

I had a lovely intimate wedding in Kilronan Castle on Friday when Natasha and Mohamed got married, with a couple of dozen close family and friends in attendance.

It rained all day, but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits. After living in Egypt for the past three years though, Natasha has obviously acclimatised and was feeling the cold outside the castle. It's definitely warmer in Sharm el-Sheikh than Keadue on a March afternoon. As a photographer, I always like to get outside if possible, but the weather really doesn't matter at a venue like Kilronan, where there are so many different interior locations to take pictures.

As always, Samantha and Recep looked after everyone in the hotel, the Innisfree String Quartet provided the music during the ceremony while Mary Duignan played piano in the Palm Court over champagne and canapés.

Mohamed asked me to take a formal portrait which will be used to create a large painting when he and Natasha return to Egypt. That's one of my efforts at it in the last picture, taken in the Spa in Kilronan. I hope it fits the bill.

Emma & Kieran

2011-03-01T12:41:00.002Z

While the rest of the country was heading for the polling booths to give Fianna Fail a kicking, I was heading for The Claddagh in Galway for Emma & Kieran's wedding. It was a nice bright morning, and I arrived to a very mellow, relaxed house a couple of hours before the ceremony. There seemed to be lots of time for a change, and I even got to the Church before Kieran and his Groomsmen showed up.

The relaxed theme continued for the ceremony, conducted by Fr Diarmuid Hogan, Chaplain of NUI Galway, where both Emma & Kieran work. The priest or celebrant of a wedding can make a huge difference to how the couple and the guests enjoy the experience, and Diarmuid is one of the very best I've come across. Add to that the brilliant playing of Ronan Browne and it made for a wonderful occasion. Ronan played uilleann pipes, low whistle, tin whistle and a range of other flutes and whistles that resounded around the Church and touched everybody present.

It's often in the moments before and after the ceremony that you really see peoples' emotions come to the fore though. As the bride stands in the Church doorway, or reaches the top of the aisle. Or the giddy excitement of walking back down the aisle together to applause from the guests as you realise for the first time "I'm actually married now!"

After the ceremony, we had a quick walk along a very blustery Silver Strand as the sun began to set before heading back to The Meyrick. There was one important stop to make on the way though, for Emma & Kieran to cast their votes in Galway West, which are still being counted now, four days on. I stayed to photograph the speeches, which included a very entertaining one from Kieran, who may be considering a new career as a Wedding Suit Consultant. Not to mention Eoin the Best Man's new direction as a male model...

Kilronan Castle Wedding Fair, Sunday 27th Feb

2011-02-23T19:08:00.001Z

Just a quick reminder that I'll be in Kilronan Castle this Sunday. While I'm fully-booked for 2011, I am taking bookings for 2012. So if you're planning your big day, drop by and say hello.

Tina & Buster

2011-02-15T20:05:00.000Z

My last wedding of the Christmas season was also my first of 2011, as Tina & Buster got married in Kilronan Castle. This was definitely a wedding with a difference, as they'd travelled 12,000 miles to Ireland from Tauranga in New Zealand for the event. And it was a small wedding, witnessed only by Sam and Claire from Kilronan, Aisling the Celebrant, and yours truly.

The short civil ceremony and lack of guests meant I had lots of time with the Tina and Buster, something that's often in short supply at a traditional Irish wedding. It gave me the chance to take some more considered shots, as well as the usual natural off-the-cuff pics and standard portraits. It also meant that when we were finished with the photography, we could sit down and have a very enjoyable glass of champagne together, before Tina & Buster went in for dinner. It was then that I found out that Buster isn't a Kiwi at all, but is in fact, a Pom from the south coast. Tina says he's still got an English accent, but he sounded the real deal to me.

The big party took place in Tauranga a couple of weeks back and I emailed a slideshow for Buster and Tina to show their guests. Technology is amazing, even if I did have to go to Denis Dodd's pub in Boyle to get a strong enough broadband signal to send it. Sitting over a pint of Guinness while your laptop zaps data around the planet... Even 10 years ago, that would have been hard to imagine.

Sile & Gerard

2011-02-15T17:07:00.001Z

December 30th brought a short run up the road to Ballymote for Sile & Gerard's wedding. Unusually for me, I hadn't met the groom before the wedding day, so dropped into Gerard's house on the way to Sile's. The lads were just having breakfast and were nice and relaxed, despite the fact their water supply was still frozen. Necessity is the mother of invention though, and they'd filled up a big water tank which meant they could all get a shower and a shave in before heading for the church.

After the ceremony, we had a little wander over to Ballymote Castle. After doing a few shots with the Castle as the backdrop, I noticed a futuristic looking tunnel underneath the railtracks. It seemed a bit more urban grit than the usual bridal backdrops, but I like the result nonetheless.

Then it was back to the Landmark Hotel, where we received the usual warm welcome from Irish Wedding Co-Ordinator of the Year 2009 and now 2010, Patricia. It was just announced last night that Patricia has won the title for the second year in a row. Nobody has ever achieved this before, but anyone who has worked with Patricia knows how much effort she puts in to make sure her couples have a perfect day, and that the award is fully-deserved.

Sile had a little lie-down in The Black Mint Bar before dinner, and after that the party really got going.

As we're in the middle of the General Election campaign, I couldn't resist posting the shot of the bridal party walking over to the Castle. You'll see in the background a poster of Declan Ganley, still up since the Lisbon referendum. At the time, there was talk of him forming a new party and becoming a force in Irish politics. Anyone heard of him lately?

Cliodhna & Enda

2011-02-15T15:44:00.002Z

After Stephen & Sarah's Humanist ceremony, I was back on more familiar territory for Cliodhna & Enda's wedding. The Church was Rathcormac in Sligo, which has great light, but a Parish Priest, Fr Donnelly, who is not all that fond of photographers. I've never had any problem working there, but discretion is important. Cliodhna broke with tradition by choosing a dramatic burgundy red dress with a big wow factor that really turned people's heads as she came up the aisle. I'm not sure what Fr Donnelly thought of it.

Like a lot of bride's houses on the morning of a wedding, Cliodhna's was hectic, with lots of comings and goings - her Dad John collecting the flowers, Kathleen making the tea, and bridesmaids texting madly. Things were calmer when I got to the church, until my main camera failed just as Cliodhna arrived. A quick change to one of my two back-up cameras meant all was well, but that's not something you want to happen regularly.

As the wedding was at 2 o'clock, the light was fading by the time we got to Tobernalt for some pictures, so the flashgun was strapped onto a tripod and called into use, before we headed on to Castle Dargan and the evening's festivities. Just before I left, Enda took up position behind the bar. If he looks pretty comfortable there, it's because he owned and ran a bar in Boston for 10 years before he came home to marry the girl of his dreams....

Sarah & Stephen

2011-02-10T21:16:00.001Z

My first post-Christmas wedding was just up the road in Cromleach Lodge, an old favourite. Sarah and Stephen got married there in a Humanist ceremony conducted by Brian Whiteside. I've done quite a few civil ceremonies over the years, but this was a first for me. What it lacked in the pomp and ceremony a Church ritual brings, it more than made up for with it's immediacy and intimacy. As well as coming up the aisle together, Sarah and Stephen had written their own vows, which made them very special. There was hardly a dry eye in the house, including mine. For anyone interested in a Humanist ceremony, you can find out more at www.humanism.ie.

Another first was that Sarah had a bridesman rather than a bridesmaid, with her brother Chris doing the honours. He probably had to put up with a few too many wisecracks from the guests, but carried off his role with aplomb, as well as looking dashing in a nattily-tailored suit.

With emigration in the news again, it's good to hear of people moving abroad for the right reasons occasionally. Sarah completed her PHD in Trinity and has just moved to a prestigious Philadelphia University to carry out advanced research into circadian rhythms. As an engineer specialising in wind energy, Stephen might have preferred Chicago, but with his knowledge & experience he’ll be snapped up.

Any couple who are as willing to throw themselves into everything they do as Sarah & Stephen are will always go places. There aren’t many brides who'll cast off their stoles in sub-zero temperatures, or trudge across a muddy field just because the photographer says “that’s an interesting tree”, but Sarah didn’t bat an eyelid. I met them again the next morning, having left my tripod in Cromleach, and they looked and sounded fresh as daisies. Impressive.

Aoife & Tomás

2011-02-10T18:10:00.003Z

The cold snap had really taken hold by the time Aoife & Tomás's wedding came around. As it was down in Galway City and road conditions were lethal, I had an early start. It was -14 as I was starting out, which made me very glad that last year's snow had prompted me to swap the trusty old Volvo for a Land Rover, to make sure I can always get to the church on time.

I'd only met Aoife a few weeks earlier, but was really looking forward to photographing her wedding. I'd been hoping for a while that someone would ask me to do an entirely black & white album, and at last, I'd found her. But we had such beautiful warm light down on Silver Strand that I think one or two pictures may have to be in colour after all. Check out that sunset - and it's true, you really can, "at the closing of your day... sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh, and see the sun go down on Galway Bay". That was after a quick stroll in the woods, for which Aoife had wisely brought her Ugg Boots.

The Uggs were obviously more comfortable than Tomás's ring, which you can see him fiddling with in the church. To be fair, it's the first thing that 99% of grooms do when they sit down after the ceremony. It can take a while to get used to, lads...

Earlier, as I nipped down from Aoife's house to catch up with the boys, someone told me to remark to Tomás how much he looks like X-Factor winner Shane Ward. It seems it's a bit of a running joke around Knocknacarra. And when I look at the pictures now, I think this was definitely something of a celebrity lookalike wedding, as Aoife's pictures remind me of a younger, prettier, Demi Moore.

The reception was held in the chic boutique hotel, The Twelve in Barna, a venue I hadn't worked in before, but would be very happy to revisit.

Fiona & John

2011-02-07T23:22:00.001Z

The snow had arrived for Fiona & John's wedding in December. It was my third wedding in Bornacoola Church in 2010, and the reception venue was one I know well too, the beautiful Lough Rynn Castle Hotel. Fiona was getting ready in the bridal suite of the hotel. When I arrived, she was still working on her speech, then it was time for make-up, expertly applied by Grainne from Enhance.

One of the reasons why couples choose me is because they want relaxed photographs, rather than elaborately set up shots or traditional wedding poses. Fiona & John were no exceptions. And on the day they were both very natural and comfortable in front of the camera. They had fun with each other and their friends, and this shines through in the photographs. We even had a gatecrasher who added to the craic when he abandoned his evening walk to have his photograph taken instead.

After the freezing conditions of Leitrim, a honeymoon in St Lucia sounded very good to me....

Deirdre & Willie

2011-02-01T16:51:00.001Z

November continued to be kind to me on Deirdre & Willie's big day - mild, no rain, and even a little bit of sunshine. Deirdre had an unusual preparation for her wedding day, spending a couple of weeks on a jack up rig on the Irish Sea, before coming ashore to get married. Both Deirdre and Willie are specialist Engineers with JB Barry and have worked on many of the major infrastructure projects around the country in recent years.

It was fitting then that we stopped to get some shots by the Gaelic Chieftain statue that overlooks the new section of the N4 through the Curlew mountains. When we were kids, a trip to Sligo was an expedition, and out of the question for much of the winter, but now it's an easy spin up the road. From there, we headed on to the warm welcome of Kilronan Castle, where the party really got started.

The green shutters Deirdre is standing in front of are part of her father Paddy's very successful business, O'Hara Gutters. Inside, there is a poster-sized photo of Bertie Ahern, who opened the premises a few years back. Oddly, nobody was queuing up to be photographed with Bertie on this big day of celebration....

Carmel & Jimmy

2011-01-25T16:59:00.003Z

A week after Siobhan and John's wedding, I was back in The Landmark again for Carmel & Jimmy's big day. This time I had Gerard Haughey with me, as Carmel & Jimmy had a special surprise planned for their guests. As well as having the benefit of a second photographer and all the extra coverage that brings, when we got back to the hotel Ger began downloading images and put together a fantastic slideshow of 150 pictures from the day which was shown on the big screens after dinner. When the lights came up there were people wiping their tears away all over the room. I haven't done a same-day slideshow before, but after this, I'm happy to do it again.

The day itself was great - I went to Carmel's, while Ger spent the morning with Jimmy and the boys. After the ceremony in Bornacoola, we stopped by the bridge in Drumsna, and caught the last of the beautiful warm evening sunlight. I've had experienced photographers tell me in the past "you must always shoot with the light, not against it", but I love to shoot into low sunlight, and get the flare and the glare and the sillhouettes and all that comes with it.

As Ger & I left The Landmark, the two mad lads from The Looney Hoppers were warming up for the evening and it promised to be a very lively night. Jimmy was looking just as relaxed and satisfied as he does in the last picture below. Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet and a beautiful new wife...

Back to Blog

2011-01-23T19:27:00.001Z

Due to the Christmas rush and trying to hit deadlines for album delivery etc, as well as having quite a few weddings on, I had to suspend the Blog for a while. Just when I was ready to get back to it, my O2 broadband stopped working for a fortnight. Thankfully all seems to be back in order again now.

So there are quite a few things to catch up on. The first one is Siobhan & John's wedding back on November 6th. After a nice morning, it turned into a wet, dark day in Ballinamore, where the ceremony took place. However, as we drove to The Landmark, the skies cleared and the sun came out. By the time we got to the hotel, there was a beautiful golden sunset behind the bridge in Carrick, so we hurried down to the water. 60 seconds later, the heavens opened, but it was just long enough to get a couple of shots. If you look closely, you can see the raindrops on the surface of the water in the shot of Siobhan and John. Luckily, The Landmark's star wedding planner/co-ordinatior/manager/master of ceremonies Patricia was on hand with the umbrellas to keep the everyone dry as we dashed back to the hotel.

Lots more to come over the next few days, so come back for a look....

Aoife & Colm

2010-11-10T19:30:00.002Z

We're definitely into the season of winter weddings now. On Friday, Aoife and Colm's ceremony was at 2 O'clock, so there wasn't much light left by the time we'd got out of the Church and all the guests has been "meeted & greeted" in the Churchyard. After grabbing a few quick shots outside the Church, everyone headed for the famous Fox's of Tooman for a pint. Colm's first pint as a married man was poured by Aoife, who knew exactly what she was doing, having worked behind a bar before for a while.

By the time we got back to Lough Rynn, darkness had fallen. Nobody minded though, as the craic was good all day, with bridesmaids Aine, Sharon and Caroline in sparkling form. Ballinamore's finest, Niall Magahy, was filming the video - he's now using an SLR camera for a lot of the day, which you can see below, as he interviews Colm on the morning of the wedding. Late Nite Radio were arriving as I was leaving, with Ronnie sporting a week's moustache growth as part of the "Movember" appeal. As I write this, Aoife & Colm are probably on sunbeds with cocktails in hand on their Carribean cruise... Bet it doesn't beat a pint pulled by the wife in Fox's though Colm???

Hallowe'en Walk

2010-10-31T19:08:00.003Z

On the eve of Samhain, the dead spirits are said to revisit the mortal world, so be careful out there tonight, in case you meet a bad one. I took the hounds for a walk down the lane as darkness was falling this evening. It had been a beautiful afternoon, crisp and clear, with an intense quality of light that still persisted at dusk. On one side of the lane was a saturated orange and purple sunset, while across the road, the sky was darkening down towards a deep indigo.

When we were young, the Jack O'Lanterns around Leitrim were carved from turnips, but pumpkins have taken over now, and this handsome chap was sitting on a neighbour's gatepost. Back home, Pivo had just come in from the field, breathing steam everywhere. He reminded me of the horse on the best advert ever made, the Guinness Christmas ad. It won't be long now til we find it's back on our screens. If you can't wait, see it here.

Lynn & Oliver

2010-10-30T16:55:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday was Lynne & Ollie's wedding in Carniska near Strokestown and on to The Shannon Keywest Hotel.

The weather was all over the place, bright sunshine one minute and lashing rain the next, as we so often get here at his time of year. These conditions certainly keep us on our toes ,as light is constantly changing. Any photographers reading this will spot the strongly backlit bridal party shot below and understand the trickery involved in balancing the sunlight and off-camera flash, underexposing in camera and ramping up the flashgun power to illuminate the faces.

Those images were taken in Dromod Harbour, where Ollie proposed to Lynne after a romantic meal in Harkin's Bistro. In fact, they were sitting on that very same bench when Ollie asked the big question, and got the right answer!

Sharon & Jason

2010-10-25T13:28:00.002+01:00

Last week was mental - calendar launch, reprinting, publicising, merchandising, etc, as well as the usual editing, framing and album design duties and a wedding on Saturday. It all meant I'm only now getting around to posting pictures from Sharon & Jason's wedding in Sligo last Saturday week.

The Indian Summer meant this was probably the sunniest wedding of the year for me. We took a little trip out to Strandhill between the ceremony and the reception in The Sligo Park Hotel, to find the place was heaving with people. Surfers, strollers, tourists, local, drinkers and diners.... there were people everywhere. We even bumped into my other favourite photographer, Mark Capilitan, (see two posts back), but rather than carrying a camera, he had a surfboard under his arm as he emerged from the ocean.

Jason's grandfather's name is carved into the base of the cannon on the strand, though the sucessive coats of paint over the decades have made it harder to read. The sun was up and the mood was light, so there was a bit of horsing around after we'd done the serious stuff. Speaking of horses, Josh, Sharon and Jason's son is a serious horseman and is a bright young star of the showjumping world. That's him in the middle on top of the cake.

We had lots of time for everyone to chill out and relax before dinner back at The Sligo Park, and while the guests were being seated we grabbed five minutes in the gardens to take advantage of the beautiful Autumnal evening light.

www.legendscalendar.com

2010-10-20T15:39:00.003+01:00

The Boyle Celtic "Legends Exposed!" Calendar will have its official launch on Saturday Night in Daly's Bar, Boyle, but online orders are already flooding in, and we are shipping copies today to USA, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, France, Germany, Belguim, Spain, UK as well as Ireland.

All proceeds from the Calendar go directly to The Brothers of Charity to support people with intellectual and learning disabilities. None of the individuals, companies or retailers involved have charged for their services and the cost of the printing materials were met by the sponsorship of local businesses, so every cent raised goes directly to the Charity.

Feel free to send friends, family and workmates to www.legendscalendar.com or www.johnreynoldsphoto.com for their copies!

For anyone who missed it, The Legends Late Late Show Appearance is on YouTube here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbcdXW9PIk You can skip the first 2.45 minutes.

Yvonne & Matt

2010-10-18T20:17:00.001+01:00

Well, it was quite a weekend, with two weddings either side of a Late Late Show appearance. It kicked off in Knock on Friday with the Yvonne & Matt show. I met them both back on New Year's Eve at Angela & Padraig's wedding, and knew this one was going to be fun. Anytime you have a dozen or more rugby-playing, kilt-wearing Scotsmen gathered in one place, you know it'll be lively. And this one certainly was.

Rain interrupted play on a couple of occasions, but we were fine between the showers. The day started in Ali's Turkish Barber Shop in Ballyhaunis where Matt, Stuart and Fraser were having some very close shaves indeed. After that, I headed straight for The Beauty Spot in Knock where the girls were having their make-up done. Yvonne and Aine got a sneak preview of the Calendar that's sweeping the nation there, and then we got down to the serious business of the day.

The ceremony was in the Church of St John the Baptist, Knock, and as usual, both before and afterwards streams of pilgrims wandered amongst the guests admiring the happy couple. I wonder what they made of Matt's Highland Fling in the Church doorway as Pat the piper blasted out Scotland the Brave? Speaking of which, I'm certain the lads in the kilts below were roaring "Remember Bannockburn!" as I clicked the shutter on that shot. Late Nite Radio rocked the joint, nearly taking the roof of with their AC/DC closing number. Yvonne and Matt are back in Aberdeen for a couple of days this week and then it's Mexico here they come.....

Second Shooting

2010-10-13T00:08:00.001+01:00

A different experience this weekend, as I second-shot with Mark Capilitan on Donal & Arlene's wedding in Ballintubber Abbey and Mount Falcon Country House Hotel. Mark & I often refer people to each other if we're already booked for a date, and while we've sat down and talked photography at length, we'd never actually worked together on a wedding. So even though it was due to be my first Saturday off in three months, I didn't think twice when Mark asked me to tag along. Here he is in sniper mode, followed by one of Arlene & Donal. You can see more on Mark's site.

Maggie & Brian

2010-10-12T23:46:00.001+01:00

I was back in The Landmark for the second time in three days with Maggie & Brian. First though, it was off to Rooskey for the ceremony in Whitehall Church. As you can see below, Maggie was gorgeous, while Brian looked just like James Bond (bridesmaids Fiona & Annmarie will get that reference). The four flowergirls, – Niamh, Caoimhe, Katelyn & Ciara added lots of excitement and enthusiasm to the event.

We stopped off in Drumsna en route to the hotel for some shots by the Shannon before going on for the usual warm Landmark welcome from Patricia and Daniel. With all the photos taken, everybody got to chill out and mingle until the bell for dinner. As the guests were being seated, we slipped upstairs to the Black Mint Bar for a couple of minutes of romance.

Vanessa & Anthony

2010-10-08T17:39:00.002+01:00

I first met Vanessa & Anthony last December, when Anthony was a groomsman at Loretta & Rory's wedding.I was delighted to photograph their wedding too, especially after Anthony told me they'd visited several other photographers before we met.

The wedding was an intimate affair, with only immediate family and a few close friends in attendance, but the party later that evening in The Clarion was a big bash. There was still lots of emotion, with Vanessa's friend Michelle leading the tear count. As you can see in the first pic, even the sight of Vanessa in her dress was enough to get her going.

In between, we stopped by the famous Sligo Landmark, Tobernalt Holy Well, and the Western Shore of Lough Gill. It was a typical Autumn day for these parts - beautiful clear sunshine interspersed with lashing showers. Luckily, we avoided most of those.

After dinner, the speeches were kept short and sweet, as Vanessa and Anthony had a surprise in store for their guests. Comedian Dave Young took to the floor and entertained everyone with a high-energy knockabout routine which, as we were in Sligo, included a special Westlife Tribute band made up of Anthony and three handsome young men randomely plucked from the audience. As I was leaving, Busy Fingers were on stage and the night was shaping up to be a cracker.

Michelle & Justin

2010-10-08T10:26:00.002+01:00

Michelle & Justin's wedding was a fun day - a "destination wedding" in Leitrim Village and The Landmark Hotel, as most of the guests travelled from Dublin. The girls got ready in the hotel, and the lads were just across the road, so I got to pop in while the make-up was being finished off only to find them in various states of undress. After sorting out the cufflinks and buttonholes it was all systems go.

Michelle looked great in a Maggie Sottoro dress, and the rain held off most of the day. As we crossed the road to the Shannon for a few photos, Feargal McGovern of Esquires was tying up his speedboat, and immediately cast off again with Justin and the boys on board to give them a thrill-seeking run up the river.

Michelle & Justin had a great team of people around them - Chantelle from Pure provided the flowers, hair was by Grafters, Eamon Reynolds did the video, Late Nite Radio were rocking the joint, and of course Patricia made sure everything ran like clockwork at The Landmark.

Libby & Cormac

2010-09-30T23:02:00.001+01:00

Libby must be the coolest bride I've come across. She lives in Manhattan, which is pretty cool for a start, but she hadn't just booked me without meeting me, she'd also booked Kilronan Castle without ever setting foot in the place, and didn't see either of us until a week or so before the wedding day. Luckily, she loved Kilronan, and we got along great too.

There was a good gang of girls still in the hairdressers when I arrived, so I hightailed it to the lads' house, where the morning's puck-around was just finishing. It's hard to keep these Waterford boys away from their hurls for long. As time ticked by though, you could see Libby and Cormac casting their minds ahead to the big moment - look how pensive they both appear as the time approaches.

The ceremony was celebrated by Libby's uncle, the Smyth family photo was the biggest I think I've ever done, and the trip to Keadue was interesting, especially for Cormac's brothers Neil and Emmet who came via Carrick, adding an extra 20 miles or so to their journey.

Once we arrived at Kilronan though, everything went beautifully, as Olivia, Recep and Ben welcomed the happy couple, while the guests relaxed in the Dungeon Bar before dinner. Cormac and Libby got a great reception from the crowd as they entered the ballroom, but were almost upstaged by Tomás and Hainey who were pure rock n'roll. The expressions on Cormac & Claire's faces say it all.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make the barbeque on Saturday afternoon - it would have been great to have a couple of beers with this gang. Hope you two are enjoying the Greek sunshine.

Pamela & Stephen

2010-09-23T12:29:00.001+01:00

Saturday dawned grey and miserable, and it didn't get better - it was real West of Ireland weather, with the rain down for the day. At best, a steady drizzle, at worst, lashing rain like you can see below, as Patricia and Daniel brave the elements to escort the guests of honour up the red carpet of The Landmark.

Luckily, it didn't matter a whit, as the mood remained sunny all day. Pamela, Stephen and the Bridesmaid's, Edel, Emer and Pauline even defied the rain for a quick stop in Drumsna on the way from Aughnacliffe to Carrick. The boys, a little more delicate, had headed straight to the comfort of The Landmark, but were awaiting Pamela's arrival in the Green room.

Stephen is a professional rugby coach and the biggest out-half I've ever seen. He only admits to being 6'2", but I think he's being modest. Pamela works in St Christophers, and is the third bride I've photographed from there.

Eamon from Big Apple was on video, which is always a pleasure. Other supplier details were -

Dress by: Maggie Sottero @ Liz Mahon Bridal Wear, Finea
Hair by: Tracy Nolan @ Laura's Longford
Groom's suit : Gerard Anthony, Carrick-On-Shannon
Flowers: Village Flowers Drumlish

Trudi & Dominic

2010-09-21T11:09:00.003+01:00

A double-header this weekend in Lough Rynn and The Landmark. I'd been looking forward to this trip back to Arigna for months, having met Trudi, Dom & baby Matilda Rose back in April at their house, high on the side of the valley across from Glen Church where they were to be married. When it came, the day didn't disappoint - the forecast showers mostly held off, the skies were dramatic, and when we got back to Lough Rynn the sun came out and the light turned magical.

I always try to ensure my wedding couples have private moments together over the course of the day. There's so much activity and excitement on the day that it's easy to forget to spend some time alone with the person you love. I keep a distance away, but sometimes sneak a picture or two if there's magic in the air. The shot in the church is one of those, after the ceremony and the family photos were finished. The sun broke through as Trudi and Dom sat quietly together, and the moment was there to capture. In the same way, I like the shot into the light by the fountain, complete with flare on the lens and the spray from the fountain backlit and sparkling.

I was blown away by the musicians in the Church on Friday, Colm O'Donnell & Maria Lynn. Colm's voice resonated around the unamplified church and held the congregation spellbound. The only other time I;ve seen that happen was when Claire Malone sang at Doireann & Dave's wedding in May. La Belle Fleur in Drumshanbo provided very funky flowers, while the six-tier wedding cake was all the work of Trudi & Dom themselves. Ciaran, Ellen, Peter & Michael in Lough Rynn looked after everyone in their usual fine style.

Castles & Kilts

2010-09-16T22:00:00.002+01:00

It was an All-American affair at the beautiful Markree Castle Hotel yesterday, as Mike and Lisa literally "tied the knot" in a ceremony conducted by Celtic Priest, Dara Molloy.

Mike looked every inch the Clan Chieftain surveying his lands as he took in the view from his room before hittting the bar for a quick nerve-settling brandy, while Lisa lived up to her reputation as she hurried to avoid being too late for the ceremoy.

The guests came from Alaska to Atlanta, from Seattle to South Carolina, all of them close friends of Mike and Lisa, though many of them didn't know each other beforehand. A pubcrawl in Sligo on the eve of the wedding is a great way of bonding though, and there was a lovely, intimate feel to the affair. During dinner, many of the guests got to their feet to tell their own tales of, and pay tribute to the happy couple, something I haven't seen at an Irish wedding.

The meal finished with a flourish, as Frank from Fairbanks decapitated a bottle of fine champagne with a sword. Someone elses flash went off while my shutter was open, whiting out Frank's face, but Lisa & Jennifers' expressions save the shot - you can see the top of the bottle and cork in flight just over Jennifer's head. After dinner, Celtic Rhythm dancers performed a whirlwind show. The feet were flying, and they got eceryone in the mood for dancing. As I was leaving, Tommy Byrne and the Big Jigs Band were teaching some very bemused Americans how to dance the Siege of Ennis, with mixed results....

Flowers by Micéal Feehily.

Louise & John

2010-09-13T17:34:00.002+01:00

I was really back on familiar ground this weekend, popping up the road to a Gurteen Groom, a Bunninadden Bride, stopping for photos in my adopted town of Boyle, before heading on to the reception in my home town of Carrick's Landmark Hotel. What could possibly go wrong? Well, nothing really, it was a pleasure. There were wickedly heavy showers throughout the day, but we danced between the raindrops most of the time.

When I arrived, John was relaxing with his family over a glass of Buck's Fizz from Gerrys home bar, while in Bunninadden Louise looked beautiful in her dress by Ray Michael. With Louise's six sisters, a pair of brothers and lots of kids buzzing around, the house was hopping, but everything got done in time without hassle. Despite a short rain delay at the Church door, Louise came up the aisle on schedule. The Church music was provided not only by Helen Hunt, but Fr James McDonagh also played an instrumental piece on flute.

As the sun broke through in the evening, Louise and John took a quiet romantic stroll along the boardwalk in Carrick, before making an hilarious entrance for dinner, expertly choreographed by Patricia. I've never seen bridesmaids in builders hats before, but after this, I could see it catching on.

Caroline Clancy from Pink Lime was on video duty - it's the first time we've worked together, but I'm sure it won't be the last. Flowers were by Feehily's. John, Stephen Robert and Lee looked dashing in their suits from Lavin's in Ballymote, Louise's friend Eileen baked the fabulous cake, and Louise and John travelled in style in a head-turning classic American Buick.

Niamh & Neil

2010-09-09T16:08:00.001+01:00

Niamh & Neil had a small, intimate wedding in what is probably the smallest church I've ever worked in, the COI in Ardamine, followed by a drinks reception and dinner in Marlfield House Hotel. There was a big party planned for the next day in Donnybrook, where as well as the wedding, there was Niamh's brithday and her parents' Bernie and Leo's 35th anniversary to celebrate.

Thanks to the new Celtic Tiger motorways, I was in Polushone much earlier than I'd allowed for. Childhood memories of trips to Wexford are of entire days spent on winding midlands roads, through towns like Tullamore, Portlaoise & Carlow, but times have changed. It gave me the chance to have a wander along the beach and up on the headland overlooking Niamh's family's holiday home. It's definitely the first time I've seen one of my brides taking a swim in the Irish Sea on the morning of her wedding.

After the ceremony, we popped back to Poulshone for some photos and traditional sugary dolphins which Fiona and Yvonne supplied. Then it was off to Marlfield house for champers and lawn games. Turns out Niamh is a quite the shark on the croquet pitch, while Neil was definitely king of the boules.

Michelle & Paul

2010-09-08T15:24:00.003+01:00

I had two weddings in beautiful country houses last weekend - the first close to home in Newcastle House in Longford and the next day I was back to Marlfield House in Gorey.

First up were Paul & Michelle, who took over Newcastle House for the day. I hadn't worked there before so was very happy find a house with great character which has been lovingly restored by its owners Joe & Suzanne Donovan. It originally belonged to the King-Harman family who have close associations with Boyle through Rockingham and King House.

This was a lovely laid-back affair, with everything happening in the House where the civil cermony was conducted. Champagne and strawberries were in plentiful supply and despite a few showers, the rain held off most of the day.

Apart from the beautiful bride of course, the star turn of the day was when Michelle & Paul's four dogs dropped in on the festivities and pose in the group photo. It was all too exciting for them though, so they're coming to Killaraght for a proper studio portrait.

Not The Nine O'Clock News

2010-08-25T18:50:00.001+01:00

You may not recognise the face, but you'd definitely know the voice. Newstalk Radio's Sinéad Hussey married Brendan on Saturday in a wedding that had it all. High emotion, beautiful settings, a brief comedy sketch in the local Garda Station, a great welcome from Alan, Deirdre and Warren in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel and a brilliant atmosphere all day.

Sinéad's house was like Connolly Station with all the arrivals and departures, as neighbours and relations called to wish her well. It was a similar scene in Ardagh when I arrived as people gathered in the sunny Churchyard on a warm afternoon, until the sound of Brian Gorman's 1929 Vintage Austin approaching sent everyone scuttling inside.

As Sinead arrived to the top of the aisle, sobs and sniffles could be heard echoing around the church. I was concentrating on the photos, but out of the corner of my eye I could see that both bridesmaids, Sinead's mother Mary, and Sinéad herself were having a little happy cry. And I couldn't swear to it, but I think I saw a tear in the eye of the hardened crimefighter Brendan himself at that moment. Weddings are emotional, with moments of joy, tenderness, and love. All of these were on display on Saturday, and it was lovely that in the midst of all the wedding day activity, Sinéad and Brendan were able to have quiet moments together.

The Shamrock Lodge Hotel was looking great when we arrived, with the function room resplendent in lilac and white. A few big family photos and a quiet walk around the grounds with the happy couple before dinner and it was time for me to leave and let the party really get going.