EAMONN’S PRIDE STAR’S ‘NUMBER ONE SON’ IS MARRIED AT PLUSH CASTLE LESLIE
IT was a case of happy families for Eamonn Holmes on Wednesday as his eldest son Declan married Belfast girl Jenny Gouk — with the ‘blessing’ of housewife May McFettridge at the reception afterwards.
In the wedding line-up photograph, Declan’s mother Gabrielle was pictured with her grownup children along with the TV presenter, his second wife Ruth Langsford and their teenage son Jack.
The wedding ceremony was held outdoors at the luxury Castle Leslie estate in the village of Glaslough just across the border in Co Monaghan.
Over 100 guests watched as Declan and Jenny exchanged their vows overlooking a stunning lake.
Among the guests were Julian Simmons and May McFettridge’s alter ego John Linehan, a close friend of Eamonn, who is related to the comic’s wife Brenda.
John later donned May’s clothes to speak about the happy couple, as he stood right beside them, at the reception in a flower-bedecked marquee.
Declan, who three years ago launched his own craft beer, met Jenny, a former UTV continuity announcer, in April 2012. He popped the question last October.
And Eamonn took to social media to announce the engagement of his ‘Number 1 Son to Dr Jenny Gouk’.
The Holmes’ three-tier wedding cake with white roses in icing on the side featured a cartoon cut-out of the couple on the top along with their dog Alfie.
The cake was also decorated with the colours and club badge of Manchester United, the favourite football team of Declan and his dad.
The cover of the order of service had a drawing of Castle Leslie on it above the names of the newly-weds, who live in east Belfast.
A montage of photographs taken of Declan and Jenny over the last six years was also featured on a stand in the Castle Leslie marquee.
Dozens of people, including singer Malachi Cush, posted congratulations to Declan and Jenny on social media.
One guest said: “It was a perfect day for Declan and Jenny. The service was staged in beautiful surroundings and everyone looked radiantly happy.
“The reception was tremendous. All the speeches were spoton including Eamonn’s obviously. But May McFettridge’s speech was hilarious.
“He/she was in spectacular form.”
Last week Eamonn shocked fans when he posted a picture on Twitter of his cut and swollen face after it was revealed he had been suffering from shingles.
He said: “I know I look as though I’ve been in a scrap but honestly I haven’t. It’s worse than that — it’s shingles.”
But Eamonn looked a lot healthier at Castle Leslie as he made a speech during the reception.
He’d earlier gone on Twitter to share news of the wedding.
He wrote: “It’s a Special Day. My first born son @decholmes gets married today to @JennyGouk.
“The clans are gathering and I’m delighted to say there’s a lot of Love and happiness all around us #IrishWedding.”
Castle Leslie sits in 1,000 acres of countryside with lush woodland and sparkling lakes.
Its website says it is one of the last great Irish castle estates still in the hands of its founding family, the Leslies, who have lived at Castle Leslie since the 1660s.
It is best remembered as the setting for the ill-fated wedding of ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and former model Heather Mills in 2002.
❝ May McFettridge’s speech was hilarious. He/ she was in superb form