Couple say ‘I do’ in intimate ceremony before lockdown
LOVE was in the air last Wednesday as Keith Duffy and Kim Clarke pledged their futures together at a scaled-back wedding to what the couple initially planned.
Only the two witnesses to the marriage, Simon and Nicole, were allowed to attend because of Covid-19 restrictions which remain in place, though Keith’s family have pledged to organise a big bash once things get back to normal.
Keith is originally from Newtownmountkennedy but was living in Australia when he first met Kim. They moved back to Ireland around a year and a half ago, but plan to settle down back in Australia.
Last Wednesday’s wedding date also came as something of a surprise to Keith and Kim, as they were initially due to get married in The Royal Hotel in Bray on April 9, but had to cancel those plans when the hotel closed due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Keith’s mum Ann explained: ‘ They got a call form the main registry office in Dublin on Tuesday at 3.30 p.m. to say there had been a cancellation for 3 p.m. the following day. They actually had less than 24 hours to arrange everything. There was a bit of panic because the dress was with the dress maker and the ring with the jewellery shop. Luckily the dress maker had the dress ready. We rang the jewellery shop but it was closed. But the jeweller got back to us only half an hour later. Thankfully everything just all fell into place.’
The newly-married couple had originally planned to invite about 60 guests to their big day at The Royal, followed by a party back at Keith’s parents house.
While Ann was disappointed she couldn’t attend Wednesday’s ceremony, she was still over-joyed to see pair tie the knot.
‘I’m delighted their big day came and that they are so happy. It was a quiet day compared to your usual wedding but we will have a big bash for both of them once the restrictions are lifted. We flew an Irish tricolour and the Australian flag outside our house. We also created an aisle in the garden which they could walk up.’
On the journey back home to Newtown from Dublin, Keith and Kim stopped to have some wedding photographs taken at Sandymount Strand with the Poolbeg Towers in the background.
‘ The towers are a real landmark over in Australia. It’s usually the last thing people see when they are leaving Ireland to go to Australia, and the first thing they see on flights home before they land. Keith wanted a photo with the landmark so he could send to all his friends,’ said Ann.
Keith who is the son of Ann and Seamus has six siblings - Anthony, Emma, Diane, Claire, Paul and Gavin.
The happy couple who had intended to travel around Europe for their honeymoon are now in lockdown in Newtownmountkennedy but are busy making plans for the future.