Minister marries hisMinister sweetheart Caoimhe
LOVE was in air last Friday as Minister Simon Harris tied the knot with his long-term sweetheart Caoimhe Wade from Gorey.
The couple who got engaged last July were married at St Patrick’s Church, Kilquade by Simon’s uncle Fr Michael Cahill in the presence of their family and friends as well as a number of key political figures.
Caoimhe from Courteencurragh, Gorey, is the daughter of Michael and Ann Wade from Wade’s Pharmacy on the Main Street in Gorey. The couple have been together eight years.
Perhaps it is fitting that 30-year-old Simon was appointed as Minister for Health last year as Caoimhe is a cardiac nurse for infants at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.
Members of the cabinet in attendance were Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald; Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney and wife Ruth; former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and wife Fionnuala; Minister of State at the department of Defence, Paul Kehoe; Patrick O’Donovan, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism and Sport; and Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Minister of State at the department of Education and Deputy Kate O’Connell.
Also amongst the guests were former Ireland international Damien Duff and his wife Elaine.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, due to Government commitments, was unable to attend the ceremony but he joined the reception afterwards at Tinakilly House, in Rathnew.
The groom wore a white rose in his button hole and arrived with brother, best man, Adam Harris, the autism campaigner. The other groomsmen were Niall Brennan, Simon Donohoe and Robert Magee
The bride wore a sweetheart beaded white dress by Sharon Hoey and bridesmaids Ruth Wade, Gemma Harris, Laura Kinch and Marion O’Brien wore long black chiffon dresses with spaghetti straps.
Caoimhe is one of four children and has a sister Ruth and two brothers Brian and Ciaran.
Simon is the son of Bart and Mary and has a sister Gemma and brother Adam.
Just an hour before he walked up the aisle, Minister Harris launched an independent review into voluntary organisations’ role in the public health services, led by former top EU official, Catherine Day.
The Health Services Executive congratulated the newlyweds, writing on Twitter: ‘Congratulations to Minister Simon Harris @SimonHarrisTD and his beautiful bride Caoimhe as they celebrate their #weddingday.’