60 years of wedded bliss for Gerry and Kathleen
LOCAL couple Kathleen and Gerry Murtagh of Clintons Lane will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on June 7th in lockdown.
The couple will mark the milestone diamond anniversary a little differently than originally planned after they had to put the celebrations on hold when the stringent COVID-19 measures were put in place.
Celebration plans had been underway just before the lockdown was introduced and Kathleen and Gerry had been looking at venues close to where they had their wedding reception back in 1960 at the Neptune Hotel in Bettystown. They wanted to have their celebration as close to the original wedding venue as possible.
For their 50th Wedding Anniversary they celebrated that at the Bettystown Court Hotel – at this time they renewed their vows in front of many family and friends.
Originally a Ward from Marian Park, Kathleen met Gerry from Trinity Gardens in 1958 and the couple married two years later in St Mary’s Church in Drogheda.
Kathleen’s sister Annie was her Bridesmaid and Gerry’s brother Willie was the Bestman while Fr Bird performed the cermony.
The couple celebrated their wedding reception in the Neptune Hotel in Bettystown.
Kathleen and Gerry went on their honeymoon for two weeks to England and then returned to have a third week in Dublin.
The beautiful picture of Kathleen and Gerry taken as they walk up the steps to the airplane is unusual for the time as photographers were not permitted through security in those days, their daughter Cathy explained.
They were fortunate that their photographer had a press pass that allowed them to capture the happy moment.
Kathleen and Gerry have six children Thomas, Mary, Gerard (RIP), Catherine, Liam and Joanand ten grandchildren Ciara, Lorcan, Eoin, Tadhg, Conor, Paul, Shane, Beth, Daragh and Donncha and love nothing more than when they are all together.
‘All the family are disappointed not to be able to celebrate this milestone with them as was planned but will look forward to the celebrations even more when the restrictions are lifted,’ said Cathy.
She revealed: ‘If you ask Gerry what the secret to a long and happy marriage, his response is – always to say to Kathleen ‘you are right’ to everything - and delivering breakfast to bed to Kathleen every morning!’ Kathleen, meanwhile, believes that talking through everything is the key and keeping communication going.
They have their routines but always have time in the day to talk to each other and dinner can often take up to three hours as all their discussions take place over dinner.
‘ The genuine love they have for each other is evident to all who know them,’ said Cathy. ‘ They are always there when required and only offer advice when is asked. They love their family and all the grandchildren and love nothing more than when they are all together.’
She said the whole family wanted to wish them a very happy 60th wedding aniversary and are looking forward to the celebrations to come once restrictions are lifted.