The third time’s a charm for the Tweeting Goddess
THE Rosslare Harbour-based entrepreneur Samantha Kelly, known as the ‘ Tweeting Goddess’ in her role as a social media consultant, brand ambassador and speaker, got married last Friday to wellknown taxi driver Andy Kehoe from Castlebridge.
The couple tied the knot at an intimate wedding ceremony in Murphy’s Barn in Wexford in front of 60 family members and friends, including Samanatha’s two daughters.
For Samantha (47), it was third time lucky as she has been married twice before. She met Andy (59) just one year after she separated from her second husband.
She wasn’t looking for a relationship when they met and neither was he but things worked out differently. ‘When I daydreamed as a little girl, singing the Nolan sisters into my hairbrush in front of the mirror, I certainly wasn’t thinking I would be at my happiest ever, marrying for the third time,’ she said.
‘But I met Andy, who wasn’t even on my radar, and who came along at a time when the last thing I wanted was another relationship. It sounds cliched but we are the best of friends, and neither of us has ever known love like this before, despite approaching middle-age. I’m 47 and only now have I found the right person. I suppose it shows there is always hope, and always someone who will love you and cherish you and treat you as you would like to be treated,’ she said.
‘Andy is a bit older and he also doesn’t drink so we tend to enjoy the simple things, like walking the dogs, hanging out with the girls, watching TV and drinking tea,’ said the Dubliner who celebrated 10 years of sobriety this year. ‘Less than 10 years ago I was a recovering alcoholic and single mum on social welfare, with two daughters, one of whom has special needs.’
A determined Samantha went on to achieve success in online retail and now enjoys social media global speaking engagements and has a following of almost 50,000 on Twitter. The journey hasn’t been easy but it has been worth it, she said.
‘We have a few close friends and we work really hard, as we both run businesses. Andy is so good to both of my daughters, and I love seeing him with them, and the natural way he can respond to their individual needs. Being kind to others is definitely a box you can tick on his greatest qualities list.’
In fact, Andy was in the local news earlier this year after he rescued a kitten which had climbed into the engine of his car and taken a fareless taxi ride without his knowledge. He contacted the WSPCA to ensure the kitten was given a good home.
Samantha’s first wedding was in Hong Kong to a Chinese man she met in Club 92 in the 1990’s. The marriage was short-lived but produced her first daughter. Despite being married twice before, to her children’s fathers, she now recognises that she wasn’t happy in either marriage and neither were her husbands.
‘My head wasn’t in the right place and I don’t think I was mature enough, especially when I first married. I am now 20 years older and 10 years sober and when you get sober your thoughts change. You become less tolerant of negativity and you prioritise your happiness and the happiness of those around you.
‘My ex-husbands are my friends. The girls see their dads regularly and have good relationships with them. In fact my 19-year old was doing a power-lifting competition last weekend and her dad and his wife were there too.’
Samantha admits that two divorces and a third marriage are not standard in Ireland and the confesses that she had reservations. She also feels some people can be judgemental but most wish her and Andy well.
‘I was a bit embarrassed going to the HSE to register our marriage to be honest. I had to hand in two divorce certs!’
It was Andy’s first time to say ‘I Do’ as he has not been married before.
‘My family and friends joke about it too, and have rolled their eyes at me which can hurt at times. Nobody means any harm but I have worked so hard to change both myself and my life, and I feel that this wedding was totally right for both of us.
‘He makes me feel like a princess and I love looking after him.’
Even though she had no intention of getting married again and hadn’t even thought about it, Samantha had no hesitation in accepting Andy’s surprise proposal last year.
‘ To be honest, it was the last thing on my mind, when Andy produced my beautiful surprise engagement ring. He asked me last year on a trip to New York, after first asking my daughters’ permission, and I immediately said yes’.’
Samantha said her third wedding was small affair with 60 close friends and family and was totally different from the last one which was very big and elaborate.
She said she is surprised at how relaxed and happy she feels. ‘ This is just about love, and the two of us being together because we want to be. I think we all deserve to feel like that, but it doesn’t always happen.
‘Relationships shouldn’t be hard work or make you doubt yoursel for make you feel alone. Everyone deserves kindness, laughter, joy and love.
‘It’s third time lucky for me, and I definitely feel understood, trusted and loved. That’s the dream I had as a little girl. I’m just lucky I get the princess part too.’