Mallow’s big (Mock) Wedding Of The Year goes down a treat
AS anticipated Mallow’s Mock Wedding Of The Year at the Hibernian Hotel last Saturday evening proved to be a very entertaining, colourful and highly successful affair.
A spectacular fundraiser for the newly erected state of the art nursing home at Nazareth House, the event was the brainchild of Nazareth House occupational therapists Helen Martyn and Laura Martyn.
From 4pm people gathered in the foyer and lounge of the hotel where they were treated to a wine reception and entertainment from Frank Heffernan as Frank Sinatra and well known Mallow musician Johnny ‘Bongos’ Horgan.
At 6pm the event began with over 240 guests seated in the function room and welcomed by master of ceremonies Michael O’Donovan.
Celebrant Geraldine Buckley, who is a member of the Irish Celebrant Institution, had the task of tying the knot between 2018 Kerry Rose Celine O’Shea and popular county councillor John Paul O’Shea.
The former County Mayor was introduced to the colourful setting and danced his way between tables to the top table while minutes later the beautiful bride, accompanied by matron of honour Caroline Whelan and bridesmaid Rachel Willis waltzed their way to the top of the room.
The wedding ceremony was a brief affair which was linked by tears and cheers with mother of the groom, Marian Quirke, stealing the show with her comical antics and performance of the song ‘Goodbye Johnny Dear’.
Playing the groom’s father, this writer held a mock interview with John Paul which was cleverly written by Benjie Hallihan and linked to the song ‘ The Rose of Tralee’.
Best man Michael Cronin and groomsman Martin Murphy were excellent in their parts, producing a barm brack which contained the wedding rings while father and mother of the bride, Denis Hanlon and Geraldine Scanlon, brought laughter with their tit for tat address at the top table.
At the end of the ceremony this writer spoke for a few moments about my mother, who was a patient at Nazareth House up to her passing in 1996, and finally read a self-penned poem in honour of John Paul.
Measa Flaherty was singer during the ceremony while later a magician, the Kramer Band and D. J. Kevin O’Halloran entertained into the early hours.
As expected, the mock wedding was a huge success as Nazareth House has touched the minds and hearts of so many households over the years. People from all walks of life stood
shoulder to shoulder to support the sisters and excellent staff at the nursing home at this most enjoyable event.
Sr. Bridget Houlihan and Helen Martyn also spoke at the event.
Organiser Laura Martyn thanked all those involved in the bridal party and the backroom team of Pauline Sutton, Angela Hunter, Sr. Bridget Houlihan, Hannah Sexton and Nicholas Corkery and a special word of thanks to the Hibernian Hotel, Cfield Construction, Your International Training, Brosnan Boylan Golden, AIB Mallow, Munster Tool, John G McSweeney, M & J Kelleher, Barry’s Menswear, Dairygold, The Corkman, Mallow Star, Hammond Good Solicitors, Mallow Credit Union, EPS Water, O’Connell Funeral Home, Cavanaghs, Con Curtin, Barry’s Cash and Carry, Munster Labels, Acorn Vets, Forget Me Not Florists, Nicholas Corkery, Pat McNally and all who donated prizes for raffle.
The organisers also wished to thank all those who helped get the bridal party looking beautiful on Saturday, and thank you to all those who provided music and entertainment in the Hibernian Hotel, including Benjie Hallahan, Frank Heffernan, Johnny Bongos, Nessa Flaherty, The Kramers, Peter Carroll and Kevin O’Halloran.
The whole affair was professionally captured on video and, no doubt, in the not too distant future people will gather to rerun one of the great Mallow events of 2018.