Congratulations from President for couple married for 65 years
SEAN and Brenda O’Reilly of Corramacorra, Murrintown were thrilled to receive a letter of congratulations from the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins as they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
‘It was like giving them a million Euro, they were over the moon’, said their daughter Pauline.
President Higgins wished the couple well on their ‘Blue Sapphire wedding anniversary’ and said such occasions are a time when we remember and appreciate the people who have been an important part of our lives to day.
‘I send you my warmest congratulations and most sincere good wishes on this joyful occasion’, said the President.
Sean who grew up in Murrintown and Brenda (nee Kehoe), originally from Bridgetown, met as students in Wexford Technical School and were married in August 1953 in Mulrankin Church when he was 20 years old and she was 17 with Brenda’s late sister May as bridesmaid and the late Ned Tierney as best man. They had their wedding breakfast in the former Moran’s Hotel at the end of Parnell Street in Wexford town.
The couple settled in Corramacorra, Murrintown and went on to have seven children Pearl, Philomena, Paddy, Pauline, Patrick, Pamela and Cheryl, followed by 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-granchildren.
Family members and friends joined them for a celebratory lunch in Whitford House Hotel on what was the second recent milestone occasion for the O’Reillys as family members came from far and near in July to wish Sean many happy returns at a big party to mark his 85th birthday. Sean is a former chairman of the Piercestown/ Murrintown Fianna Fail Cumann having served during the late Jack Lynch’s tenure as Taoiseach.
Asked for her expert advice on the secret to a long and happy marriage, Brenda said simply: ‘Marry the person you love’.