Wedding of the Week: We met while working in Lennox’s chipper

A couple who met while they were both working in Jackie Lennox’s famous Cork city chipper have tied the knot.

Mary McCarthy, from Kanturk, and Adam Hurley, from Greenmount, met at the famous chipper on the Bandon Road, which closed last year, in 2018.

They got engaged on Hahei Beach on the North Island of New Zealand on July 16, 2023, during a six-week road trip of New Zealand Australia in a campervan.

The couple wed on Saturday, May 17, in The Church of the Holy Rosary in Gneeveguilla, Co.Kerry.

They said: “Our wedding day was unforgettable, and, as two Corkonians it was a challenge to give our guests a real Kerry wedding, but I am sure we nailed it.”

Singers Micheal Collins and the girls from Waterall Macra were excellent at the wedding service, they added.

The place where the couple met featured on a stunning wedding cake, by Trace of Cakes of Ballincollig, which depicted Lennox’s, Mary’s farming background, Hahei Beach, and gave a nod to Liverpool FC for groom Adam.

After the wedding, presided over by Fr Pat O’Donnell of Rathmore parish, guests were treated to an ice cream van outside the church.

“We hopped into our wedding car, an open-top burgundy BMW restored by Sam Ross, and headed to Muckross Abbey in Killarney where our photographer John Sexton took some excellent photos and our videographer Greg Mulcahy captured every moment!” they said.

The couple took a horse-drawn carriage to the abbey.

“Meanwhile, our guests were enjoying the reception at the Brehon Hotel and Spa in Killarney, which included canapés, cakes, a crisp wall, and two boards of a selection of Carbery cheese - a nod to Mary’s workplace as she has spent six years working in Carbery Group of Ballineen, West Cork.”

Caricaturist James O’Donovan was on hand to draw light-hearted pictures of the guests.

The couple were then welcomed into the ballroom by Mairead Twohig from C103 for a five-course meal, including a prime Irish fillet steak.

Later, the guests partied to the excellent Hell For Leather, followed by DJ Sax Appeal who made sure the guests had a night to . The bride and groom’s first dance was to The One by Kodaline.

A 360˚ video booth provided by Vision Events 360 helped the couple the day.

The florists were Petals based in the Marina Commercial Park. “Maura went above and beyond to design fresh flowers and have them presented so perfectly,” the couple said.

As to the most memorable moment of the day, the couple said: “When the priest pronounced us husband and wife and we shared our first kiss and the audience exploded in cheers and applause.”

Bride Mary’s dress was from White Ivy Bridal in Kenmare and her shoes were Jimmy Choo.

She and her bridesmaids Joanne, Mary, Marie, and Crissy were stunning - a big shout-out to their hairstylist Pat O’Neill and make-up artist Charlotte O’Mahony.

Mary’s parents, John and Veronica,, and Adam’s parents, John and Trish, were in attendance, along with many family .

The groom and groomsmen - Adam’s four brothers Scott, Jason, Craig, Shane - wore suits provided by Morley’s of Cork, and Adam’s shoes were from Gentleman’s Quarter’s of Cork city.

The celebrations continued the day after the wedding at the Golden Nugget Bar and Restaurant in Killarney, Co.Kerry.

“Everything went to plan and we could not be any more thankful to everyone that helped turn our day into something special,” said the couple.