Wedding Salthill Hotel Galway

I first met up with Michael and Aine in January of this year, a few weeks after they booked me for their wedding. They called to the studio one Saturday in January and after spending a while having a "chin wag" with them, I knew it would be a wedding that I would enjoy as they were both two very relaxed and laid back people.The wedding ceremony took place in Kiltulla Athenry with a cracking reception in The Salthill Hotel Galway.





Aine with her wedding present from Michael over her shoulder...a beautiful foal!



I'm not too sure if this bike saw much action on the wedding day......I bet it could tell a few stories though


Michael is flanked by best man Jonathon and groomsman Cian as he arrives at the church.



Flowergirls Ellen, Keeva and Lorna just before they hit the runway!






With the ceremony over, it's time to have a pint!



Aine & Michael share their first drink as a married couple in Ward's pub just across the road from the church



I left Aine & Michael while they were having their drink in Wards and headed into the Salthill Hotel with John Murphy of Avalon Video to capture the details of the wedding as well as capture some images of guests etc. I must admit to being very anxious at about 5.45pm as Aine and Michael arrived at the hotel. The traffic in Galway was particularly bad this Friday afternoon and they arrived a lot later to the hotel than expected. Given that the hotel was ready to ring the bell, I grabbed them before they entered it and we headed across to the park outside to grab some Bridal Portraits.

Aine casually mentioned that she was disappointed that they hadn't arrived earlier as she would have loved to go across to the beach to get some shots.....I must admit that this was music to my ears. We flew across the road, the lighting was superb and we ran off a load of shots in a short period of time.





It's funny how matters worked out.....when Aine and Michael arrived late to the hotel (when I grabbed them to taken them across to the park), Aine mentioned that all they needed was a "couple of shots" and they would be sorted. Given the fact that I had no Bridal Portraits taken at this stage and was anxious to get a selection, being told that all they need was a "couple of shot's" added a bit more anxiety to my dilemma......I had no proper shots of the couple. I soon realized however that this was Aine's way of apologizing for being late to the Salthill hotel and that she didn't want to inconvenience anyone over their late arrival. It was music to my ears when they eagerly accepted the invitation to go across to the beach and about 20 minutes after they first arrived at the hotel, we had a very good selection of shots taken.






Moments after we arrived back in the Salthill Hotel, Aine & Michael were welcomed into the function room


Aine's mum gives a lovely speech



Michael entertains guests with some stories of their early days courting!




First dance as husband and wife



Thanks soo much Aine and Michael for letting me be part of your special day. Your card (and over the top gift) was unnecessary but genuinely appreciated. It's truly nothing short of a pleasure to be around lovely people such as yourselves on your special day....I enjoy them as much as you do!

Wedding Diamond Coast Hotel Enniscrone

I had the good fortune to be working at Sinéad and Enda's wedding which recently took place in Ballina Cathedral Co Mayo followed by a wonderful reception on The Diamond Coast Hotel Enniscrone.
Sinéad was a bridesmaid at a wedding that I covered last year and I was delighted to be asked to cover her special day. This time, roles were reversed with Sinéad and her good friend Aine , Sinéad being the bride and Aine being the bridesmaid. 



When I arrived at Sinéad's home, make up artist Caroline Kilgallon was putting the finishing touches to maid of honor Rita while Sionéad was taking everything in her stride....casually reading the newspaper and not seeming to stressed about her big day.



After spending a short while in Sinéad's home, I travelled the short journey to the church where Enda and his two groomsmen David and Neil were arriving. The lads were also in a jovial mood and very easy to work with.



Ballina Cathedral is a magnificent building with stunning architecture....love working there!










After the ceremony, we travelled to the pier in Enniscrone to take a hand full of shots in the glorious sunshine. 





From here, we let the groomsmen and bridesmaids head back to the Diamond Coast Hotel while we travelled a short bit further up the coastline before heading back to the beach to steal a few moments alone.





We headed back to the magnificent Diamond Coast Hotel after this....a great place with staff that are a treat to deal with. After the formal family portraits were taken, Enda and his men relaxed and we grabbed some fun shots



They were a good bunch of guys to be around....willing to have a bit of fun and that wild side that was evident in the photo above was also evident in the speeches. The gloves cam off and best man David really let fly




Enda and Sinéad can't believe some of the stories that are being told.....not sure if the rest of us could fully believe them either....but they were as entertaining as you'll get!



Thank lads for let me be part of your great day!

Wedding Kilronan Castle

I had the privilege of shooting Mike Denver and Liz Gannon's recent wedding in Keadue Village Co.Roscommon followed by a reception in Kilronan Castle nearby.
I was delighted when I received the call from Mike regarding his big day with Liz…..I have got to know both of them in recent years and their great people to be around. 

Liz was a treat to call to the morning of the wedding, music playing away on her iPhone, incense burning in the corner of the room and totally relaxed as her hair and make up were being touched up. She was totally aware of what was happening and enjoying every moment of it....quite special to witness really! Indeed, Liz even allowed me to “steal” her wedding dreess for a few moments and take it to another room where we hung it from a chandelier….thanks Liz!







After Liz's preparations, we headed off to the church to catch up with Mike and his groomsmen. Mike is used to being in front of the camera and is always a treat to work with so his shots can be taken fairly swiftly. I was lucky to have Natalie Greer working with me and she was able to run off the incidental shots inside the church while I was capturing Liz's arrival.





Fr Brian Darcy was the chief celebrant for the ceremony and the relaxed atmosphere that was dominant during Liz’s preparations in the morning continued throughout the ceremony. I was surprised at the amount of Mike’s fans (some who had made long journeys) that made the journey to Keadue Village to wish Mike and Liz well. One thing that didn’t surprise me however was the time that Mike & Liz gave to each fan who wanted photos taken with the couple at the church, ensuring every one went home happy with a photo.


(One of my favorite "moment captures" this year. The Bridesmaids have made their entrance at the start of the ceremony, and normally this can be an anxious moment for the Bride as she's about to make her own entrance.....Liz however emanates serenity and absorbs the whole occasion...I love it!)




(Comedian Conal Gallen gets a smile out of both Mike and Fr Brian Darcy during the ceremony)




After the family portraits were taken in the church grounds, we headed to a lovely Pier about a mile from the church that lent itself to some beautiful bridal portraits. Mike’s best man Graham was in a lively mood by the pier….a lot livelier than he was for his own wedding day which I was lucky enough to capture last year….he ensured we were “standing on shaky ground” while taking some photos on the jetty! Thanks to Rosanna, Laura, Dawn, Graham, Seán John and of course the trooper Jack who were great to work with for the Bridal Portraits.






We headed back to Kilronan Castle….a majestic spot…plenty of photo opportunities for a photographer! As if the grounds of the hotel didn’t offer up enough opportunities, we also had a spectacular fireworks display before guests were entertained by the music of the Late Late Show House Band, The Camembert Quartet. As excellent as they were, nobody filled the floor like Mike did when he went up and sang a few songs.









Without doubt, this was one of the most enjoyable weddings that I have had the pleasure of working at. As a result of VIP magazine doing a 10 page feature on the wedding, I probably asked more of Liz and Mike with regards to the photography than I have any other couple, and on each occasion their response to my requests were so positive and enthusiastic that it was simply a treat to be working with them. Thanks so much lads!



Make Up by Caroline Coyne, Video by Complete Wedding Videos and flowers by Calla Flower Design

Wedding Meadow Court Hotel Loughrea Co Galway

I had the pleasure of shooting Brenda & Brendan's recent wedding in Kilreekil Loughrea followed by a reception in The Meadowcourt Hotel (also in Loughrea) Co Galway.

Although I had spoken over the phone with Brenda on a couple of occasions, we didn't meet face to face until the week of the wedding when we met up in The Meadow Court for a "chin wag" regarding her big day. I enjoyed our chat and was left with the impression that Brenda was a relaxed bride who would enjoy her wedding day as much as possible.....the type of days that I like to be working as a photographer. 

Thankfully, when I met Brenda the following Saturday for her wedding, the weather was a lot better than it had been during our first meet up.....it always happens to nice people!!
Young Rian kept me occupied with some story telling on the morning of the wedding, and was pretty proud of his new Fireman Sam school bag. We got some lovely portraits in the home before I headed off to O'Briens pub in Kilreekil where Brenda's husband to be was relaxing. Like most men on a Saturday, there was sport on the TV and Brendan and best man Enda were studying it..... almost oblivious to the fact that a wedding was only a couple of minutes away.

There Church in Kilreekil is full of character, a beautiful place to get married.

After the ceremony, we made a quick stop by the lake in Loughrea and grabbed some shots. The weather started to get a bit darker and colder and thankfully it stayed dry long enough for us to get a few shots before we made our way back to the hotel.

The Meadow Court is a beautiful hotel with staff that go the extra mile to ensure that Brides and Grooms have a wedding day to remember. I thoroughly enjoyed this wedding......thanks Brenda and Brendan for letting me part of your special day.

A playful Rian

Brenda's laments her last final moments at home before departing for the church

Brendan does the "man thing" before the ceremony by having a drink in the pub while watching some sport!

John (Brenda's brother) prepares to give her away.

A relaxed ceremony

Beautiful Brenda

Brenda, Brendan, Enda and Mary enjoy their own company before returning to the hotel after some bridal portraits.

Enda recalls some humorous stories about Brendan