Wedding of the Week: Winter proposal on Banna leads to summer wedding

“We went on our first date about 10 years after school had finished. We met for a drink in An Teach Beag in Tralee and we haven’t looked back since.” 

She and Rob, from Tralee, exchanged vows in The Lodge, Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa, Tralee, on July 22 in a humanist ceremony led by Ealish Whillock.

They got engaged on their favourite beach. “We love going to the beach and have a particular affinity for Banna Beach,” says Meagan.

“Car park three is where we’d always park. On December 23, 2020, Rob suggested we’d go for a walk. We parked at car park three and headed off towards the beach. It was cold and wintry, so as quickly as we started into the walk I was turning back — when I heard Rob calling my name behind me. As I turned he was down on bended knee with a ring in his hand.” 

They planned their summer nuptials with care. “We always thought July 22 would be a nice sunny dry day, so we originally hoped to get pictures of the bridal party and family on camera on back on the spectacular Banna Beach.” 

But the weather gods had other ideas. “We ended up going to Ardfert Cathedral for our photos, to stay dry!” says Meagan.

Despite the weather, the day “was everything we could have hoped for and more”, she adds.

“The sheer volume of love blew us away,” says Meagan. 

It was back to Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa for their reception, where Meagan’s parents, Doreen and Mike Dunne, and Rob’s mother and father Helena and Pat Mulcahy, helped them lead the celebrations.

“My nan Bridie McCarthy was delighted to be in attendance on our wedding day! Unfortunately, my nan Hannah Dunne and Rob’s grandad Christy Callan (more fondly known as Pops, who has sadly passed since) were unable to attend but sent us well wishes,” says the bride.

Meagan chose her friends Yvonne Hannafin, Rachael Kissane and Ciara Stack along with her cousin Michaela McCarthy to be her bridesmaids.

Emmet Healy was by Rob’s side as his best man while his friends Cormac O’Connor and David O’Mahoney along with his brother Stephen Mulcahy were his groomsmen.

But the real star was the “little best man”, Meagan and Rob’s son Iarlaith Mulcahy, adds the bride.

“Iarlaith really made the day so special, he is our pride and joy and at only two years old he already has the ability to light up the entire room! It’s fair to say he stole the show,” says Meagan.

“We also had a wonderful pageboy, Adam O’Sullivan, and three beautiful flowergirls, Ava O’Sullivan, Fiadh O’Sullivan and Caragh Dunne.” 

The bride looked elegant in a Harlow dress by the Australian label Made with Love sourced in Vintage Pearl in Galway. “I decided to get sleeves made also for my dress that she could attach and detach as she pleased, this was made possible by Gina in Galway Sewing Services.” 

Maeve Carey (@makeupbymaeve) ensured the bridal party was ready for the close-ups while the hairstyling was by Amy O’Donoghue and the groom and his attendants were dapper thanks to Suits Select, Tralee.

Padraig Healy of Padraig Healy Photography captured the day on camera along with William Maher, videographer.

“No words can describe the talent — Padraig will literally do anything for the snap and was trying to convince me to forget about the rain and that the ground was dry!” jokes the bride. 

“And our videographer William brought calm to the day whenever we needed it the most!” 

Maura Sheehy of Maura’s Cottage Flowers created wildflower bouquets.

After the wedding, the newlyweds enjoyed a break in Dublin and then 10 days in Alvor, Portugal, with Iarlaith.

Meagan is a secondary school teacher and Rob is head of youth athletic development for Clare GAA and a PhD candidate with University of Limerick.

They live in Ardfert.

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