{"id":130938,"date":"2025-10-18T22:27:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T22:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/130938\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T22:27:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T22:27:12","slug":"vintage-escort-takes-pride-of-place-at-reuben-and-niamhs-big-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/130938\/","title":{"rendered":"Vintage Escort takes pride of place at Reuben and Niamh\u2019s big day"},"content":{"rendered":"

A RED Ford Escort owned by the father of the bride motored into the limelight as it ferried Niamh O\u2019Connor to say “I do” to Reuben O\u2019Hea.<\/p>\n

Jerry O\u2019Connor, a mechanic, had ensured his red MK2 Mexico was in such good order that it \u201cstole the show\u201d, say the bride and groom.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O\u2019Connor and Reuben O\u2019Hea. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography<\/p>\n

\u201cIt had not been taken out for a spin in many years, but Jerry managed to get it running just in time for the big day, while Niamh’s uncle Denis had polished it to perfection,\u201d says Reuben, from Woodfield, Clonakilty, Co Cork.<\/p>\n

Niamh, from Banteer, Co Cork, adds: \u201cI had spent many a Sunday as a back-seat passenger in my childhood, so to be driven to the wedding ceremony in that same car by my dad really meant a lot.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O’Connor and Reuben O’Hea with Dolan, the newest wolfhound pup in Ballyseede Castle. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography <\/p>\n

To their delight, other “star attractions” awaited Niamh and Reuben at Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry, in the form of the venue\u2019s two resident Irish wolfhounds, Joe and Dolan \u2014 Dolan being the castle’s newest wolfhound pup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We are both huge dog lovers,” says Niamh.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O\u2019Connor and Reuben O\u2019Hea. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography<\/p>\n

Celebrant Linda Foley led the civil ceremony, and Niamh\u2019s walk up the aisle made her \u201cextremely nervous\u201d, says the bride: \u201cI could actually feel my legs trembling, but the moment Reuben and I saw each all the nerves melted away. We both just felt pure joy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reuben agrees: \u201cMeeting one another at the top of the aisle was a \u2018pinch me\u2019 moment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O\u2019Connor and Reuben O\u2019Hea with their wedding party. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography<\/p>\n

The couple’s paths first crossed on December 28, 2016, in a busy McSorley\u2019s nightclub in Killarney. \u201cIt was after a Coronas concert in the INEC,\u201d says Niamh.<\/p>\n

They got engaged while travelling in New Zealand and Australia in spring 2024, on Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, in April 2024.<\/p>\n

Their big day \u201ccompletely surpassed\u201d their expectations, she adds. \u201cIt was out of this world and felt very \u2018us\u2019,\u201d says the bride.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O\u2019Connor and Reuben O\u2019Hea with Niamh’s parents Joan and Jerry and her brother Diarmuid. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography<\/p>\n

Leading the celebrations were Niamh’s parents, Joan and Jerry O\u2019Connor, Reuben’s mother and father, Mary and James O\u2019Hea, and Niamh’s grandfather, Paddy Hennessy. Niamh\u2019s friends Vicky O\u2019Mahony and Marguerite Roche were her bridesmaids, and Reuben\u2019s pals Tom Nyhan, Gearoid Brennan, Jack Barrett and Eamonn Downey were his groomsmen.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe newlyweds with the groom’s family, Cian O\u2019Hea, Tom\u00e1s O\u2019Hea, Mary O\u2019Hea, Reuben O\u2019He, Niamh O\u2019Connor, James O\u2019Hea and Barry O\u2019Hea. <\/p>\n

The bride wore an ultra-chic Havana gown by Herms Bridal, bought at De Stafford Bridal, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, wth alterations by Urata Designs, Ballincollig. Ruthanna Crowley was the bridal makeup artist, and Laura Boyle created the bridal hairstyles.<\/p>\n

The groom and his party sourced their suits at Deasy Suit Hire, Rossmore, Clonakilty.<\/p>\n

Janusz and Justyna Trzesicki (Janusztphotography.com) were the wedding photographers, and 2Pot Film House was the videographer.<\/p>\n

Maura Sheehy of Maura\u2019s Cottage Flowers created the floral d\u00e9cor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O\u2019Connor. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography<\/p>\n

Reuben\u2019s mum, Mary, baked wedding cakes and his cousin, Aileen Hickey of West Cork Cakes, iced and decorated them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cReuben\u2019s brother Cian, a carpenter, made the cake stands and did a reading, Reuben\u2019s brother Tom\u00e1s, a pianist, performed during our ceremony, and my brother Diarmuid and Reuben\u2019s brother Barry did the readings,\u201d says Niamh.<\/p>\n

Reuben adds, \u201cNiamh\u2019s dad, Jerry, does sound engineering for different musicians around Cork as a weekend hobby. His friends, Jack Doherty and Der O\u2019Riordan (Remedy), joined forces with John Murphy (bass guitar), Diarmuid Galvin and John Murphy (drums) to create the most talented wedding band to ever exist! Tim Mullane provided the brilliant music at our drinks reception.<\/p>\n

\"NiamhNiamh O\u2019Connor and Reuben O\u2019Hea. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography<\/p>\n

\u201cOur DJ, Patrick Ahern, kept the dance floor full until the early hours.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before their Madeira honeymoon, the Carrigtwohill-based newlyweds spent a night in Barrow House, Fenit.<\/p>\n

Niamh is a primary school teacher at Carrigtwohill Community NS, and Reuben is a researcher and lab manager with H&H Research in Moorepark, Fermoy.<\/p>\n