{"id":488256,"date":"2026-05-16T21:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T21:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/488256\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T21:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T21:07:22","slug":"wedding-of-the-week-romantic-proposal-in-paris-led-to-a-wedding-in-rosscarbery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/488256\/","title":{"rendered":"Wedding of the Week: Romantic proposal in Paris led to a wedding in Rosscarbery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like so many modern love stories, West Cork couple Kate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll\u2019s started on Tinder in 2018.<\/p>\n

But Kate, from Rosscarbery, and Barry, from Drinagh, says it took another wedding for their first \u201cofficial meeting\u201d to unfold, in August the following year. \u201cBarry was looking for breakfast the morning after his friend\u2019s wedding at O\u2019Donovan\u2019s Hotel in Clonakilty when he saw me \u2014 I was working part-time at the hotel at the time,\u201d says Kate.<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wasn\u2019t sure if it was me at first, but that evening he messaged me and within a few days, I told him to ask me out on a date, and the rest is history, as they say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barry popped the question on January 2, 2025, on a romantic trip to Paris, and they were married on March 21 this year in St Fachtna\u2019s Church, Rosscarbery, by Canon Martin O\u2019Driscoll, choosing the Trident Hotel Kinsale, Co Cork, for their reception.<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were both very relaxed the morning of the wedding as we got ready,\u201d says Kate. \u201cI was a small bit nervous going up the aisle, but I think that\u2019s normal. Barry was as cool as a breeze.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lynda Sloane-Cusack performed the ceremony music. \u201cLynda has such a beautiful voice, and I was singing along to all the songs throughout the ceremony,\u201d says Kate.<\/p>\n

The bride\u2019s vocals were to take centre stage in an unexpected way at the reception. \u201cBarry played a recording during his speech of my sleep-talking,\u201d she says. \u201cA couple of months before we got engaged, I used to record myself, as I sleep-talk a lot \u2014 and in one of the recordings, I said I never wanted to get married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

Helping them plan their dream big day were the mother-of-the-bride, Celia O\u2019Neill, and the groom\u2019s parents, Kathleen and Brendan O\u2019Driscoll.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t believe how lucky we were with the weather, as we had one of the only days with blue skies in March after many days of rain,\u201d says Kate. \u201cThe view from the Trident Hotel is also spectacular, and guests got to enjoy our drinks reception out on their patio. In addition, the food at the Trident was outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll with Megan O\u2019Neill and Rob Long. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

Kate chose her sister Megan O\u2019Neill to be her maid of honour, and Barry\u2019s brother-in-law, Rob Long, was his best man. The bride\u2019s niece \u00c9abha O\u2019Neill and the groom\u2019s niece Sophie Long were the flowergirls, and the groom\u2019s nephews Jamie and Elliot Long were the pageboys.<\/p>\n

The bride was super-chic in a Willow by \u2018Georgie\u2019 gown. \u201cI got my dress in Memories Bridal Boutique in Cork and chose my dress on my first viewing,\u201d says Kate. \u201cThe groom, best man, and father of the groom\u2019s suits were all bought in Sean Murray Fashions in Skibbereen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

The bridal upstyle was by Molly Farrell, and Emily Nowotynski was the makeup artist. \u201cMolly has been my hairdresser for many years, and both girls were a dream on my wedding morning and brought all the good vibes,\u201d says Kate.<\/p>\n

Behind the cameras were photographer Diana Pokusai (Instagram: @diana_pokusai_photo<\/a>) and content creators Bethan and Mark (Instagram: @bethanandmarkweddings<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

The wedding band, Little Creatures, was followed by Kerry DJ Kevin Healy-Rae. \u201cWe are still blown away by how good our band and DJ were, and I can honestly say, the dance floor was never empty,\u201d says Kate.<\/p>\n

West Cork Flowers created the floral arrangements, and the wedding cake was by Kelly Twohig.<\/p>\n

\"KateKate O\u2019Neill and Barry O\u2019Driscoll. Pictures: Diana Pokusai<\/p>\n

Kate, a secondary school teacher, and Barry, a primary school teacher, honeymooned in Mexico. The newlyweds live in Drinagh.<\/p>\n