Several couples celebrating landmark anniversaries of their wedding day gathered for a very special occasion on Saturday night when they renewed their vows at a ceremony in St Mary’s Cathedral.
The annual event, organised by Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien, is a popular local tradition that sees couples celebrating significant anniversaries, from their silver jubilee to their golden jubilee and beyond, gathering for the occasion.
Afterwards they all gathered again in St Brendan’s College where refreshments were served, stories were swapped, cake was cut and wedding day ceremonies were remembered.
Fr O’Brien was the celebrant on the night and he was assisted by Fr Vitalis Barasa with Paula Gleeson the cantor and Jack McCrohan the organist.
One of the highlights the night came close to the end of the ceremony when Paula performed a rendition of Perhaps Love – a wedding day favourite – made famous by John Denver and Placido Domingo.
Fr O’Brien said it was a special night in the parish and for the couples involved it was a joyful and a glorious occasion combined.
It was a night of celebration, in particular, for twos couple who were celebrating a landmark 63rd wedding anniversary.
Seán and Breege O’Donoghue of Flesk Castle, Mill Road and Seamus and Mary O’Sullivan Darcy were wed in 1962 and special mention was reserved for that wonderful milestone at the Mass.
Four couples were celebrating their diamond wedding anniversaries with Marie and Seán O’Brien, New Road, Jimmy and Myra O’Gorman, Dunrine, Tralee Road, Pat and Joan Cahill, Fleck Bridge, Muckross Road and William and Maura O’Neill, Park Drive all marking 60 years of marriage.
Paddy and Mary Casey, Gortacooch, Glenflesk, Pat and Alice O’Sullivan, Minish and Michael and Noreen Marshall, Muckross Grove were all celebrating their 55th anniversaries while there were several couples marking their golden jubilees at the Mass.
They were Ted and Phil Ahern, Faha, Michael and Kathleen Doyle, Carhoonahone, Beaufort, Joe and Breeda Lyons, Kilbrack, Oakpark, Demesne, Tralee, Eckhart and Patricia Gogsch, Demense, Ross Road and Will and Teresa Burke, Muckross Grove, James and Margaret Arthur, St Brendan’s Place, John and Chris Mannix, Flesk Lodge, Muckross Road, Patrick and Breda Moriarty, Gortagullane, Muckross, Batt and Nora Healy, Upper Lissivigeen, John and Margaret McCarthy, Muckross Grove, Seán and Mary Kavanagh, Tiriúil, Muckross Road, Frank and Siobhán Lewis, Gortagullane, Muckross and Bernie and Katherine Cronin, Knopogue, Aghadoe.
Three couples – Tony and Marie Nolan, Whitebridge Manor, Jerry and Lena Kelleher, Islanderagh, Rathmore and Liam and Helen O’ Brien, Rookery Road were celebrating the 45th anniversaries while those toasting 40 years as husband and wife were Noel and Rita Curtin, Pinewood Estate, Tim and Catherine Moriarty, Gortagullane, Muckross, Neilly and Bridie O’Mahony, Knockeragh, Donal and Linda O’Donoghue, Knockeenduff, Joe and Caroline Hurley, Whitebridge Manor, Michael and Cliona O’Sullivan, Knocknasartnett, Seán and Margaret McCarthy, Kenmare Road, Muckross and Padraig and Mary Kissane, Minish.
Three couples who celebrated 35 years of marriage on the night were Paudie and Joan Mangan, Riverhaven, Coolcorcoran, Michael and Marian Lucey, Knockeenduff and Liam and Marie Courtney, Minish East while celebrating three decades as husband and wife were Bernadette Randles and Vincent Casey, Muckross Road, Paul and Deirdre McEnteggart, Ashgrove, Firies, Tony and Teresa O’Gorman, Glosha, Cromane, Killorglin, Seamus and Ella Clifford, Ardaneanig, Hillary and Moira Fleming, Whitebridge and Donal and Caroline McCarthy, Countess Road.
Silver jubilee couples celebrating 25 years of marriage were Andy and Norma McHugh, Carhoonahane, Beaufort, Mike and Sheila Daly, Glean Tober, Gortdromakerry, Muckross and Cathal and Mairead Dunphy, Lyranes Lower, Glencar.
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