Orlaith & Niall

ETA Friday 23 April 2027 Friday 23 April 2027 at 1 PM

Derry to Limerick, the long way

Three hundred and sixty kilometres down the west of Ireland. He's from one end. She's from the other.

  1. The Peace Bridge

    Derry at first light. The Foyle below, still half asleep. This is where he's from.

    54.998° N · 7.316° W

  2. The Guildhall

    Red sandstone and a clock that keeps Derry time. His city, waking up.

    54.998° N · 7.319° W

  3. The Walls

    Four hundred years old and never breached. A bit like his loyalty to the place.

    54.996° N · 7.322° W

  4. Wheels up

    Three hundred and sixty kilometres to Limerick. Four and three quarter hours by road. Rather less by scroll.

    Heading south, down the west

  5. Donegal Bay

    Donegal Town, and the bay opens on the right. Home county of LYIT Donegal, who were playing the Eagles the night of the thumbs-up. Remember the name.

    54.56° N · 8.38° W

  6. Benbulben

    Sligo's table mountain. Yeats country, flat on top and showing off in the early sun.

    54.367° N · 8.472° W

  7. Knock

    County Mayo. Halfway, give or take. A grand spot to say one for the traffic.

    53.792° N · 8.918° W

  8. The Shannon

    The longest river in Ireland, and the last thing between him and Limerick.

    52.672° N · 8.840° W

  9. King John's Castle

    Limerick, standing on the river since the 1200s. This is where she's from.

    52.670° N · 8.625° W

  10. Derry meets Limerick

    Three hundred and sixty kilometres, two proud counties, one line. On Friday 23 April 2027 they meet for good.

It started with a thumbs-up

September 2020. LYIT Donegal against the Eagles. Somewhere in that game, Niall gave Orlaith a thumbs-up. That was the whole move.

That night they properly talked for the first time, in Shake Dog, the late-night takeaway. He got chicken. She got cheese and garlic chips. The rest, as they say, is this website.

Both of them are basketball mad. She is proudly Limerick, Huskies to the bone. He is proudly Derry, and will tell you so. She teaches primary school. He works for Basketball Ireland.

Thumbs-up
1
Proud counties
2
Years in Dubai
2
Flights out
5
Guests
~298
Wedding
23.04.27
Orlaith and Niall on a basketball court in blue team tops, each holding a silver cup
Two cups, one house

Dubai

6,065 km · bearing 094° · due east, more or less

Orlaith lived there for two years, loves it still, and has family there. Niall flew out five times. By the third he didn't need the map.

Niall giving Orlaith a piggyback on a sand dune at sunset
The dunes, at sunset
Orlaith and Niall in matching jackets beside two king penguins in the snow at Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai. Penguins, formally introduced

The question on the cliffs

Kilkee, County Clare.

Her favourite place in the world, and the summers of her childhood. On the cliffs above the Atlantic, Niall asked the question. She said yes.

Full story to come. This scene is still in the edit.

A windswept selfie of the two of them on a grassy clifftop, sea behind
Windswept and delighted
Orlaith showing her engagement ring beside Niall, a Christmas tree behind them
The ring, by the tree

Friday 23 April 2027

Monaleen Church first, then on to Adare.

Call sheet · Monaleen to Adare

  1. Doors

    Monaleen Church, Castletroy, Limerick. Come early, get a good pew.

  2. The ceremony

    Monsignor Dan Neenan officiating, Jessica Brett on the music. The time may move to 1:30; the invites will confirm it.

  3. To Adare

    On to the Woodlands Hotel & Spa, Adare, about 25 minutes by road.

  4. Drinks reception

    Jessica Brett plays you in.

  5. Dinner

    Sit down, settle in.

  6. Speeches

    Timed to land with the sweet stuff.

  7. The Bentley Boys

    The band, then the DJ, then whatever the legs allow.

  8. That's a wrap

    Eventually.

Working plan, final times with the invites.

Day two at the Treehouse

Saturday 24 April 2027

From 4:00 PM · The Treehouse at the Woodlands, AdareCall sheet · everyone welcome

Day two is for everyone at the wedding. No second list, no small print. Come as you are, stay as long as you like, and bring Friday's stories with you.

Cast and crew

starringOrlaith Woods and Niall McDermott

Chief bridesmaid
Sarah Jane
Bridesmaids
Avril Crosse
Rhea McMahon
Laura
Best man
To be announcedcasting in progress
Groomsmen
Feargal McDermott
Gary Campbell
Sean Doherty
Ciaran Lockhart
Officiant
Monsignor Dan Neenan
Stills
Black Diamond Photography
Moving pictures
MDA Productions
Church and drinks music
Jessica Brett
Band and DJ
The Bentley Boys
Picture car
A 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

Featuring around 298 of their favourite people: the Derry and Belfast contingent, the basketball world (Eagles, Huskies, imports and all) and both work crews.

Stills

From the story so far. Swipe, or use the arrows.

A black and white photo booth strip: sunglasses, a kiss, a laugh
The booth. Three takes, all keepers
The two of them on a basketball court, each holding a cup
Cup day
On a hillside above the sea at golden hour, Orlaith in a pink dress
Crete, golden hour
Arms up in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
Las Vegas. Arms up
Both in green officials' tops beside a basketball court at a FIBA event
Table officials. Neutral, allegedly
On a terrace with mountains behind at sunset
Spain, in the hills
A beach at sunset with happy birthday written in the sand
Birthday, written in sand
A black and white photo of the two of them cuddled up in front of a mural
Somewhere loud
Under a yellow neon sign that reads disco made me do it
Disco made them do it
Dressed up on a lawn, guests at someone else's wedding
Guests at a wedding. Practice
Dressed for a night out, smiling at the camera
Out out

Getting here

The Derry road is the one you've just flown. Here's everyone else's.

  • From Derry

    360 km down the west, about 4¾ hours: Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare. Make a weekend of it.

  • From Belfast and Dublin

    Belfast: the M1, then the M7 from Dublin, about four hours. Dublin: the M7, about two and a half.

  • By air

    Shannon is 30 minutes away and the easiest by far. Cork is about 1¾ hours by road, Dublin about 2½.

Where to stay

  • The Woodlands Hotel & Spa, Adare. Ring and say you're with the wedding. Those rooms go early.
  • The Dunraven Arms, in Adare village, five minutes away.
  • Limerick city, about 25 minutes, with plenty of beds: the Strand, the Clayton, the George.

On the day

Parking
Plenty at the Woodlands. Church parking notes come with the invites. Car pooling is very welcome.
Taxis
Local numbers come with the invites. The hotel desk will find you one, whatever the hour.
Weather
April in Ireland: all four seasons before the soup. Everything is indoors. Bring a coat for the photos.

Monaleen Church map The Woodlands map

Before you set off

What's the dress code?

Dress up: suits, dresses, colour, personality. Two rules. Nothing white, and no club jerseys. Either club. Yes, that one too.

Is Saturday really for everyone?

Yes. The Treehouse at the Woodlands, from 4:00 PM on Saturday 24 April. No fine print.

Are children invited?

Your invite names everyone included. If anything's unclear, just ask.

Phones during the ceremony?

The ruling comes with the invites. Either way, Black Diamond and MDA have it covered, so you can just be there.

How far is the church from Adare?

About 25 minutes by road. Both are on the map links above.

Gifts?

Having you there is the gift. There'll be a card box on the day, quietly.

When do I need to reply by?

1 March 2027, to be confirmed on the invites.

Is the RSVP below real?

Not yet. It's a rehearsal so you can see how it works. The real one, with your household looked up by name, opens with the invites.

Put your name in the credits

Rehearsal takeThis RSVP is a demo. The real one goes live with the invites.

Please reply by 1 March 2027 (to be confirmed on the invites).

When it goes live, your name brings up your whole household.

Friday 23 April · the wedding

Saturday 24 April · the Treehouse

Prefer paper? Tell any of the bridal party and they'll sort it for you.