Orlaith & Niall

The road from Derry to Limerick

The view from the back seat: a hand-cut landscape slides past the car window, from Derry's Walls to Adare's thatched cottages, with road signs carrying the story of Orlaith and Niall along the way.

Friday 23 April 2027, 200 days to go. Monaleen Church, Limerick, then the Woodlands, Adare. The trip south, one window at a time. Skip to the details.

  1. A5  Strabane14
    Limerick224mi

    Friday 23 April 2027

    201 days to go 00:00:00

    A5  Strabane6
    Donegal39mi

    Proudly Derry(that's Niall)

  2. Fáilte go Dún na nGallWelcome to Donegal

    Speed limits in km/h

    Miles out, kilometres inSame road. Longer signs.

    N15
    Dún na nGallDonegal36
    Béal Átha SeanaidhBallyshannon56
    LuimneachLimerick319km

  3. The thumbs-up

    LYIT Donegal v the Eagles, September 2020. Niall gives Orlaith a thumbs-up.

    One thumbs-upthat's all it took

    Shake Dog, Limerick

    That same night. Their first proper chat, over a late-night takeaway.

    Chicken (him)cheese and garlic chips (her)

  4. N15
    SligeachSligo46
    LuimneachLimerick266km

    More Atlantic out the other windowLean over.

  5. Benbulbenflat on top, as promised

    Basketball mad

    Both of them. It's a Huskies and Eagles household.

    Primary teacher (her)Basketball Ireland (him)

  6. N17
    Cnoc MhuireKnock57
    TuaimTuam95
    LuimneachLimerick209km
    AerfortAirport

    Dubai

    Two years living there for Orlaith, family there still. Five flights out for Niall.

    She still loves ithe's been five times

  7. N17
    Clár Chlainne MhuirisClaremorris18
    LuimneachLimerick159km

    Soft day, thank GodMayo, being Mayo

    N17
    TuaimTuam24
    An GortGort76km
  8. M18
    InisEnnis83
    LuimneachLimerick117km
    M18By the numbers
    • Thumbs-up1
    • Proud counties2
    • Years in Dubai2
    • Flights out5
    • Guestsabout 298
    • The day23.04.27
    M18
    InisEnnis37
    SionainnShannon56
    LuimneachLimerick71km
  9. N68Cill ChaoiKilkee

    The question on the cliffs

    Kilkee, Co. Clare. Her favourite place, all those childhood summers. He asked. She said yes.

    Full story to come
    N18
    SionainnShannon
    LuimneachLimerick21km
  10. Fáilte go LuimneachWelcome to Limerick

    Proudly Limerick(that's Orlaith)

  11. Monaleen Church

    Friday 23 April 2027. 1:00 PM. Doors from 12:30.

    May move to 1:30
    Áth DaraAdare

    The Woodlands Hotel & Spa

    The reception, the dinner, the dancing.

    We're herethe day itself is just below

An Lá MórThe big day

Friday 23 April 2027. Two stops, one long and lovely day. The sign below reads like any other: places on the left, times on the right.

23.04.27
  1. Monaleen Church, CastletroyDoors from 12:30. Monsignor Dan Neenan officiating, Jessica Brett on the music.
    1:00 PM
  2. On to AdareAbout 25 minutes to the Woodlands Hotel & Spa. The bride travels by 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.
    2:30
  3. DrinksJessica Brett plays you in.
    on arrival
  4. Dinner
    5:00
  5. Speeches
    with dessert
  6. The Bentley BoysThen the DJ.
    8:30
  7. Carriages
    late

Working plan, final times with the invites

Ceremony may move to 1:30, confirmed with the invites

Monaleen Church map The Woodlands map
The bride's car. Silver Cloud, 1960.

On cameras all day: Black Diamond Photography for the photographs and MDA Productions for the video. Put the phone away and enjoy it.

An Dara LáDay two

The Treehouse at the Woodlands

Saturday 24 April 2027. From 4:00 PM. Everyone's welcome.

Everyone at the wedding is welcome on Saturday. No fine print and no second list. Come as you are, from 4:00 PM at the Treehouse, and bring Friday's stories with you. Sore heads very welcome.

Lucht na BainiseThe wedding party

An old fingerpost at the crossroads. Her crew points one way, his points the other, and both roads end at the same church.

  • Bridesmaidsthis way to Orlaith
  • Sarah Janechief bridesmaid
  • Avril Crossebridesmaid
  • Rhea McMahonbridesmaid
  • Laurabridesmaid
  • Groomsmenthis way to Niall
  • Best manto be announced
  • Feargal McDermottgroomsman
  • Gary Campbellgroomsman
  • Sean Dohertygroomsman
  • Ciaran Lockhartgroomsman

Marrying them: Monsignor Dan Neenan, at Monaleen Church.

Greamaithe den fhuinneogStuck to the window

Every family car has a back window covered in something. Ours is covered in these. More will be taped up after the day.

Orlaith and Niall in a windswept selfie on a green clifftop, the Atlantic behind them.
Atlantic hair, don't care
Niall giving Orlaith a piggyback on a desert dune at sunset.
Dubai, piggyback included
The couple crouched in the snow between two king penguins.
Ski Dubai. Formal introductions.
Orlaith and Niall on a basketball court, each holding a trophy with green ribbons.
Two cups, one shelf
A black and white photo booth strip of the two of them pulling faces and kissing.
Booth rules: one serious face. Failed.
Orlaith showing her engagement ring beside Niall, by a Christmas tree.
The ring, by the tree
The couple on a terrace at golden hour with mountains behind.
Spain, golden hour
The two of them in green officials' tops courtside in a basketball arena.
Courtside, on duty
Cuddled up in a booth in front of a bright, colourful mural.
Somewhere loud

Conas teacht anseoGetting here

The panorama above is the real road. Here it is the boring way, plus every other way in.

Doire go LuimneachDerry to Limerick360 kmabout 4¾ hours
  1. A5Strabane, then over the border at Lifford. Miles turn into kilometres.
  2. N15Ballybofey, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon, Sligo. Benbulben on your left.
  3. N17Knock, Claremorris, Tuam.
  4. M17M18Gort, Ennis, Shannon.
  5. N18Into Limerick. Monaleen is on the far side of the city, Adare 25 minutes beyond.
M1M7
From Belfast

M1, then M7. About four hours.

M7
From Dublin

M7 the whole way. About two and a half hours.

Flying in

Shannon is 30 minutes away and the local favourite. Cork is about 1¾ hours by road, Dublin about 2½ after landing.

PParking

Plenty at the Woodlands. Church parking notes come with the invites. Car pooling is warmly encouraged.

Taxis

Local numbers arrive with the invites. The hotel desk will always call one for you, whatever the hour.

Weather

April in Ireland: four seasons before the soup. Everything on the day is indoors. Bring a coat for the photos.

Cá háit le fanachtWhere to stay

Beds, by distance
  • The Woodlands Hotel & Spa, Adareon siteRing the hotel and say you're with the wedding. Those rooms go early.
  • Dunraven Arms, Adare village5 minOld coaching inn, a short spin from the reception.
  • Limerick city25 minPlenty of rooms: the Strand, the Clayton, the George. Handy for the church too.

Rialacha an BhóthairRules of the road

What's the dress code?

Your good clothes: colour, suits, dresses, personality. Two rules only, both firm. Nothing white unless you're the bride. No club jerseys, either club. Yes, it's a Huskies and Eagles household. That's exactly why.

Is Saturday really for everyone?

Really. The Treehouse at the Woodlands from 4:00 PM on Saturday 24 April. If you're at the wedding, you're welcome at the Treehouse.

Are children invited?

Your invite names everyone it includes. Check it when it lands in the new year, and just ask if anything's unclear.

Phones during the ceremony?

The ruling comes with the invites. Either way, Black Diamond Photography and MDA Productions have the cameras covered, so you're free to just be there.

Gifts?

Honestly, you making the trip is the gift.

When do replies close?

1 March 2027, to be confirmed on the invites. Earlier is lovely.

Is the RSVP below real?

Not yet. It's a working demo. The real one, where your name brings up everyone on your invite, opens with the invites.

Freagair, le do thoilRSVP

Two minutes, tops. Tell us who's in the car.

Demo: this road opens with the invites

When it goes live, your name brings up everyone on your invite.

Dé hAoineFriday 23 Aprilthe wedding
Dé SathairnSaturday 24 Aprilthe Treehouse

See you on the road

Thank you.

    This was the demo, so nothing was sent. The real one opens with the invites.

    We'll miss you

    Thanks for letting us know. We'll give you a wave from the window, and a toast from Adare.

    This was the demo, so nothing was sent. The real one opens with the invites.

    Replies by 1 March 2027 (to be confirmed on the invites)

    Prefer paper? Tell any of the bridal party and they'll pass it on.

    RSVPby 1 March 2027