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Orlaith & Niall

Friday 23 April 2027

200 days of stitching left

Friday 23 April 2027
Monaleen Church, Limerick, then the Woodlands, Adare

Derry to Limerick, in thread

  • The Derry threadRed and white, twisted. From the shirt-making city.
  • The Limerick threadGreen and white, worked like lace on fine net.
  • TackingThe island, tacked in first.
0of 360 km stitched
0 of 60 stitches
  1. Derry: the Walls, the Peace Bridge, the Guildhall
  2. Donegal Town
  3. Sligo
  4. Knock
  5. Ennis
  6. the Shannon
  7. King John's Castle, Limerick

The story so far

It started with a thumbs-up

September 2020 · LYIT Donegal v the Eagles

A basketball game, like a hundred others. Niall gave Orlaith a thumbs-up. One thumbs-up. History will show it was enough.

Orlaith and Niall on a basketball court, each holding a trophy
Basketball. Obviously.

Then, Shake Dog

That same night they properly talked for the first time, in Shake Dog, the late-night takeaway in Limerick. Niall got the chicken. Orlaith got the cheese and garlic chips.

The rest, as they say, is embroidery.

Two counties, one house

Both of them are basketball mad. Orlaith is proudly Limerick and a Huskies woman, and she teaches in a primary school. Niall is proudly Derry and works for Basketball Ireland.

Two threads, two colours, one cloth. You'll see both on the day.

The Dubai years

Orlaith lived in Dubai for two years. She loves it, and there's family out there still. Niall flew out to see her five times, which is a lot of airport for a man from Derry.

Orlaith on Niall's back on a desert dune at sunset
The desert, piggyback division.

Kilkee

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

The full story is still in the pattern book. Stitching soon.

A windswept selfie of the two of them on the Atlantic coast
Atlantic conditions.

Counted, the way samplers count

  • thumbs-up
  • proud counties
  • years in Dubai
  • flights out
  • guests, give or take
  • the day

Friday 23 April

The order of the day, stitched in. Church in Castletroy, then on to Adare for the rest of it.

Working plan: final times come with the invites.

  1. 12:30

    Doors open

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

  2. 1:00 PM

    The ceremony

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

  3. About 2:30

    On to Adare

    The Woodlands Hotel & Spa, about 25 minutes from the church. The couple go by 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. You go by whatever gets you there.

  4. On arrival

    Drinks

    A drink in your hand and Jessica Brett playing.

  5. About 5:00

    Dinner

    Sit down, eat well.

  6. With dessert

    Speeches

    Served alongside the dessert, so there's something sweet either way.

  7. About 8:30

    The Bentley Boys

    The band, then the DJ. Floor open.

  8. Late

    Carriages, eventually

    Late. Properly late.

Orlaith and Niall dressed up, arm in arm, at an evening do
Dress rehearsal.

Saturday 24 April

The Treehouse, at the Woodlands

4:00 PM onwards

Day two, and everyone's welcome. Not a select few, not a second list: everyone. Come as you are, bring Friday's stories, and we'll pick up where we left off.

Same hotel, so if you stayed over, it's a short walk with a sore head.

Niall and Orlaith on a night out, smiling
Saturday energy.

The wedding party

Old samplers recorded the family, name by name. Here's ours for the day.

With Orlaith

  • Sarah Janechief bridesmaid
  • Avril Crossebridesmaid
  • Rhea McMahonbridesmaid
  • Laurabridesmaid

With Niall

  • Best man: to be announcedbest man: the pattern's printed, the name gets stitched in when he's announced
  • Feargal McDermottgroomsman
  • Gary Campbellgroomsman
  • Sean Dohertygroomsman
  • Ciaran Lockhartgroomsman

Officiating: Monsignor Dan Neenan. Also stitched in: Black Diamond Photography on photos, MDA Productions on film, Jessica Brett at the church and the drinks, The Bentley Boys with the band and DJ, and one 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.

Pinned up

A few from the scrapbook, pinned to the linen. More to come after the day.

A black and white photo booth strip of the two of them, sunglasses on, then a kiss
Best behaviour lasted one frame.
Orlaith and Niall kneeling between two king penguins at Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai. Very professional penguins.
The two of them dressed up at Christmas, Orlaith showing her ring
Christmas, and a ring to show off.
Niall and Orlaith courtside in matching green officials' kit
Courtside, in uniform.
Orlaith and Niall on a terrace in the Spanish mountains at sunset
Spain, golden hour.
The two of them under a yellow neon sign that reads Disco made me do it
Disco made them do it.
Cuddled up in a booth in front of a bright painted mural
Somewhere loud and colourful.
The two of them on a beach at sunset with happy birthday written in the sand
A birthday, written in the sand.
A black and white photo of the two of them, dressed up, arm in arm
Scrubbed up.

Getting here

Everything you need to reach the cloth, park beside it and sleep near it.

From Derry and the north

Derry to Limerick is 360 km, about 4¾ hours, down the western route: Donegal Town, Sligo, Knock, Ennis. The very line stitched above. From Belfast, about four hours (M1, then M7). From Dublin, about two and a half (M7).

By air

Shannon is 30 minutes away and the easy one. Cork is about 1¾ hours by road; Dublin about 2½ after landing.

The church

Monaleen Church, Castletroy, Limerick. Doors at 12:30, ceremony at 1:00 PM.

Open in Maps (Monaleen Church, opens in a new tab)

The Woodlands

The Woodlands Hotel & Spa, Adare, Co. Limerick. About 25 minutes from the church. Saturday's Treehouse is here too.

Open in Maps (the Woodlands, opens in a new tab)

Parking and taxis

Plenty of parking at the Woodlands. Church parking notes and local taxi numbers come with the invites. Late on, the hotel desk will call you a taxi. Car-pool if you can.

Weather

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

Where to stay

  • The Woodlands itself. Ring the hotel and say you're with the wedding; those rooms go early.
  • The Dunraven Arms in Adare village, five minutes away.
  • Limerick city, 25 minutes, with plenty of rooms: the Strand, the Clayton, the George.

The back of the work

  • What should I wear?

    Your good clothes: suits, dresses, colour, personality. Two rules. No white (that's taken), and no club jerseys. Either club. We know it's a Huskies and Eagles house; that's exactly why.

  • Is it 1:00 or 1:30?

    1:00 PM for now, doors at 12:30. It may move to 1:30; the invites will settle it.

  • Is Saturday really for everyone?

    Really. The Treehouse at the Woodlands, Saturday 24 April from 4:00 PM. No second list. Come along.

  • Can I bring the children?

    Your invite names everyone it's for. If you're not sure, just ask.

  • Phones at the ceremony?

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

  • Gifts?

    Having you there is the gift; a card box will sit quietly on the day if you'd like it.

  • When do I need to reply?

    By 1 March 2027 (to be confirmed on the invites).

  • Is the RSVP below the real thing?

    Not yet. It's a practice piece. The real one goes live with the invites, and your name will bring up your whole household.

RSVP

Samplers were always signed with initials and a year. Type your name and watch yours go in.

Your initials go here.

Practice piece: this RSVP goes live with the invites

When this goes live, your name will bring up your whole household.

Friday 23 April: the wedding
Saturday 24 April: the Treehouse

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

Prefer paper? Tell any of the bridal party and they'll stitch you in.