Orlaith & Niall

Friday 23 April 2027, sunrise over Limerick 06:20calculated

200 days, and counting, to one o'clock at Monaleen

It started with a thumbs-up

September 2020, LYIT Donegal v the Eagles. Somewhere in the middle of a basketball game, Niall gave Orlaith a thumbs-up. Smooth? Debatable. Effective? Clearly.

Shake Dog, later that night

That night we properly talked for the first time, in Shake Dog, the late-night takeaway in Limerick. Some love stories start by candlelight. Ours started at a counter, waiting on an order.

Niall: chickenOrlaith: cheese and garlic chips

Orlaith and Niall on a basketball court in club hoodies, each holding a cup with green ribbons
Basketball mad, the pair of us.

Limerick and Derry

We're both basketball mad. Orlaith is proudly Limerick, and proudly Huskies. Niall is proudly Derry. She teaches in a primary school; he works for Basketball Ireland. Jersey rules in the house remain under negotiation.

Dubai

Orlaith lived in Dubai for two years. She loves it, and she has family there. Niall flew out five times. Same sun, three hours ahead.

Orlaith on Niall's back on desert dunes, the sun low and bright behind them
Desert sun, a long way from Limerick.

Kilkee

Kilkee, Co. Clare, is her favourite place in the world: childhood summers by the sea. On the cliffs there, Niall asked the question. She said yes.

Full story to come

A windswept selfie of Orlaith and Niall on a clifftop by the sea
Windswept. The Atlantic insists.

1 thumbs-up. 2 proud counties. 2 years in Dubai and 5 flights out. About 298 guests. One date: 23.04.27.

Friday, by the light

The plan for the day, set against the sun it will actually have.

Working plan, final times with the invites

  1. 12:30

    Doors open

    Monaleen Church, Castletroy, Limerick. Find a seat, find your people, wave at the ones you haven't seen since the last wedding.

  2. 13:00

    The ceremony

    Monsignor Dan Neenan marries us. Jessica Brett plays. The time may move to 1:30; the invites will say for certain.

    At one o'clock the sun stands 49.4° over Monaleen, bearing 168°, within a degree of its highest all day.calculated

  3. ~14:30

    On to Adare

    About 25 minutes to the Woodlands Hotel & Spa, Adare. A 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud leads the way; the rest of us follow in whatever's parked closest.

  4. ~15:00on arrival

    Drinks

    Drinks on arrival, with Jessica Brett playing again. Stretch the legs, admire the hats.

  5. ~17:00

    Dinner, then speeches

    Dinner first. The speeches come with dessert, so everyone has something sweet while we're being slagged.

  6. 20:00golden hour

    Golden hour

    The sun drops below six degrees at 20:00.calculated Black Diamond Photography and MDA Productions steal the two of us outside for the best light of the day.

  7. ~20:30

    The Bentley Boys

    The band, from around half eight. Sunset lands at 20:47,calculated so the first few songs get the last of the light.

  8. 20:47sunset

    Sunset over Adare

    The sun goes down at a bearing of 292°, west-north-west, with the band a few songs in.calculated

  1. 21:25dusk

    The blue hour

    Civil dusk at 21:25.calculated April light hangs on a long time this far west. The band will be in full swing by now.

  2. 22:14stars

    Stars

    Nautical dusk at 22:14, properly dark by 23:12.calculated Step out between songs and look up.

  3. late

    The DJ

    After the band, the DJ, until late. The song requests from your RSVPs go on the list.

  4. 00:42moonrise

    The moon comes up

    A waning gibbous moon, 90% lit, rises in the south-east at 00:42.calculated Still dancing? Look out the window.

Saturday at the Treehouse

Day 2 is at the Treehouse in the Woodlands, Saturday 24 April, from 4:00 PM. Everyone is welcome. No second list, no small print. Come for an hour or stay for the evening.

16:00
The Treehouse opens, at the Woodlands, Adare
40.6°
The sun's height at four o'clock, bearing 230°calculated

Standing beside us

With Orlaith

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

With Niall

  • To be announcedbest man
  • Feargal McDermottgroomsman
  • Gary Campbellgroomsman
  • Sean Dohertygroomsman
  • Ciaran Lockhartgroomsman

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

Getting here

Two places, about 25 minutes apart. Everything else is roads and runways.

Monaleen ChurchCastletroy, Limerick

Doors from 12:30, ceremony at 1:00 PM. Parking notes come with the invites.

Open in Maps

The WoodlandsAdare, Co. Limerick

Reception, dinner, dancing and Saturday's Treehouse, all in the one place. Plenty of parking.

Open in Maps

From the northDerry, Belfast and beyond

Derry to Limerick is 360 km, about 4¾ hours, down the western side. Belfast is about four hours by the M1 and M7; Dublin about two and a half on the M7.

Derry, Lifford, the N15 by Ballybofey, Donegal Town and Ballyshannon, past Benbulben into Sligo, the N17 through Knock, Claremorris and Tuam, the M17 and M18 by Gort, Ennis and Shannon, then the N18 into Limerick.

By airnearest runways

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

Getting aboutparking and taxis

Car-pool if you can. Taxi numbers come with the invites, and the hotel desk will call one at any hour.

WeatherApril, Ireland

All four seasons before the soup. Everything on the day is indoors; bring a coat for the photos and you'll want for nothing.

Where to stay

The Woodlandson the spot

Ring the hotel and say you're with the wedding. Those rooms go early.

Adare villagefive minutes away

The Dunraven Arms, in the heart of the village.

Limerick cityabout 25 minutes

Plenty of rooms: the Strand, the Clayton and the George. Handy for the church, too.

Good questions

What should I wear?

Your good clothes, with colour and personality. Two rules, both firm: nothing white unless you're the bride, and no club jerseys. Either club. Yes, we know it's a Huskies and Eagles house. That's exactly why.

Is Saturday really open to everyone?

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

Are children invited?

Your invite names everyone it includes. If anything's unclear when it lands, just ask.

Phones in the church?

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

Gifts?

Honestly, your being there is the gift.

When do I need to reply by?

1 March 2027, to be confirmed on the invites. Earlier makes the planning easier.

Is the sky on this site real?

Mostly. Sunrise, sunset, the sun's height and bearing, and the moon are calculated for Limerick on those exact dates. The clouds are made up. We couldn't book those.

Will you be under this sky?

Demo for now: the real RSVP goes live with the invites

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

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

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