From Orlaith & Niall
Limerick · Derry

To our favourite people,near and far

Orlaith & Niall

Friday 23 April 2027

Monaleen Church, Castletroy and afterwards at The Woodlands Hotel & Spa, Adare

Counting the days

201days0hours0minutes

Kindly reply

From the Archives

A few photographs, enclosed. Handle with care.

Orlaith and Niall kneeling in the snow at Ski Dubai in matching navy jackets, a king penguin on either side.
The only double date they've ever agreed on
Orlaith in a Huskies hoodie and Niall in an Eagles polo on a basketball court, each holding a silver cup and wearing a medal.
Two clubs, two cups, one very smug photo
Niall giving Orlaith a piggyback on a sand dune in the Dubai desert, the sun low behind them.
Dubai. Carrying the team as usual
A windswept selfie on a green clifftop, Orlaith's hair blowing across the frame and the sea behind.
Atlantic wind 1, hairdo 0
The two of them on a beach at sunset, with Happy Birthday written in the sand and a table set for two.
A birthday, written in sand
Arms in the air in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, palm trees either side.
Vegas. Scouting trip, allegedly
A black and white photo-booth strip: silly sunglasses and tongues out, then a kiss, then a cuddle.
No retakes. None needed.
Orlaith in a long pink floral dress and Niall in a navy shirt on a lawn above the sea in Crete.
Crete. Himself packed one shirt
Niall hugging Orlaith from behind on a cream sofa in front of a bright painted mural.
Found a wall, made it theirs
The two of them on a white balustraded terrace at sunset, mountains turning blue behind.
Golden hour, no filter needed

Friday, the wedding

Monaleen Church in the early afternoon, then on to the Woodlands in Adare for the rest of the night.

The order of the day

Saturday, Day 2

The Treehouse at the Woodlands, from four o'clock. Day 2 is for everybody.

All about Day 2

With love,Orlaith & Niall

Our Story

It started with a thumbs-up.

September 2020, LYIT Donegal v the Eagles. Niall gave Orlaith a thumbs-up across the hall. He still calls it smooth.

Shake Dog.

Later that night, after a night out, the first proper chat happened in Shake Dog, the late-night takeaway. He had the chicken. She had the cheese and garlic chips. That was that.

In a studio, Niall in a blue Eagles jacket kneels and holds out a basketball; Orlaith, laughing in her white Huskies number 7 kit, rests her hand on it, ring on.
Down on one knee. Wrong ball, same answer.

Limerick and Derry.

She is Limerick, proudly. He is Derry, prouder still: the Walls, the Peace Bridge, the Guildhall. Two counties, one house, and basketball in it seven days a week. She plays for the Huskies; he coaches the Eagles. She teaches small people; he works in coach education for Basketball Ireland.

The Dubai chapter.

Orlaith lived in Dubai for two years and loved it. Niall flew out five times. Five.

A selfie on the clifftop at Kilkee minutes after the proposal: Niall in a red hoodie, Orlaith in lilac, her ring on show, the Atlantic and a big sky behind.
Kilkee. The question survived the wind.

Kilkee.

Her favourite place in the world since childhood summers. So that is exactly where he asked.

She said yes before the wind could carry the question off.

1thumbs-up2counties2years in Dubai5flights23.04.27

Draft wording. Our own words to follow.

The Day

Day 1, Friday 23 April 2027

Friday 23 April 2027The ceremony is at 1:00 pm, celebrated by Monsignor Dan Neenan. It may move to 1:30; the invites will confirm.

Monaleen Church

Castletroy, Limerick

Open in Maps(opens in a new tab)
  1. Doors open at Monaleen Church
  2. The ceremony
  3. Confetti and photographs outside the church

The Woodlands Hotel & Spa

Adare, Co. Limerick

Open in Maps(opens in a new tab)
  1. Drinks reception at the Woodlands
  2. Dinner is calledThe couple make their entrance at 5:15
  3. Speeches
  4. The cake
  5. Evening guests join us
  6. First dance, then the band
  7. DJ until late

Everything after the ceremony is the working plan. Final times come with the invites.

Day 2, Saturday 24 April 2027

Saturday 24 April 2027The Treehouse at the Woodlands, from 4:00 pm.

Day 2 is for everybody.

Everyone is welcome. No dress code.

The Treehouse at the Woodlands

Adare, Co. Limerick

Open in Maps(opens in a new tab)
  1. Arrival drinks
  2. Food
  3. Live music
  4. The dancing carries on
  5. Wind down, at your own pace

These times are the working plan. Final times come with the invites.

Travel & Stay

Getting to Limerick, getting about, and a bed for the night.

Monaleen Church, Castletroy(opens in Maps, new tab) The Woodlands, Adare(opens in Maps, new tab)

From the North

The M1 to Dublin, then the M7 the whole way down. About four hours from Belfast, closer to five from Derry.

Half of Derry travels down on the Thursday night: join the convoy.

Flying in

Shannon is the one you want, thirty minutes from Adare. Cork is about an hour and three quarters; Dublin about two and a half hours by motorway.

On the morning

The church is in Castletroy, on Limerick's east side. From Adare, leave a good forty minutes.

Staying over
  • The Woodlands itself. Rooms at the venue go first: ring the hotel and say you're with the wedding.
  • The Dunraven Arms, Adare village. Five minutes away. Book early.
  • Limerick city: the Strand, the Clayton, the George. About twenty-five minutes.
  • Adare Manor, ten minutes, should the lottery land that week.
Parking

Plenty at the Woodlands. Church parking notes come with the invites. Car-pool if you can.

Taxis

Local numbers come with the invites; the hotel desk will sort the end of the night.

Weather

Ireland in April: four seasons before the soup. Everything that matters is indoors; bring a coat for the photographs.

The Wedding Party

Eight good people keeping us right on the day.

Orlaith's side

  • Sarah JaneChief Bridesmaid
  • Avril CrosseBridesmaid
  • Rhea McMahonBridesmaid
  • LauraBridesmaid

Niall's side

  • Feargal McDermottBest Man
  • Gary CampbellGroomsman
  • Sean DohertyGroomsman
  • Ciaran LockhartGroomsman

A Few Questions

What do I wear?

Your good stuff: colour, style, whatever makes you feel great. Two asks only: nothing white unless you're Orlaith, and no club jerseys. Either club.

Is Saturday really for everyone?

Day 2 is for everybody. Really. The Treehouse from four o'clock, no dress code. Travelling guests especially: you're not to sit in a hotel room.

Can I bring the kids?

Your invite will name everyone included. If you're unsure, ask us straight out.

Phones in the church?

We'll confirm on the invites. Either way, our photographer and videographer have the big moments covered, so you can enjoy this one with your own eyes.

Presents?

Having you there is the present. If you'd like to do more, there will be a card box on the day, and that is the last we'll say of it.

Parking at the church?

Notes come with the invites. Car-pooling encouraged, especially for the northern convoy.

When do I reply by?

1 March 2027, to be confirmed on the invites. Reply early and forget about it: kindly reply here.

Kindly reply

The reply card does the work: thirty seconds, done.

A preview: nothing is saved yet. The real reply card opens with the invites.

When the real card goes live, your name will bring up your whole household.

Add your name as it appears on the invite.

Friday, the wedding

Choose one for Friday.

Saturday, the Treehouse

Choose one for Saturday.

Allergies, preferences, anything the kitchen should know. Leave it blank if there's nothing.

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

No form? The old ways work: tell any of the wedding party.