NIAMH O'GORMAN FROM Terenure and Jessica Webbley from Buckinghamshire in England, became partners in Dublin on August 8th. The civil partnership ceremony was held at the British Embassy in Dublin so the couple could avail of UK legislation. Their immediate families attended the ceremony.
The civil partnership was followed the next day by a traditional-style wedding at Beaufield Mews in Stillorgan where, in front of 100 guests, Jessica and Niamh exchanged vows and rings. The sun shone for the outdoor ceremony, although once the guests sat down to dinner, the heavens opened.
Both were accompanied down the aisle by their parents. Jessica was also attended by her sister, Rachel Webbley, and bridesmaid Maria Burman-Stanley and Niamh was attended by her brother, Sean O’Gorman, and best man Liam Kidney.
Readings included Syntax by Carol Ann Duffy, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and an excerpt from Captain Corellis Mandolin. A choir organised by the pair’s many musical friends sang All You Need Is Love.
Niamh is the daughter of John and Mary O’Gorman. She attended Presentation Secondary School in Terenure before completing a degree in engineering at UCD. She now works as business development officer for the Chartered Institute of Building.
Jessica is the daughter of Chris and Ann Webbley. She attended Aylesbury High School and completed an undergraduate and masters’ degree in politics at the University of Sheffield before moving to Dublin in 2003. She is now a trainee tax consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Both Jessica and Niamh are keen singers and they met in 2003 while singing with Glória, Irelands lesbian and gay choir. After much laughter over bingo in The George, their first date was to see Spellbound at the Irish Film Institute. Niamh proposed to Jessica on New Year’s Eve 2006/7 while watching fireworks in Oslo harbour.
The couple are strong supporters of MarriagEquality, an organisation that campaigns for civil marriage for gays and lesbians in Ireland. They invited all their guests to accompany them on a March for Marriage, which took place the day after their ceremony, to campaign for the right to marry to be extended to all couples.
“It has been equal parts lovely, and frustrating, talking to people about our wedding plans,” Jessica said about the run-up to the wedding. “Often people don’t realise that we aren’t able to get married in Ireland, and they don’t understand why not.”
We are delighted to be sharing our love and commitment to one another with our friends and family,” added Niamh. “We look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when our relationship and commitment will be recognised under Irish legislation.”
The couple are currently on honeymoon in Alaska and will move into their new home in Adamstown on their return.