Our Wedding Story: A family affair in Louth

Noeleen Dunne and Luke Quinn

Noeleen, who grew up in Phibsborough, met Luke, a stone-mason from Trim in Co Meath, in 2006 through his sister Trish when the two women were working as nurses in Connolly hospital.

On Christmas Day 2012, Noeleen’s birthday, Luke proposed on the Hill of Tara Co Meath.

Noeleen immediately asked her friend Ruth Wylie to be their wedding celebrant.

They became close when Noeleen was Ruth’s local health nurse as she underwent cancer treatment, visiting her home every day for eight months.

“With her exceptional nursing skills and wonderful spirit, she nursed me back to health and after that we became friends,” says Ruth.

Soon after, Noeleen – who describes Ruth as, “my inspiration” – was diagnosed with cancer.

On December 20th 2015, the couple married in a ceremony conducted by Ruth at Darver Castle in Co Louth.

The bride walked up the aisle with her children, Amy (26), Glenn (29) and Calvin (20) and was given away by her 93-year-old father Jim.

It was a particular pleasure for her to have her siblings around her – brothers Jimmy and Frank and their sister Margaret.

Luke’s two brothers, five sisters and 18-month old grandson Leon were also among the 120 guests – who included Jessie, the 16 year old dog – while his son Brian (23) was best man.

In a nod to his trade and perhaps the home they plan to build this year in Trim, the groom read the Seamus Heaney poem Scaffolding to his bride during the ceremony.

Noeleen’s niece Leah created the cake and after dinner, her brother and the couples’ children all made speeches.

She says now: “I believe Luke was sent to me – he was my rock, and he was there for my kids.”

Their first dance as a married couple was to Barry White's Just The Way You Are.

Photograph: Paul Kelly Photography, pkstudio3.com

Sarah Geraghty