CHOCOLATES AND roses are not the secret to a happy marriage, according to a couple who celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss at the shrine of St Valentine in Dublin yesterday.
Kathleen and Bill Ward, from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, most definitely do not exchange such fripperies. In fact, Bill confesses he never bought his wife flowers in all their years of marriage.
Instead, he and his wife cite communication as an important factor in a happy marriage. “It’s just you’re committed and you don’t think of anything else, only get on with life and rear the family,” he continues.
Standing at the relic of St Valentine in Whitefriar Street Church, in Dublin’s south inner city, Kathleen and Bill accepted a special blessing from Carmelite prior of the church, Fr David Weakliam.
Neither sets much store by St Valentine’s Day, and Kathleen does not regret the lack of chocolates and roses.
“What you never had you never missed,” she says. Bill laughs.
“That’s artificial stuff, really and truly it is,” he says.
The couple attended the church at the invitation of Accord, the Catholic marriage counselling service. National director of the organisation, Ruth Barror, says 40,000 counselling sessions were provided to couples and married individuals in 2009, an increase of 10 per cent on 2008.
And 10 per cent of those who contacted the organisation complained of problems related to the internet including cyber sex, pornography and online gambling. The category has grown by 50 per cent since 2007. The recession has also put pressure on marriage but, on the positive side, it has given space for couples to re-evaluate their lives together.
Whitefriar Street Church will celebrate St Valentine at a love-themed Mass at 3pm today, and will hold its annual blessing of the rings after Mass tomorrow.
The relics of the Christian martyr and patron saint of love were interred in the church in 1836. They were a gift from Pope Gregory XVI to Irish Carmelite Dr John Spratt.
There are a number of other St Valentine’s Day events taking place, including the Cupid’s Dash, a 10km charity fun run which takes place at the Phoenix Park from 10am tomorrow.
This evening Pulp Fiction star Samuel L Jackson will be in Dublin to host “A Night for Love” at the O’Reilly Hall, UCD, with some special guests including Dionne Warwick. The event is in aid of the Samuel L Jackson Foundation and Irish Autism Action.
The Unitarian Church at Stephen’s Green in Dublin will be hosting an afternoon of readings and music run by the Young Hearts Run Free collective.
"When Only Words Can Describe Love" includes readings from Skippy Diesauthor Paul Murray and fellow writers Kevin Barry and Gerry Hunt. There will also be music from Matthew Nolan of 3epKano and tea and cakes. The event begins at 2pm and costs €10, with proceeds going to the Simon Community.
Also on the St Valentine’s theme, the west Cork town of Clonakilty is holding its first ever “Lovers’ Weekend”, to include a “Lovers’ Olympics” in Emmet Square today, a kissing competition, and couples karaoke.