NEWLYWEDS Maureen and Ciarán Gildea celebrated their big day at An Chúirt Hotel after an intimate service amidst the ruins of the Old Church in the stunning Poisoned Glen on September 12, 2025.
Ciarán, a native of Ardara, and Maureen Blair, from Holytown just outside of Glasgow, tied the knot in a ceremony that reflected both their roots and their shared love for travel.
Maureen walked in to Highland Cathedral and the happy couple exited to The Hills of Donegal.
The song was particularly meaningful not just because of the fitting location but because it was the first song they danced to when they met in a pub in Glasgow.
“We just kept in touch and would fly back and forth to see each other,” the couple told the Donegal News.
Ciarán eventually made the move to Scotland a couple of years ago.
The couple, both avid explorers, love travelling throughout Scotland and Ireland whenever they can.
Donegal holds a special place in their hearts, as it was here that Ciarán proposed, overlooking Nairn Beach, not far from his hometown.
A canvas of that very view now hangs in their home.
During another trip to Donegal, they climbed Errigal. On their way back from the hike, they pulled into a layby overlooking the Poisoned Glen and fell in love with the stunning scenery.
It was then that they knew they had found the perfect place to celebrate their special day.
Ciarán and Maureen tied the knot in the Old Church in the breath-taking Poisoned Glen.
When they visited An Chúirt Hotel nearby, they were blown away by the views and impressed by the staff, particularly Martin, who guided their tour of the venue.
“He was a very welcoming, friendly and laid-back person, which suited me and Ciarán,” Maureen said.
Although most of the organising was done via phone calls and emails from Scotland, Martin and his colleague Frances took care of every detail with professionalism and attention to detail.
“We can’t speak highly enough about the, they were absolutely fantastic,” the couple said.
The couple were particularly taken aback by how helpful and attentive the staff were on their big day, from checking in on the bridal party in the morning to ensuring everything ran smoothly.
“They just went above and beyond to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible,” they said.
The wedding itself was small and personal, with nearly 80 guests.
“They all loved it,” Ciarán said.
“And they’re still talking about how amazing the food was,” Maureen added.
Many of their friends and family travelled from near and far for the wedding, including cousins from Australia and siblings from Canada.
“We were humbled by how far people came to join us and celebrate our big day,” the couple said.
Following the meal, guests danced the night away to Infinity Wedding Band. The newlyweds shared their first dance to From This Moment On by Shania Twain.
Day two celebrations took place at The Corner House in Ardara.
The Gildeas enjoyed a mini-moon in Killarney following the wedding and are looking forward to their honeymoon in August, which will fit around Ciarán’s busy GAA calendar with Tir Conaill Harps in Glasgow.
