Newlyweds Laura Doherty and Kieran Lonergan are still floating following their weekend wedding.
The couple tied the knot on Friday, April 10. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael McCullagh at Meenacross Church in Laura’s native Dungloe, followed by an unforgettable reception at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Laura’s voice was still hoarse from their busy weekend, but her excitement was unmistakable.
The couple’s love story began when Laura visited Waterford for her brother’s wedding.
A chance swipe on Tinder led to a match between the Dungloe native and the Tipperary man.
“The conversation was so good that we didn’t really chat about where we were both from,” Laura laughed.
When Kieran realised Laura lived over 300 kilometres away, he was shocked but undeterred.
For their first date, he paid his first-ever visit to the hills of Donegal.
“And that was it, the start of our love story.”
Kieran then proposed on a winter walk on December 30, 2024, in the Poisoned Glen, in the shadow of Errigal Mountain which made their venue choice very fitting.
The Letterkenny hotel also held special significance because this is also where they had their first night away together, but the attentive staff, the size of the hotel and phenomenal selection of food made their choice even easier.
Laura, who works in the catering industry, knew from attending previous weddings at the Mount Errigal that both the food and service were of a high standard.
What particularly impressed her when planning their big day, however, was how flexible the staff were when it came to designing their canapés and menu.
“From the get-go they just said ‘yes, whatever you want’ and I could basically design my own menu,” Laura explained.
“And I was very particular about what I wanted.”
Her wishes were fully realised, from homemade sausage rolls and arancini on arrival to a wide variety of plant-based options.
“I could not thank the hotel staff enough, anything we wanted we got.”
The couple were also thrilled by thoughtful touches from the hotel staff, like leaving a portion of their wedding cake in their room after a late night on the dancefloor and a specially crafted mimosa awaiting them the following morning.
With a large guest list of over 240 people and more than half of those travelling from the Premier County to be there on the day, it was also important that they had plenty of accommodation available for their guests.
The big day
Despite a blustery spring downpour on Friday morning, spirits were high. With the help of photographer Jay Doherty, the couple quickly adapted their photo plans, enjoying a cosy session in the stunning Crolly Distillery and even capturing one quick shot in Dunlewey with the backdrop of Errigal Mountain between showers.
Emotional and personal touches marked the day. Kieran’s mother, Jackie, who sadly passed away in December last year, was remembered during the speeches, which were so poignant that you could hear a pin drop in the packed ballroom.
A particularly special moment came in the form of a video message from Daniel O’Donnell. Kieran’s parents had met the Donegal music icon at the Mary from Dungloe Festival and the country star spoke warmly about Jackie, creating a moving tribute for the family.
Other personal touches included a card box crafted by Kieran, decorated with photos of the couple.
The dancefloor was kept full by Belfast-based wedding band The Professionals and DJ Keith Fletcher, who kept the party going into the wee hours.
“I know I am probably biased, but it was the liveliest wedding ever,” Laura laughed.
The Lonergans are both talented GAA players – Laura plays with Dungloe and Kieran is a hurling goalkeeper.
They are currently enjoying a mini-moon at the Ice House Hotel in Mayo and are planning a honeymoon, hoping to visit Thailand or Japan in the months ahead.