ALTHOUGH Shannon and her husband Brendan grew up just five minutes apart in Glasgow, went to the same school and shared mutual friends, their paths never crossed.
That was until six years ago when a trip to Gaoth Dobhair, the beloved home of their grandparents, changed everything.
Meeting at a Wolfe Tones concert in Seán Ógs, a friendly, family run bar in the heart of the Gaeltacht, the two fell madly in love to the backing track of Irish music.
Since then, the rest of their love story has been nothing short of a whirlwind, from welcoming their little boy, Cian, into the world, to an intimate engagement just six days later, and finally becoming newlyweds this year, back where it all began.
August 8 marked the day the McDonagh’s said ‘I do’, three little letters, two little words.
Getting married in the Sacred Heart Church in Dunlewey, conveniently, their chosen venue, An Chúirt, was nestled just five minutes away in the heart of Gaoth Dobhair.
Previously viewing the hotel in anticipation of the big day, Shannon said: “As soon as we walked through the doors of An Chúirt, we knew we were getting married there.
“The views from the hotel are just unbelievable; you just cannot compare it to anywhere else in the world.”
Despite most of the wedding planning being done from across the Irish Sea, or during visits to the area to see family, Shannon commended how accommodating the hotel was.
“Anything that you asked for was responded to straight away,” she said. Especially because we weren’t there constantly, knowing that we could ask Francis (manager) anything was very reassuring.
“They went above and beyond.”
The private wedding gardens provided a serene atmosphere, while Errigal mountain offered a picturesque backdrop that made the day truly unforgettable.
After meticulous planning, the only thing Shannon couldn’t control on the special day was the weather.
Hoping to capture the iconic backdrop of Errigal Mountain in her wedding photographs, she did everything in her power to make it happen.
“We got the sausages buried, and the Child of Prague out,” Shannon laughed. It was a lovely, dry day, it was just amazing.”
As the reception got underway, 148 guests poured into the four-star wedding venue.
From the moment they arrived, they were captivated by the hotel’s stunning reception area and breath-taking ballroom.
The private wedding gardens provided a serene atmosphere, while Errigal offered a picturesque backdrop that made the day truly unforgettable.
“A lot of our friends who have never been to Gaoth Dobhair thought it was unbelievable,” Shannon said.
“Even from the minute our guests arrived to the hotel, everything flowed amazingly.”
When it came to the food, even the menus were thoughtfully crafted to the newlyweds’ tastes, ensuring the celebration was perfectly tailored to them.
As night fell and the drinks flowed, Shannon described the atmosphere simply as “party vibes”.
The Cufflinks Wedding Band kicked off the night while a well-known DJ from the area played into the wee hours of the morning.
“The dance floor was just jam-packed the whole night,” Shannon said.
“I didn’t even sit down for a second. I just wish I could go and do it all over again.”
Fortunately, after a night spent dancing, guests only had a few steps to take before reaching the comfort of the hotel’s accommodation.
With friends and family still raving about how amazing Shannon and Brendan’s special day was, Shannon wholeheartedly recommended the hotel as a wedding venue.
“The hotel, the staff and the food was unbelievable,” she said.
“From start to finish, from the service, to the venue, you just don’t get that anywhere else.
“We could not have asked for a better day.”
