The Irish Homecoming: the honeymoon period of enjoying home continues...despite the soccer

Despite Ireland (and Kerry) losing on Sunday it didn’t dampen our spirits. The previous Friday John’s first cousin and best friend Eoin Markham married the beautiful Louise Greensmith (both from Limerick) at 1:30 p.m. in a quaint church in Barna, Co. Galway.  John was Eoin’s best man.

Irish weddings are fantastic, aren’t they? We had a ball from the minute the day began.

It’s customary for the ladies in Ireland to get extremely dolled up for an Irish wedding. My American friends think we go way overboard (and we probably do) but it’s all a bit of fun.

The day started off with a wash and blow-dry for some of the girls and I. Then off to Brown Thomas department store for a make-up session.

Back to the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill for a check on the fake tan (that was applied the night before), on with the glamorous dress, a quick touch up on the makeup, a final look in the mirror and off to the church we went.

I had the pleasure of driving John and the groom, Eoin, to the church. Both men were very nervous, John about his speech and Eoin about the excitement of the day ahead.

Father Tom, a local Limerick priest and friend of the Markham family, came up to officiate the wedding, and what a beautiful bilingual (Irish-English) ceremony it was. It rained heavy earlier in the morning but by the time the bride arrived at the church the rain subsided and it stayed away for the rest of the day.

Several pictures later we began the celebrations at the cocktail reception back at the hotel. An ice-cream stand and champagne bar went down a treat. It got everyone in the party mood.

A sweets table, an amazing band, flip flops and hula hoops and amazing food sealed the deal.

verything was top notch, but it was the sing song that started after the disco at 2 a.m. that made the night a truly memorable one.

I made my excuses sometime between 3-3:30 a.m., and the singers were in full swing.

Eoin and Louise had their first dance on the helipad of the hotel a little after 10 p.m. Although it was bright outside, it was very romantic and a moment in their lives they will remember forever.

It’s great to be home. We kept saying it over the weekend.  Being able to participate in this wonderful celebration with family is really priceless.

My mother had the kids until Saturday. They came to Galway to us that evening. We took advantage of the fantastic weather and spent some time Saturday evening (before a barbeque organized by the bride and groom) and Sunday morning walking along the promenade.

Galway was really buzzing. Young people gathered all along Salthill to hear British band Mumford and Sons perform in a nearby stadium.

Grandparents bought their grandkids ice cream on the promenade. Parents took their kids swimming while young lovers held hands as they overlooked Galway Bay.

I drank it all in. Ireland is so beautiful when the sun is shining.

On Sunday morning we took advantage yet again of the fine weather. A short walk into Salthill town exercised our hangovers, and the kids enjoyed the amusements in a local arcade (and the 99-ice creams).

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