Wendy Inglis and Greg Bent
20 July 2017
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Photography by Paul Duane Photography
I am a huge U2 fan,’ says Wendy Inglis. ‘I had previously seen them back in 1987 during the Joshua Tree Tour. Having gotten engaged and realising that U2 were playing in Dublin in the summer of 2017, my now husband, Greg Bent, began exploring the idea of having our wedding in Ireland on the way to Dublin to see U2 in concert.’ And so began Greg’s romance-meets-reality journey with just him and Wendy travelling to Ireland for the wedding. ‘A vast amount of planning was involved in organising a wedding overseas from our hometown in upstate New York,’ Wendy continues. Having entertained the notion of getting wed in a fairy-tale castle in Ireland, Greg’s search happened upon an idyllic location. The four-star Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is truly a fairy-tale escape tucked away in the rugged yet enchanting wilderness of Connemara. A host of on-site and nearby activities include hiking, walking, biking, fly fishing, tennis, clay and woodcock shooting, horseback riding, and boat trips. ‘All the staff at Ballynahinch were instrumental in the smooth running of the wedding celebrations,’ Wendy reflects. ‘The ceremony took place on a Thursday in the garden sprinkled with light summer showers Connemara-style with just Paul Duane, our photographer, and Jane Casey, a hotel employee, acting as our two witnesses. Celebrant Dara Molloy, a Celtic monk from Inishmore, was a dream to work with.’
On the morning of the wedding celebrations, Wendy needed to go to the nearby town of Clifden for hair and make-up but refused to drive on the narrow country roads. ‘The long-standing tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other on the day of their wedding went out the window,’ Wendy continues. The sun was shining, and Greg was afforded some quiet time to sit in the town square where he took a moment to reflect and compose his wedding vows. ‘But, we didn’t break one important local tradition: in Connemara, custom has it that the bride serves her groom his first pint of Guinness, and we are not ones to break with tradition,’ adds Greg. ‘Who knew that Wendy could bartend and pull a pint of the black stuff!’
—C—
Hairstyle: Joanna at The Hair Gallery, Clifden
Make-Up: The Beauty Clinic, Clifden
Groom’s Suit: Corless Formalwear, Galway
Celebrant (Celtic Monk): Dara Molloy, Inishmore (www.DaraMolloy.com)
Flowers: Alice’s Market Flowers, Ballyconneely (AlicesMarketFlowers.ie)
Music: Roseanna Brehony (MyWeddingSinger.ie)
Photographer: Paul Duane Photography (PaulDuanePhotography.ie)