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Linda Carroll and Lee O’Sullivan are both from Glasnevin and met in 2007 at a party in mutual friend Rachel’s house, during which Linda insisted on calling him “Alan”.
They moved in together in 2008 and on their daughter Caoimhe’s first Christmas in 2010, Lee handed Linda a card. It said, “Mammy, look in my PJs pocket”. Linda did as instructed and found a box, inside of which was a ring and a note that said, “Mammy, will you marry my Daddy?”
On February 28th, 2015, the couple were married in St Canice’s Church in Finglas by their friend and parish priest, Fr Pádraig O’Cochlain.
“He’s been a tremendous support to us over the years and I’m very involved in parish life with a children’s group on Sundays,” said Linda. “The church was the same one my parents married in, that I was baptised in and had my communion etc. It’s special to my family.”
The church singer was the couple’s friend Tracy Leonard Lipman. More than 70 guests joined them for a reception at the Old Schoolhouse hotel in Ballsbridge where tables were named after significant moments in the couple’s life: Holles Street, Malahide, St Canice’s, Violet Hill and Griffith Road. Andy Coogan sang that evening.
Chief bridesmaid and bridesmaid were best friends Emma McElhinney (who was pregnant and recently gave birth to Eve Marie) and Rachel Clarke. Five-year old Caoimhe was the flowergirl.
Lee’s best man was John Touher, groomsman was Henry Dempsey, and Lukas Dunne was the pageboy. Linda’s twin sister Sharon Carroll gave the bride away. “That was beautiful,” said Linda, “The drive to the church was so emotional and her speech at the reception stole the show – everyone was laughing and crying.”
The proud mothers of the newlyweds are Deborah Carroll and Bernadette O’Sullivan whose husband Liam played the clarinet during the reception with the couple’s nephew.
Lee’s favourite part was in the wedding car after the church, “finally getting a few minutes to ourselves.” The couple honeymooned at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone.
Photographs: Gerard McGuinness
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