What's the most romantic thing you've ever done or had done for you? LOUISE HOLDENrounds up the fiery stories
Rose O’Donoghue,
Student, Rathmines VEC
“I planned a romantic night at home for my partner, with menu from M&S, balloons, rose petals, soft candles, the works. We ate and drank too much and woke up to the smell of burning timber. I opened the back door to see where it was coming from. Whoosh! One of the candles had melted and singed an ornamental fan. When I opened the door the flames took off across the ceiling. The room needed a bit of paintwork after that, but there was no serious damage. Wasn’t quite what I had in mind when I was planning to ‘rekindle the flames’!”
Jim-Jim Nugent
DJ, 2FM
“I got engaged to Sharon in New York City in the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of the Rockefeller Centre in 2008. It was the most romantic entire day I’ve ever had, one of those days where everything just goes great without planning it. Once she had said yes we had a few fizzy drinks, went for dinner, and later on I thought it would be fun to announce our engagement to a packed lift. Americans love that stuff, don’t they? Not this night, they didn’t – they all just stared us silently, like puppies trying to operate a microwave. We couldn’t stop laughing for about half an hour afterwards.”
Graham Baitson
Student, Dublin City University
“Last year my girlfriend was studying in England. Her favourite band, The Fray, were playing close to where she was studying. I got in touch with a couple of her friends there and made sure she had no plans for that evening and had all her work finished so she could take the evening off. This was quite tricky, as she had so much work. I then booked my flights and arrived as a surprise, brought her to the gig and for a nice meal afterwards.”
Jessica Leen
Singer-songwriter
“The most romantic thing happens to me every Valentine’s Day, and has done since I was tiny. I get a card with a fiver in it from a secret admirer that reads ‘guess who?’ . It never fails to arrive and it’s the best part of Valentine’s. Thanks, Nana.”
Sean Moncrieff
Broadcaster, Newstalk
“The most romantic thing I’ve ever done was accidental. It was my wife Bridget’s 30th birthday. We were living in London. We planned a party but, unknown to her, I arranged for friends to come over from Ireland.
“At that party our Irish friend Marion met Nick Mottram, another friend, from Kent. They talked all night, fell for each other, and now live in Loughrea, Co Galway, with their three kids. Must remind him he owes me.”
Sandra Cooney
Musician and mother
“Before my little girl was born my partner and I hadn’t discussed a girl’s name. In the hospital he revealed he had always wanted to have a little girl called Polly Jean, after the musician PJ Harvey.
“I couldn’t believe it – I had the very same secret ambition myself, and somehow we’d never discussed it. So Polly Jean she became. It was a very romantic moment.”
