PARTNERS of GAA players often sacrifice social, family and holiday occasions to support loved ones, but a Co Offaly woman has taken her commitment to extremes.
Alma Daly tied the knot with her fiancé, Ger Rafferty, at 1pm on Saturday in St Manchan’s Church, Boher, Ballycumber, Co Offaly. Immediately after the ceremony, the newlyweds travelled to Ballycumber GAA pitch where a helicopter whisked Alma and her bridesmaids off to the wedding reception in Athlone shortly after 2.30pm.
Her husband Ger, an Offaly county footballer, made a quick dash to O’Connor Park in Tullamore where he captained Cloghan side St Rynagh’s in an Intermediate football final against Durrow at 3.30pm.
Two of Alma’s brothers, Des and Aaron Daly, also missed the wedding ceremony as they were playing for Ballycumber in the Junior B final between Ballycumber and Erin Rovers. Many of the wedding guests attended one or other matches.
“We had kind of joked about it during the year. It’s only for two hours so it’s fine. I can go down to the lake and entertain the guests,” said Alma. “We kind of knew when he got into the final. I was happy enough, there was no way he wasn’t going to be there.”
It was a win/win situation for the new Mr and Mrs Rafferty as the Intermediate cup was brought to the wedding reception in Athlone following the match.
St Rynagh’s secured victory over Durrow with a final score of 1-11 to 0-08, while Ballycumber overcame Erin Rovers with a comfortable 0: 16 to 0: 06 victory.