DOING IT THEIR WAY Mervyn McHugh and his wife, Gosia Klinaszewska, celebrating outside the pub where they were married. Pic: Don MacMonagle
Mayoman married in a pub
Michael Duffy
A MAYOMAN made history at the weekend when he and his Polish partner became the first couple in the country to get married in a public house.
Claremorris-born Mervyn McHugh took advantage of changes to the law which came into force last November allowing weddings to take place outside registry offices.
Mr Hugh (36) married Gosia Klinaszewska (31) in the well-known ‘The Laurels’ public house in Killarney in a civil ceremony conducted by Kerry registrar Mary Teresa O’Shea.
The wedding took place last Friday and among the members of the public who happened to be in the pub at the time were none other than Gay Byrne and his wife Kathleen, who wished the happy couple all the best in the future.
Mervyn, who is a quality assurance manager with the Eurofoil pharmaceutical print company in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, first met Gosia a year ago through work colleagues but it was during a subsequent holiday in Gdansk that their relationship blossomed, he said.
Asked why they chose a pub for the ceremony, Mervyn replied: “The Laurels is our local and we also like to try something new. It is a relaxed setting and a sort of one-stop shop as we’re also having our reception on the premises. We’re having an absolutely fantastic day.”
The wedding was attended by 30 guests, with a party in from Poland that included Gosia’s mother, brothers and sisters.
Celebrations continued later with a champagne reception at the couple’s house in Ballyspillane, Killarney. They will be heading off to Thailand for a two-week honeymoon later this month.
Gosia, who looked radiant in a cream Belgian designer wedding dress, is a qualified teacher but works with Mervyn in Eurofoil.
