SEALED WITH A KISS Stephanie Whyte and Jason Allen made the trek up Croagh Patrick last week for the purpose of getting married.?Pic: Matt Loughrey
US couple wed on summit of Croagh Patrick
Neill O’Neill
neilloneill@mayonews.ie
AMERICAN couple Stephanie Whyte and Jason Allen scaled Croagh Patrick last week - for the purpose of getting married on the summit. While this is not the first wedding ceremony to occur on Ireland’s holy mountain, it is one of the largest in a while - with over 30 guests making the 765 meter ascent on Friday last, July 13.
Local photographer Matt Loughrey - now synonymous with Croagh patrick after he successfully scaled the mountain every day for a year for charity - was contacted by the would-be bride some months back about the possibility of having her wedding in the chapel on the summit of the mountain, and he quickly set about organising the day from this side of the Atlantic.
“She required a photographer (myself) but was short of a priest. Straight away I knew the man for the job and put her and Jason in touch with Fr John Kenny (former Catholic Curate in Westport and now Parish Priest of Partry). The rest is history,” he stated.
Matt further explained why the bride chose the unique venue for her wedding, and that there was some extra national exposure for the couple on the day.
“Stephanie has strong connections with the Louisburgh area of Mayo and fell in love with Croagh Patrick many many years ago,” he said.
“The couple were always adamant that they would exchange vows on the summit. They had the most uplifting day, with their several dozen guests that made the trip from the USA to be a part of the ceremony. We ascended the mountain on Friday morning and Today FM DJ Ray D’Arcy gave us a ring half way up after myself and Paul Navin from ‘Blousers’ Pub sent a couple of e-mails to the researchers on his show hoping to catch their attention.
“I think getting them on national radio gave the whole group a big boost of energy for the last part of the climb and Fr John sounded great on the airwaves.”
HAVE YOUR SAY email neilloneill@mayonews.ie with your comments