'A dream come true' as happy couple get their hands on Sam Maguire

A couple who travelled from England to get married on a Mayo island capped off the momentous occasion with getting their hands on Sam Maguire.

Orlagh Doyle and Jack Wolf got the perfect wedding present when they had the privilege of holding the Sam Maguire the day after they got married in Achill Sound Church in Achill on Saturday, August 22.

Orlagh's late grandmother, Mary Doyle, nee Gallagher was a native of Polranny, Achill and her family are regular visitors from their Bedfordshire home to the parish. She chose Achill to get married as it is so special to her as well as being a place of natural and stunning beauty with the reception in the Mulranny Park Hotel.

The day after the wedding Mayo footballers, Jack Carney, Donnacha McHugh and Diarmuid O'Connor brought the Sam Maguire to Achill where hundreds of pipers and drummers led them across the Michael Davitt bridge onto the island.

At the time the Doyle's were having an 'intimate' day two party with family and friends in Óstán Oileán Acla which is located beside the bridge but very soon the hotel was packed with Mayo supporters.

However, this did not deter the Doyles who just happen to be passionate Mayo GAA supporters and the father of the bride, John Doyle told The Mayo News that it was a dream come true.

“We were having the day two reception in Alice's and Jack Carney came in with the cup and set it up on a table. We managed to get our picture taken with it before it was whisked away. For the married couple to get their hands on the Sam Maguire the day after the wedding was absolutely incredible and a dream come true.

“We could not have timed it better. I knew the cup was going around Mayo and was really hoping it would come to Achill while we were here. It was by pure luck when they [Achill GAA] announced it on the Thursday before.

“The timing was perfect even though our intimate day two affair turned into something much different. Alices were absolutely wild that night but it made the night. I could not have bought that for a million pounds,” he said.

As regular visitors to Achill, John said that they understood the importance of the tradition of the pipe bands and what winning the Sam Maguire meant to the people of Achill and Mayo. He said for many of the guests from England this was their first introduction to GAA and they were blown away by the reception the team got.

“My daughter is a GAA fan through and through and while her husband is English we managed to convert her. We watched the game back in England and there were tears flowing so they understood what Sam Maguire means.

“We had a lot of friends over from England who didn't really understand the passion for GAA at county level and the importance of Sam Maguire. There were a few strange looks from people who had not experienced it before but everyone got into the spirit of it.

“There were friends of ours who have never been to Ireland in their lives and their sons went out and bought Mayo GAA jerseys the next day.

“It was a momentous occasion for sure and will be a very treasured memory.”

John wished to thank everyone in the Mulranny Park Hotel and Óstán Oileán Acla for the hospitality shown to all the guests and to everyone who made the wedding such a memorable occasion.