As I mentioned in my weekly blog post, I spent Easter weekend in Co. Donegal celebrating my cousin’s wedding, and what a wonderful weekend it was!
We flew into Belfast early Friday afternoon, and made our way across the to west coast of Ireland, to the northern tip of Donegal, overlooking Lough Foyle, where the wedding was being held at Redcastle Hotel. We spent the first night of our trip in Inishowen Lodge, a B&B situated about ten minutes from Redcastle, up into the hills of Inishowen. From the slightly elevated location we had gorgeous panoramic views of the water and mountains, and we even managed to spot a rainbow breaking through the clouds across the waves; how magical. Darren and Sinead who run the B&B couldn’t have been more helpful, and we also had the joy of meeting their two little boys (one of whom was only five weeks old!); one thing I love about Ireland is the welcoming nature of every person you meet. Despite never having met the couple before they made us feel like we were visiting home, which made the trip even more special.
On the Friday evening we had dinner in the restaurant of the Redcastle Hotel, followed by a Guinness or two in The Captain’s Bar. I went for the burger, which was utterly delicious, and my sister also recommended the barbecue pulled pork, which looked very yummy. Over dinner we caught up with family who we hadn’t seen in over a year, and chatted the night away.
On the morning of the wedding we checked into the Redcastle Hotel and got all dolled up in our gorgeous room, with a view across the water. What I’d do to get ready with that backdrop everyday! I wore a long silk gown I got whilst away, with a matching navy handbag and wedges, gold jewellery, including my claddagh ring and a bracelet I got from a rural village in Vietnam, with a cream shawl wrapped around me. The golden hue of the shawl brought out the softer colours of the dress, and I felt like a boho princess all day.
Despite a minor delay on the ceremony (the celebrant was almost two hours late!) the wedding got underway and it was a joy to behold. The Humanist ceremony was so laid-back and personal, and that truly set the tone for the day: everything seemed to just fall into place, with a bit of craic accompanying every act. From singing waiters to a first dance to ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’ by Usher, the happy couple didn’t take themselves too seriously, and it made for a fabulous night.
Set against the floor-to-ceiling windows, showcasing the magnificent Lough Foyle, we all ate a delicious wedding meal (with one of the best roast dinners I’ve ever eaten), laughed at the speeches from the best men, cried at the Father-of-the-Bride speech, and danced the night away. After many sing-a-longs, photo booth sessions and catch-ups we ended the night at nearly 4am!
We were so blessed with the weather, and so the following morning we all set off for a walk along the beach, which was unseasonably sunny for Ireland! Along the way I chatted to my cousins, skimmed rocks, and even saw a wee otter – how cute. Then, after a brief stop for a drink in Moville, a town slightly further along the coast, it was time to say goodbye.
We made our way back towards the airport, and stopped in for a bite to eat at Ballyrobin Country Lodge, just down the road from Belfast International. I had the sausages and champ, which was so homely and delicious; just the type of food I crave when over visiting Ireland. If you’ve never had champ make it your mission to try it! Once we were all fed and watered it was time to catch our flight, which was full of very excited Warwickshire GAA champions, waving their cup around and celebrating. What a fun way to wrap up the weekend!
Congratulations Danny and Sarah – here’s to a lifetime of happiness!
Love Chloe x
