VOWS:MICHELLE DORAN AND Patrick Foley were married in Cobh Cathedral on April 18th by Fr Michael Leamy. Their daughter Sarah, aged 2, was their flowergirl.
The bride, a senior microbiologist analyst with GE Healthcare, grew up in Cobh, and attended Cobh Vocational School and University College Cork, where she studied nutritional science. Her father Martin Doran is in the Navy and her mother Christine helps looking after Sarah.
The groom, known as “Pa”, is the youngest of six – three boys and three girls “all very talented in the singing department”. Pa, who has been a member of various local bands, also attended Cobh Vocational School and works in the construction industry.
The couple became engaged in August 2007. The bride’s cousin John Daly sang during the ceremony, her two cousins were altar servers and her aunt was Eucharistic minister.
“I think that was my favourite part of the day. I smiled like the Cheshire Cat and at various times during the Mass Pa asked me ‘Are you alright?’ I just had this grin across my face.
“When we came outside we gave a balloon to each of the kids and after the group photo we let out a cheer and released the balloons over the town. Pa says his favourite memory was of me coming up the aisle. He was also glad his mother Ann could be there, as she has not been well,” says Michelle. His father died six years ago.
Their reception was held at Garryvoe Hotel, where a clown was on hand to keep the children entertained. “Later Pa joined the band the Bowen Brothers for Stand By Me, which made me weak at the knees . . . well I always get goose bumps when he is on stage,” says Michelle.
They visited the amusement parks of Orlando, Florida for their honeymoon, followed by a Caribbean cruise. They live in Rushbrooke Links in Cobh.