Old flames tie the knot after 60 years

The bride kept the groom waiting for 10 minutes on Saturday: but after a separation of over 60 years, what's a few minutes?

The bride kept the groom waiting for 10 minutes on Saturday: but after a separation of over 60 years, what's a few minutes?

Ms Mary Coffey (84) and Mr John Walsh (83) had been childhood sweethearts where they grew up near the south Kerry Gaeltacht of Mastergeehy, close to Waterville, in the 1930s.

But they had gone their separate ways. Molly, as she is known to her friends, is a highly regarded traditional singer. She had married and reared seven children, and now has over 30 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren.

Jack, as he is known locally, was well known in mountain climbing circles as the owner of the Climbers Inn in Glencar in mid Kerry and as a pioneer in mountain rescue services. He had married and had two children, and grandchildren.

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Now both retired and widowed, they met up again two years ago at a book launch and it was love at second sight, according to family members.

They married on Saturday, surrounded by friends and their extended families at the church of the Holy Spirit at Muckross, near Killarney. Father Liam O'Brien reminded the congregation that "the Lord wants your happiness".