Mrs Pauline Coveney, widow of the former Fine Gael junior minister, Mr Hugh Coveney, married a London-based doctor at a private ceremony in Cork yesterday afternoon.
The ceremony was in the Honan Chapel at University College Cork and was followed by a reception at Longueville House, Mallow, Co Cork.
Mrs Coveney married Dr Paul McCarthy, who carries out medical research for the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. He was born in Midleton, Co Cork.
The bride wore a classic cream full-length dress with a turquoise sash and cuffs. She was given away by her son, Mr Simon Coveney, a Fine Gael TD in Cork.
The service was conducted by Father George Murphy, the parish priest in the Coveneys' home town of Minane Bridge.
Mr Coveney said the family was very pleased that their mother had another chance at happiness. He added that it was a day the family had been looking forward to for some time.
Mr Coveney became a TD in 1998 after being elected to his father's vacant seat in Cork South Central.
Mrs Coveney was widowed over three years ago when her husband was found dead along the Cork coastline.
He drowned following an attempt to free one of his dogs from a ledge on the cliffs near his home.