Real Weddings: Patrice O’Connor and Donagh Davern at Kilshane House

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Following a few weeks of very poor weather (including storm Ophelia!) the wind died down and the crisp Autumn day we associate with Halloween returned for the wedding of Patrice O’Connor and Donagh Davern in the beautiful Holycross Abbey, Co. Tipperary.  Patrice is a music teacher and Choral Director at the Presentation School Kilkenny (the school that rose to prominence on Britain’s Got Talent) and Donagh is a lecturer in the area of hospitality management at Cork Institute of Technology. 

The couple first met nearly 20 years ago and after a brief time together, parted ways for Patrice to go onto finish her studies in Maynooth and move onto study music at the Sorbonne University in Paris, before returning to teach at Blackrock College in Dublin. 

Reigniting their relationship in 2014, they got engaged in the beautiful Monart Spa on 1^st May 2016 and were married on 30^th October 2017 in Holycross Abbey, followed by a reception in the amazing Kilshane House in Bansha Co Tipperary. 

The beautiful music in the Abbey on the day was provided by 15 musician friends of Patrice’s including composer Ronan McDonagh and Una O’Kane who flew in from a stint on Glen Hansard’s tour, along with Patrice’s uncle, brother-in-law and host of other friends and colleagues from the music industry.  Patrice even performed herself on the day – singing the beautiful “Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, and received a standing ovation.

After a wonderful dinner, the wedding party were entertained by the band Pink Champagne, with a sing-song at 5am that attracted worldwide attention…

Pick up this month’s edition of IMAGE magazine for more bridal features!