Although their families had been friends for generations, it wasn’t until a gathering in 2015 that Lucy and Matt’s connection truly blossomed. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Donegal, the couple celebrated their love with a deeply personal ceremony that honoured rituals and the natural world.
THE COUPLE
Lucy O’Hagan, ancestral skills teacher and Matt Benson, musician.
THEY LIVE
in Falcarragh, Donegal
THE VENUE
The unique Corcreggan Mill, Dunfanaghy, Donegal.
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER
The wonderful Kate Murphy.
THEY MET
Our families have been friends for generations. We don’t remember a time when we didn’t at least know about one another. We finally got together in 2015 after a family Christmas gathering.
THE PROPOSAL
We went on holiday to Sardinia in August 2023. Matthew suggested that we go for a hike to a waterfall but when we got there, it had dried up and was a hot swampy puddle. Matthew squatted down in the swamp and asked me to marry him. It was witnessed by heather, willow and alder trees. In full circle style, we went to the hot swamps of New Orleans for our honeymoon.
THE DRESS & THE SUIT
The suit came from Magee 1866 in Donegal town.
My top was made from salmon skins gifted by a friend who caught the salmons locally in Donegal. Tanned by myself (Lucy) with willow bark. Softened by many friends around many fires. Designed and sewn by Jacinta of Purple Peach. The skirt was made of eleven reindeer skins that were sourced by Ulu Tannery, Norway, who works with local reindeer herders and salvages the skins. They were traditionally tanned in ceremony over seven days by myself and traditional tanner Jessie Watson-Brown of Oak & Smoke Tannery. We travelled to Norway to tan the skins high up in the mountains where the reindeer live. It was then designed and sewn by Jacinta Caraher of Purple Peach.
The shawl was a felted sheep’s wool collar by Elizabeth Kneafsey of Wild Wool Shepherdess. The shoes were designed and sewn by Ruth Emily Davey. Finally, the earrings were by Jessie Watson-Brown.
THE CEREMONY
Our wedding took place in a beautiful hall in Corcreggan Mill, Dunfanaghy. Ceremony and ritual are an important part of our life together so it was important to us that the ceremony reflected us individually and as a couple. Our friend and local Druid, Seán Ó Gaoithín guided the ceremony.
Matt’s family are very musical. As I walked down the aisle, his cousin Oonagh sang “Lagan Love” accompanied by his mother Eithne on harp and our friend Joe on flute. Other musical elements in the ceremony were included by Matt’s best friend Páidí Ó Dubháin, who sang “Gleannta Glas Gaoth Dobhair”. Matt’s friends (who he toured with in George Ezra’s band) and his brother and nephews also played “Sexual Healing” with drums, brass and bass as we danced back down the aisle.
We live in the Gaeltacht so it was important to have the Irish language used throughout the ceremony. We invited friends and family to be a part of the ceremony and each read a piece in Irish, written by local poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh, to open the seven directions.
Fire is an important part of our life so we decided to kindle a fire as part of the ceremony. This was done by rubbing sticks together. Creating fire in this way symbolised the mutual effort needed by each of us to continue to tend to the flame of our relationship. We included significant natural allies in the offerings; nettle to welcome challenge, hawthorn for heart, water for joy, and hazelnuts for wisdom.
We chose not to have rings as part of our ceremony and instead wove a willow circle, decorated with dried Rowan berries – a symbol of protection. We stepped into the circle to read our vows and this was lifted above our heads as a powerful moment of blessing and protection.
We used a traditional críos for the handfasting. The wool was naturally dyed by myself with nettle, dyers polypore mushroom, blackberry and lungwort lichen – all gathered locally. The críos was then woven by a local weaver, Léila Worth.
THE RECEPTION
Pints, cake, speeches, and craic in Patsy Dan’s pub with music by local musicians Tara and Ger. Wood-fired sourdough pizza in The Rusty Oven.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
Sensational jazz singer and friend Dana Masters performed a lush original set from her new album Real Good Mood backed by her jaw-dropping band. Then DJ Daithí had us dancing ‘til the wee hours.
THE DECOR
Zoe Purcell of Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary foraged and arranged the bouquets, the flower crown, buttonholes and table decorations. Seaweed is a big part of our life, so the reception was decorated with dried seaweed.
Willow decorations (stars, hearts, wreaths) were woven by me, Matt and our families. Other dried wild medicinal plants such as mugwort, yarrow and meadowsweet were arranged around the room. Also, deer antlers were used liberally as I adore deer.
THEIR TOP TIPS
Make the ceremony your own. Reclaiming such a significant ritual and ceremony is so important. Often, weddings can become all about the money, pleasing other people or just following a script. You will never again have this constellation of people together to celebrate your love in this way. Don’t forget that. Be true to yourselves and be sure that the ceremony and day reflect who are you, both individually and together. Be creative and have fun with it!
THEY WISH THEY HAD
We wish we had found a way to mitigate the stress in the week leading up to the wedding. We had so many moving parts to organise and people to look after. It would have been a lot easier to have delegated more tasks to other people. Thankfully we had lots of help from family and friends.
THEIR BEST MOMENTS
Starting off the day with a dip in the sea really helped to ground and enliven us. Then seeing one another at the altar for the first time was magic. Finally, getting into bed that night, knowing that the day was exactly how we had hoped it would be.
FIRST DANCE SONG
“Thank You” by Bonnie Raitt which was sung by Dana Masters.
THE CREW
Top and skirt design: Jacinta Caraher of Purple Peach. Tanning: Lucy and Jessie Watson-Brown of Oak & Smoke Tannery. Shawl: Wild Wool Shepherdess. Shoes: Ruth Emily Davey. Earrings: Jessie Watson-Brown. Suit: Magee 1866. Food: The Rusty Oven. Reception: Patsy Dans. Music: Dana Masters. Flowers: Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary
See more photographs from Lucy and Matt’s wedding in the gallery below.
Photography by Kate Murphy.
Want to see your Real Wedding on IMAGE.ie? Email shayna.sappington@image.ie with the subject line ‘Real Wedding’.
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