Real Weddings: Mary and Ruairi’s Samhain-inspired celebration in Galway city
Honouring the Celtic energy of the season, the pair tied the knot in a transformed Druid Theatre before heading to The Hardiman Hotel for their ‘Til Death Do Us Party reception.
THE COUPLE
Ruairi McHugh grew up between Knocknacarra, a suburb of Galway city, and Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. Deeply connected to the West of Ireland, Ruairi works as a Travel Advisor at Galway’s Tourist Information Centre, where he shares his passion for Galway and the islands with visitors from around the world.
Mary McGraw is originally from California. She moved to Ireland in 2017 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame to work for its Study Abroad Programme in Dublin. In her first years in Ireland she fell in love with Galway, leading her to move there for a Master’s degree and to build a career in marketing within the arts and culture sector, which she continues to work in today.
THEY LIVE
They have settled in Barna, Co. Galway.
THE VENUE
Our ceremony venue was at The Mick Lally/Druid Theatre and reception was at The Hardiman Hotel, both in the heart of Galway city.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Copeland. I (Mary) have a background in photography and a passion for film photography so finding the perfect photographer who could capture dramatic, cinematic, mystical energy of the day on both digital and film was a top priority. Chris absolutely blew us away with how he captured the day.
THEY MET
Like many millennial love stories, we met on a dating app! It was late March 2019, Mary had recently moved to Galway to complete her Master’s at the University of Galway, while Ruairi was finishing his Master’s at the University of Limerick and working in Galway on weekends. After matching on a Sunday, they decided to meet the very next day for hot chocolate at a campus café. What was meant to be a quick meet-up turned into hours of effortless conversation, from sharing recent solo travel experiences to discovering their mutual love of dogs. The connection was instant, and they still consider that day their anniversary.
THE PROPOSAL
One of Mary and Ruairi’s favourite early dates was a day trip to Connemara to climb Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park. It was the May bank holiday weekend, the weather was spectacular, and the hike quickly became a cherished memory. Three years later, on the May bank holiday weekend in 2022, Ruairi planned a hike up Diamond Hill for them. This time, the summit was shrouded in fog and clouds, creating an intimate and quite mystical atmosphere. At the top of the mountain, with no one else around, Ruairi proposed and Mary said yes.
THE WEDDING ATTIRE
The wedding took place on the Friday of the October Bank Holiday weekend 2024, with a theme inspired by Samhain. Mary and Ruairi embraced the spirit of the season, opting for a non-traditional, atmospheric aesthetic. Mary wore a romantic black, flowing gown adorned with golden star and moon sequined appliqués by Flora & Lane. A celestial look that perfectly captured the magic of the occasion.
Ruairi wore a custom Cabernet-coloured suit from Irish tailor A Wolf in Wool, paired with a matching tie featuring a subtle macabre skull design as a nod to the Samhain theme. Guests were encouraged to lean into the palette of the season, dressing in deep blacks, rich reds, and vibrant emeralds to create a striking, cohesive atmosphere.
THE CEREMONY
Leaning fully into the Samhain / Halloween theme of the October Bank Holiday, Mary and Ruairi chose Druid Theatre (Mick Lally Theatre) in the heart of Galway as the setting for their ceremony. As someone who works in the arts, it was especially meaningful for Mary to exchange vows in such a beloved cultural space. The theatre was transformed with a romantic, atmospheric design: candlelight, mossy green foliage, arches overflowing with rich red and orange flowers, and moody, warm theatre lighting.
To honour the Celtic energy of the Samhain season, the couple held a handfasting ceremony using a traditional Crios from the Aran Islands. The ceremony was led by Druidic celebrant Dara Molloy, a respected figure in Celtic traditions who also happens to live on Inis Mór. The ceremony was made even more personal by the presence of Dara’s children, Tuan and Anu, close friends of the couple, who performed the music.
With around 100 guests in attendance, including many who had travelled from across the US, it was deeply meaningful to share these ancient Irish traditions with loved ones from near and far. The couple also incorporated the Irish language to honour Ruairi’s connection to Inis Mór, with his nieces offering readings in Irish and Dara weaving blessings in Irish and English seamlessly throughout the ceremony.
After the vows, guests lined Druid Lane holding sparklers, creating a magical archway for the newlyweds to run through. The procession continued through Shop Street to the Hardiman Hotel, setting the tone for the evening’s celebrations. A special mention goes to Druid Theatre’s Síomha Nee, whose flawless coordination made the ceremony feel like a beautiful theatrical production.
THE RECEPTION
The reception took place at The Hardiman Hotel in Galway. The evening began with a lively drinks reception in the hotel’s parlour, featuring a pianist and entertainment from Rua the Magician, whose jaw-dropping tricks quickly broke the ice and became a highlight of the night. Photographer Chris Copeland captured unforgettable shots of guests reacting to Rua’s magic.
In the banquet hall, the couple carried their Samhain theme through every detail. A custom red neon sign reading ‘Till Death Do Us Party hung behind the sweetheart table, white candles were swapped for striking red tapers in candelabras, and a celestial black wedding cake added another touch of magic, later becoming a delicious dessert for guests to enjoy. Upstairs, the mezzanine area hosted a photobooth with a hand-painted backdrop, complete with Halloween props, from masks and wigs to prosthetics. This got everyone into the Halloween spirit.
The goal for the evening was for everyone to have fun and to show the Americans what an Irish wedding is all about: good craic, good chats, and dancing the night away.
THE DECOR
The inspiration was Samhain-meets-Celestial, with a focus on creating a bewitching atmosphere Dee from The Floral Design Hub brought the vision to life with beautiful floral arches and bespoke tablescapes, transforming the space into a feast of autumnal textures and otherworldly romance.
One of the couple’s closest friends, illustrator Maddie Renezeder, designed a series of custom Tarot-themed posters and table cards, each filled with personal touches that reflected Mary and Ruairi as a couple. Every table was named after a different card in the Major Arcana (The Lovers, The Magician, The Stars, The Moon, etc) with Maddie illustrating each card by hand. She also created the couple’s wedding poster, featuring them as The Lovers card, which was displayed in the Druid Theatre’s Poster Box and at every entry point in each venue, adding that extra bit of magic to the day!
The bold red neon sign ‘Till Death Do Us Party cast a warm, atmospheric glow over the sweetheart table, perfectly tying the theme together. The couple credits Kate Kilroy from The Hardiman Hotel for enthusiastically embracing their alternative ideas and helping them bring the vision to life within the banquet hall space
TOP TIPS
Ruairi’s Top Tips:
- Choose an intimate ceremony setting. Having the ceremony in a theatre with banked seating meant we could see every guest’s face, which made the moment feel incredibly personal and connected.
- Don’t be afraid to do things your own way. Even if it goes against tradition, this is your day, make it feel authentic to you as a couple.
- Pick music you truly love. The songs you choose will stay with you and will remind you of these memories whenever you hear them again.
Mary’s Top Tips:
Consider eloping first. We actually eloped in August 2022, which was an intimate and deeply special day for just the two of us. It gave us the time and space to reflect on whether we wanted a larger celebration, to save up, and to plan without pressure. Ultimately, we chose to have a wedding to bring our families together, some meeting for the first time, others reuniting after years apart, and to share our life in Galway with my family. Eloping lifted a lot of pressure off our wedding celebration and gave us the courage and confidence to do something more non-traditional that felt more authentic to us.
WE WISH WE HAD
More time with everyone! The day and weekend went by so fast it’s hard to get quality time with all of your friends and family, some of whom came a long way to attend. We wish we could’ve slowed down time to be able to properly chat and soak it all in with everyone. Though, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is a very common feeling.
BEST MOMENTS
Before the ceremony, Mary and Ruairi spent an hour with their photographer Chris Copeland capturing portraits around some of their favourite spots in the heart of Galway: tucked into a cosy booth at O’Connell’s Pub, strolling hand in hand through Shop Street, and pausing for a cheeky pint of Guinness in Taaffes.
They also cherished the ceremony itself at Druid Theatre and later watching their guests fully embrace the Halloween spirit, wigs, masks, and all, on the dance floor.
THE FIRST DANCE SONG
‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ by Thin Lizzy.
THE CREW
Dress: Flora & Lane; Suit: A Wolf in Wool; Cake: Niall Diviney, Simply Divine Cakes; Florist: Dee McMeeking, The Floral Design Hub; Illustrator: Maddie Renezeder; Photographer: Chris Copeland Photography; Celebrant: Dara Molloy; Ceremony Musicians: Tuan Molloy & Anu Molloy; Neon Sign: Steveston Creative; Photobooth: Photobooth Ireland; Magician: Rua Magician & Mentalist; Band: The Wilfull; DJ: DJ Tommy Elliot; Ceremony Venue: Mick Lally Theatre (Druid); Reception Venue: The Hardiman Hotel.
See more photographs from Mary and Ruairi’s wedding in the gallery below.
Photography by Chris Copeland.
Want to see your Real Wedding on IMAGE.ie? Email shayna.healy@image.ie with the subject line ‘Real Wedding’.
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