Wedding of the Week: Neighbour's Rolls-Royce ensures Kerry bride feels 'like royalty'
Julett Culloty and Pádraig O'Sullivan. Pictures: Micheál O’Sullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com
One big day led to another for Kerry couple Julett Culloty and Pádraig O'Sullivan.
Julett, from Kilcummin, Killarney, and Pádraig, from Clonkeen, Glenflesk, were married in September in St Mary's Cathedral, in Killarney, by the groom’s uncle, Fr Gerard O'Leary, and held their reception in The Heights Hotel Killarney.
It was walking up the aisle on a similar occasion, seven years before, that their paths first crossed.
“We met in June 2016 at another wedding in Killarney. Pádraig's cousin married a cousin of mine so that is where it all began,” says Julett.
“We got engaged on December 11, 2021. Pádraig proposed at the beautiful Governor's Rock in Killarney National Park when we were out walking.”
Julett, who represented Kerry in the Rose of Tralee festival in 2015, and Pádraig were keen to have “a local, traditional-style wedding”, adds the bride. “We both have large families so we invited our families, friends and neighbours and had 240 people attend,” she says.
The couple’s neighbour, Gerard Healy, was behind the wheel. “Gerard has a stunning 1936 Rolls-Royce and he was our chauffeur for the wedding. It was absolutely fantastic to be driven in such a classic car. Before the ceremony, he collected me and my dad and took us for a spin around town. It was so funny — because everyone was waving at us, we felt like royalty. It was such a treat before the serious business kicked off in the church.”
Julett's parents, Margaret and Pádraig Culloty, and Pádraig's mother and father, Anne and Dan O'Sullivan, together with the groom’s grandmother Sheila O’Leary celebrated the occasion with the newlyweds.
The bride’s cousin Eileen O'Leary was her maid of honour while her friends Daniella Hutchings and Sinead O'Reilly were her bridesmaids and her nieces Abbie and Clara Moriarty were the junior bridesmaids.
The groom’s brother Gearóid O'Sullivan was by his side as his best man while his friends Fergus O'Donoghue and Seán O'Brien were the groomsmen and Julett’s nephew Paurigh Culloty was the junior groomsman.
“We had such a fantastic day. The weather wasn't ideal but that didn't dampen our spirits,” says the bride.
Julett wowed in a Rosa Clará gown which she bought at The White Ivy Bridal Boutique, Kenmare. The bride and bridal party were ready for their close-ups thanks to hairstylist Tara Boughen and makeup artist Sandra Flynn. The groom and his party donned suits by Suits Select, Tralee.
“We had so much craic and made such wonderful memories. Our wedding band, Arklight, were phenomenal, they had the guests dancing all night playing jives, waltzes, polkas and modern music — there was something for everyone.”
The groom, himself an award-winning dancer, took centre stage during the evening's celebrations at The Heights Hotel, KillarneyHeights, for an impromptu performance. “Pádraig and the Glenflesk Set Dancers who won an All-Ireland in 2012 surprised the wedding guests by dancing a set. It was so much fun,” says Julett.
Blooms Florist, Killarney, created the décor and floral arrangements.
Kerry photographer Micheál O’Sullivan, osullivanphotographyirl.com, and Brendan Reidy Videography captured the occasion on camera.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Paris. Julett is a manager of a Youth and Community Centre for Rathmore Social Action Group Rathmore and Pádraig is a primary school teacher at Scoil Bhríde Loreto National School, Killarney.
The couple will live in Headford, Killarney. “We are currently building our own home in Knockysheehan, Headford, which is very exciting,” adds the bride.
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