Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny | June Byrne & Darren Strong wedding...

June & Darren’s wedding day was a joy to photograph. June is a really well known hair stylist in Portlaoise, Co. Laois and Darren is a well known footballer and business owner who plays for his County Laois, and his local club Emo. So you can imagine the large crowd in attendance.

This Autumnal wedding was really beautiful as the sun shone and the weather was nice and calm all day.

We even managed to bring their beloved Bernese mountain dog to get into some of the photos in Emo Court between the ceremony in Emo church and the reception at https://www.newparkhotelkilkenny.com/ in Kilkenny.

Here’ just a small selection of the photographs we took that day…

Barberstown Castle Wedding | Joanne & Micheal's wedding day...

Barberstown Castle Wedding | Joanne & Micheal wedding day…

What a day!! Micheal Cushen and Joanne Scott’s wonderful wedding day started in lovely sunshine at Joanne’s home place in Ballyfin, Co. Laois. Joanne’s family made me feel so welcome and at ease straight away. I knew we were in for a great day. Myself and Kevin the Videographer (https://littlebear.ie/) had a really nice relaxing working day with this beautiful couple.

After the ceremony in Mountmellick Church we made our way to the beautiful grounds of https://www.barberstowncastle.ie/. in Co. Kildare. All day the sun shone and we managed to get some cracking images in the and around the grounds of this lovely venue.

Here’s just a small selection of the photos from there lovely wedding day…

Ballintubbert House and Gardens | Eimear & Mark's wedding day...

I absolutely love this venue!! So when Mark & Eimear asked me to capture the photographs for their wedding here I was delighted.

Mark & Eimear both work in the Bloodstock industry and the horse racing community came out in force to celebrate with them in the beautiful setting of Ballintubbert House & Gardens (http://www.ballintubbert.com/).

As the sun shone down on the gleaming Bentley’s parked outside the Old house, I had to remind myself that I was still in Co. Laois.

Everything went so smoothly and when the ceremony started everyone made their way to the beautiful Fountain garden at the back of the house.

We took loads of amazing photographs all over the grounds before the happy couple took the party late into the night.

Here’s just a sample of some of the photos…

Rathsallagh House Hotel | Leonie & Keith's wedding day...

Absolutely brilliant day!! The weather, the venues, two warm and welcoming families!! Add to that, a bride and groom that are united in everything, including their love of dogs and cats.

The chapel in Ballysax Co. Kildare was full of character and beautiful to photograph. We got lots of photos in and around the grounds. We even managed to bring the dogs for a short walk after the ceremony.

Rathsallagh House (https://www.rathsallagh.com/) in co. Wicklow was the next destination. It’s such a nice spot for a wedding. Lots of photo ops there too and when the sun was setting, it gave me a great canvas to create some lovely moody photographs. Then, before the 1st dance we had just enough time to get a few final night shots under the Hotel’s fine big old Oak tree.

Thanks for stopping by :).

Tulfarris House | Emma & Dan's wedding day...

Mid-Summer and the temperature felt like it was in the mid- thirties. Emma & Dan got married surrounded by they’re friends and family in the lovely church in Timahoe Co. Laois. After the ceremony we strolled around the old Round-tower, taking photos and having a jolly nice time of it.

Tulfarris House (https://www.tulfarrishotel.com/)in Co. Wicklow was the venue for the afters and boy it didn’t disappoint. The sun kept shining and we managed to get some lovely images in between drinks and mingling with the crowd. Later we all went for a walk down by the lake and got a fine shot of the happy couple in relaxed mode, away from the crowd, taking a minute before the first dance.

All in all, it was a fantastic day with a brilliant young couple who enjoyed and loved every minute of the day.

Thank you Emma & Dan for having me along and for making me feel part of the lovely family you both have.

joe

Racket Hall | Elaine & Tadhg's Summer Wedding...

June 23rd, the high of Summer, and Racket Hall (https://www.rackethallhotel.com/) in Roscrea was to be the venue for Elaine & Tadhg's Wedding. Weather permitting we would have the ceremony out on the lawn.

The good staff of the hotel had already set the scene inside the hotel but at the very last hour decided it was safe to go for it outside. And so, in haste and with army precision they quickly rearranged the whole event so the ceremony could go ahead out on the lawn as hoped.

Elaine and Tadhg are a very relaxed couple so none of this was a problem. The detail and planning that went into this ceremony was evident from the outset, but it happened with great ease.

My brief was simple, to capture the charm and essence of the occasion. Of the hundreds of photos I took for them that day, here are but a few, to hopefully give you a sense of the lovely day we all had.

Thanks for stopping by.

joe 

Bloomfield House | Charlie & Glenn's wedding day...

On a beautiful day back in April I had the pleasure of photographing Charlie (Joanne) and Glenn's wedding. After the ceremony in Emo Chapel, Glenn and Charlie drove off in their rocky red convertible.

They made their way to the lovely Bloomfield House (https://www.bloomfieldhousehotel.ie/ ) in Mullingar. Blessed with lovely sunshine we managed to get lots of great photographs around the grounds and on the pier at the lakeside. Thanks guys for such a great day and for having me along. 

Hotel Kilkenny | Marie & Roger's wedding day...

The Hotel Kilkenny was the venue for this wonderful day. Marie & Rodge made this date forever theirs.

Everything ran so smoothly and on this lovely sunny day the sun came out. Roger even had time to nip into his local, the famous Cleary’s Pub in Old Leighlin Co. Carlow for a pint with some of the guys before the ceremony.

After the ceremony we took some photographs in and around the town’s famous bridge and the tower ruins. Then we took the road to Kilkenny to carry on the party at the Hotel Kilkenny (https://hotelkilkenny.cms.netaffinity.com/index.html)

Here’s just a small selection of the images from that great day…

Mount Driud | Liz & Noeleen's wedding day...

April in Mount Druid.(http://alternativeweddings.ie/) Summer was on the horizon and everything is starting to blossom. This was my first wedding in these beautiful grounds and I was honestly thrilled. Delighted and excited not just because of the venue, but it was going to be the wedding of Liz Connell and Noeleen Byrne. 

I absolutely loved working with them both. Relaxed and chilled doesn't do these girls justice. They graced the place with their own charm and fun atmosphere... everyone of their friends and family seemed to be on the same page. Here are just a small selection of the photos I had the pleasure of being part of that day.

Talbot Hotel Carlow | Tracy & Noel's wedding day...

Another wonderful Winter Wedding in January this year. Noel & Tracy were blessed with the weather and the atmosphere which comes with a lovely day like this in January was electric.

The wedding ceremony was in the lovely church in Ballyroan Co. Laois. Afterwards we made a quick visit to Heywood Garden just outside Abbeyleix for some classic wedding photographs.

Then we moved swiftly along to the Talbot Hotel in Carlow (https://www.talbotcarlow.ie/) where we had the reception and even managed to get a few cracking photos.

Here's just a small selection of the photos I took for them..hope u enjoy. 

Lough Rynn Castle | Ailish & Dougies Wedding day...

Another amazing venue!! When Ailish & Dougie asked me to capture the photographs for their wedding here I was delighted.

I loved every minute going around with them in the beautiful setting of Lough Rynn (https://www.loughrynn.ie/). This place is fantastic and great for photography. Lots of interesting nooks & Cranny’s. They even supply a golf cart for the happy couple to jaunt around on and for me to follow.

Here’ just a small selection of the many photos we took…

Everything went so smoothly and when the ceremony started everyone made their way to the beautiful Fountain garden at the back of the house.

We took loads of amazing photographs all over the grounds before the happy couple took the party late into the night.

Here’s just a sample of some of the photos…

Clonard Court Hotel | Joanne & Karl's wedding day...

Photographing Karl & Joanne (Jojo) was a dream. Both of them were so calm and cool that it set the tone for the best wedding day one can imagine.

They got married in the beautiful Heath chapel, Co. Laois. Afterwards we went up to the Rock of Dunamase for some amazing photos in and around the ruins of this amazing gem at the heart of Co. Laois.

Then we went to the lovely Clonard Court Hotel (https://www.clanardcourt.ie/) to carry on the party in style.

Here’s just a small selection of the images from that great day…

The Dolmen Hotel Carlow | Bernie & Michael's wedding day...Bernie & Michael @

The Dolmen Hotel Co. Carlow (https://www.woodforddolmenhotel.ie/) was the reception venue for Bernie & MIcheal’s wedding day. This beautiful wedding was flawless for the happy couple. The weather was beautiful and calm. The ceremony in the lovely church in Rathdowney beforehand was intimate. The photographs we managed to get in the ruins of Aghaboe Abbey were amazing.

Bernie was the most amazing bride and her calm and grace set the tone for the day. Micheal was full of fun and charm, constantly injecting fun and craic in the proceedings.

Here’s a small selection of the images we made that day…

The Lord Bagenal Inn | Martina & Fergus wedding day...

Old Leighlin in Co. Carlow is a beautiful little village with lots of charm and was the old stomping ground for Martina. It was great to get the history from both Fergus and Martina...over a pint, in the middle of the day...at THEY'RE Wedding Day!!.

Martina's friend Ken was the driver for the day and I was onboard with them when we took a detour after the ceremony to go to their local in the village. Carey's pub in Old Leighin is a classic old pub. It's small, cosy, and has a nice half-door with a lovely landlady who opened early especially for the newlyweds. Sure what better way to get away from the crowd!! :)

After a pint we headed back to the crowd in the Lord Baganel (https://www.lordbagenal.com/) in Leighlinsbridge. The weather continued to be kind which made it all the better for pics outside. After the meal I managed to squeeze in a few more photos down by the river on the jetty.

All in all it was a great day with great people..hope you get a sense of the day we had from the photos.

Many thanks for stopping by.

joe    

Golden Egg Studios | Cua recording...

CUA

These guys know their music! I had the chance to join them in the studio for a little bit yesterday (photos below) while they worked on their new album and I wqs knocked over by their musicianship. The unique soundscape they produce is folk/roots/celtic-ish but with their own twist and tempo. Have a listen if you haven't already..you won't regret it!  

Check them here on Reverbnation.. http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/24427431?pwc%5Bbranded%5D=1

Here's a few photos from the studio yesterday..

Wedding feature on Mrs2be website.

Last November I had the pleasure of shooting Eamon and Maggie's wedding in the lovely Durrow Castle. I wrote a blog here on my site at the time but I was contacted recently by the wedding experts that are Mrs2be, and I'm delighted to say they wanted to run the wedding as a feature on their website. Follow the link below to have a look if you have the time please :).

Many thanks,

joe

Eamon & Maggie-5.jpg

Mrs2be feature...

Eamon & Maggie Lennon's Durrow Castle wedding.

Castle Durrow | Eamon & Maggie's Autumn Wedding...

Castle Durrow (https://www.castledurrow.com/) is a beautiful place at any time of the year, but in Autumn it is just perfect. When Maggie and Eamon put their stamp on this wonderful wedding venue, they managed to make it even better! They prepared their wedding room by themselves in their own style. Beautiful candle jars sitting on staggered rustic logs, large weathered pine cones on old distressed books and wedding rings presented in a handmade Ashwood box on a nest of lush green moss.

My couple obviously put a lot of thought into creating a mood that set the tone for a lovely timeless wedding. The sun-gods were kind also and we managed to get some beautiful photographs in the soft evening light after the intimate ceremony. In between photos the happy couple showed their playful side and kick their way through every bunch of fallen leaves, as I struggled to keep up with them.

As the sun set I stole them away for a few final pics before they retired to the beautifully set dining room. Again, Maggie and Eamon went to great lengths to make this a meal to remember. Hopefully my photos do their style and creativity justice.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to browse.

Joe

Irish Times Weekend Magazine Article

My second article in the Wedding section of the Irish Times Weekend Magazine. Chantelle and Rory Coss shared their photos from the Wedding in Ballintubbert House and Gardens last Summer with Sarah Gereghty of the Times. She loved their story and contacted me to get some pics to publish. 

Needless to say I was delighted to get the exposure and see my work in print like that.

If you have time please click on the link below to view the online edition..thanks for stopping by.

Joe

Ballintubbert House & Gardens | Rory & Chantelle's Wedding...

This was the moment it all began..Rory proposed to Chantelle by surprise at Glenbarrow waterfall. We had planned it in such a way that Chantelle would not be suspicious. Chantelle, (being a beautiful part-time model) and I, had previously worked together on a few photoshoots so we tricked her to the location on that cold crisp December day. At just the right moment I made a retreat and Rory made his entrance to make the grand proposal. I had to use a long lens to get this pic and let them have their moment.

Fast forward to September 2016 and their lovely ceremony was in Mountmellick church followed by the reception at Ballintubbert House & Gardens (http://www.ballintubbert.com/).  

But the two soul-mates, Rory & Chantelle, were the cool stars of this wedding. I've had the pleasure of knowing both of them for a few years now. Their relationship, and they themselves, are a breath of fresh air. Happy, easy-going, fun and charming are words I'd use when describing them and the wonderful atmosphere they created in Ballintubbert. 

Ballintubbert house and gardens is such a beautiful place for a wedding. The gardens have evolved over the years and change completely with each new seasons. The gardeners (Lorraine & Tony) are a mind of information and willingly share their time and tell tales of the past characters who have previously lived in the house. Its historical owners include such famous people like Cecil Day-Lewis (poet Laureate and father of Daniel Day-Lewis) and the Actor John Hurt.

All their friends and family mingled and enjoyed the lovely surroundings in the late summer sunshine. I managed to steal them away for a walk around the many hidden gardens which also gave them a little time to take it all in..but these guys didn't need any help relaxing as they seemed to be completely at ease on the day, all day.!

Hope you get a sense of the magic day we all had.

joe