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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.
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.