A landmark in hospitality since 1854, the Great Southern Killarney stands on 6 acres of beautiful gardens right in the heart of Killarney town centre. Still boasting its striking original Victorian features, the hotel made a charming venue for the wedding of fertility nurse specialist Rebecca O’Callaghan to company director Mark Murphy on the 15th of March 2025. Photographed by Sarah Kate Photography, their day struck a balance between classic style and understated, thoughtful details.
The couple first met back in 2018 on a night out, but were lucky to have had many friends in common at the time, so the ice had already been broken. But despite the early connections, it wasn't until 2021 that the pair reconnected and started their love story off with a socially distanced coffee and walk in Cork's Marina Market. Neither has looked back since.
"Mark proposed on the most beautiful rooftop in all of Venice. I had begged for months to go and stay at the H10 hotel, which was amazing. So he booked it for my birthday and took his chance, and it was the best night ever. He picked my ring by himself in Keanes Jewellers in Cork, and I think it’s so special to wear a ring forever that he chose for me. He did an unbelievable job, better than I would have done myself, I think!"
Rebecca's beauty journey was quite simple. "I didn’t fall into many of the hundreds of bridal fads out there, because I knew it would stress me out trying to keep up. I improved my skincare routine and products, drank plenty of water, and did some at-home teeth whitening leading up to the big day." She had a spray tan before the wedding, done by the Tanning Guru and had routine highlights and hair treatments in the months leading up to the wedding, done by Amy Lou in Edit Hair Club.
"I ended up going with La Labo Another 13. It’s a very special perfume, and if I spritz it now, it brings me straight back to the morning. The Le Labo team at Brown Thomas Cork is amazing. They engraved my bottle with our initials and wedding date as an extra touch. I don’t love anything overly sweet or musky, so if you’re into fresh and clean scents, it's stunning."
Her first stop for dress shopping was Bella Bleu on South Mall in Cork. "The shop is totally different to any other place I visited, totally intimate and personal, and you are never rushed. I tried about 4/5 other shops to satisfy myself that I had tried everything I wanted to, but ended up picking the first dress I had tried on at Bella Bleu." She walked down the aisle in a dress by Irish designer Edwina O'Gorman, paired with a cathedral veil for added drama.
"Mark went with Morley's Suit Shop in Cork City for his suit as well as the groomsmen, page boys and father of the bride and groom. John, the owner, absolutely blew us away. Everything with the suits was seamless and easy, and the lads looked very dapper!
For her bridal party, Rebecca had four of her nearest and dearest by her side: her best friends, Meadhbh and Jenn, and sisters-in-law, Niamh and Tara. "My brothers chose their wives well, as the girls are like my actual sisters. I knew I wanted to go with champagne for their dresses and got lucky to find what I liked and what the girls felt comfortable in, really easily online. I think their dresses were my first job ticked off the never-ending list!"
"Our ceremony was held in St Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney, and it was absolutely stunning. The cathedral did all the work for us; it was breathtaking. Stacy from Shandon Flowers in Cork decorated it for us so beautifully, and we loved it. My favourite part, outside of saying I do, was seeing everybody we love all in the same place watching us do so; it was amazing. Having my Dad walk me up the aisle is something I will also never forget."
Mark and Rebecca viewed the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney first and never viewed anywhere else; talk about a good first impression! "The history in the hotel is remarkable; all you need to do is walk into the foyer, and you feel the most beautiful sense of Irish heritage. The famous glass corridor that leads to your function room was probably my favourite part. I had yearned for a sunny day but knew nothing was guaranteed with a March wedding. I remember coming back from our photos and walking down the corridor to our drinks reception with a glass of champagne in hand, and seeing all of our guests sitting outside in the scorching sun in the beautiful outdoor patio that we didn’t think we’d get to use. That was one of our favourite memories of the day."
"Music was vital to us, and it never stopped, which we think adds so much to your day. It is the best money you will spend. Our church singer was Deborah Murphy, who also provided the music for our drinks reception. Our after-dinner entertainment was Liam O Connor and his band, who happened to be his three kids. They are well-known, phenomenal, and definitely the highlight of our day. After Liam, Pat Fitz and his band played and were also amazing. The dance floor was full from start to finish. To finish the night off, we had DJ Dave Daly, who was also brilliant, and nobody sat down until after he finished into the early hours of the morning."
"I think collectively our best decision was keeping our guests in mind throughout the whole process. We knew that if our friends and family were happy, we would be too. This might be an unpopular opinion, and in certain areas, it’s definitely good to do what you both want to do on your day. But we are both generally easygoing, so we knew that if we had good food, plenty of drinks, great music, and happy guests, we would be more than satisfied. The weather was a bonus. I would also say that having Sarah Kate as our photographer was one of the best decisions we made. She was superb in every aspect."
- Gráinne