Wedding Bells: Mr & Mrs Mulcahy dance into 2024 as newlyweds

A popular Irish dancer and a dairy farmer began their 2024 in Waterford on a loving high as newlyweds.

Irish dancing teacher Niamh Manning, who runs her Academy of Irish Dancing on the outskirts of Waterford City, has been with her now husband, James Mulcahy, for four and a half years and they tied the knot the day before New Year’s Eve on December 30, 2023.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star while honeymooning in Mexico, Mrs Mulcahy said the wedding day was incredible.

With five bridesmaids, five groomsmen, two flower girls and three page boys, Niamh said it was a running joke that they had “an entire community involved” for the wedding party.

The flame ignited between the pair when Niamh attended another wedding some years ago. James was supposed to go to the wedding too but ended up not attending. James’ brother did, however, attend as a guest and he and Niamh had known each other previously from college.

It was when James saw Niamh in a few photos from the wedding that it took off from there with him sending her a message, a coffee date in the Riverside Cottage, and the pair then matching on Tinder.

Trying to book a date for the wedding was a challenge, Niamh joked, as she explained her husband is a dairy farmer in South Tipperary and a sports enthusiast.

With James playing hurling and football for Fr Sheehy’s and soccer for Burncourt Celtic, available dates for the big day that didn’t clash with his schedule were few and far between.

Niamh and James were married in Waterford Cathedral where Niamh’s childhood friend performed for the ceremony.

“Our amazing church music was by Tara and Johnny. Tara Heffernan is my childhood neighbour, so it was very lovely to have her sing for us,” said Niamh.

Following the ceremony, they went on to celebrate their special day at Faithlegg Hotel where they spent three days with Suzie Molloy and the team at Faithlegg being highly recommended to anyone who is looking to book their wedding venue.

The Mulcahys. Photo by Hilda McMahon Faithlegg holds a lot of beautiful memories for the couple as it’s where James proposed to Niamh.

The stunning and unique wedding dress Niamh wore was from Pearls and Lace in Donegal, with headpieces for herself, the mother-of-the-bride and flower girls from Bonzie.

On the morning of the big day preparations began with Lyndsey Kelly on hairdressing duties, while Aoife Gleeson (Beautiqe) and Davina Haberlin (Carbon Beauty) did make-up.

The bridesmaids’ dresses were from Folkster in Kilkenny and the groomsmen had their suits locally sourced in Fitzgerald’s.

Some of the vendors for the Mulcahy’s wedding included: All Events (cars), Paul Sullivan (rings and jewellery), Finesse (flowers and room décor), Bite Size Bakery (cake and bites), Golden Beats Company (dance display), Shellakybookies (wedding band), McMahon’s Photography and Déise Weddings (for all things DJ/video/photo boot and DJ saxophone player).

If you would like to be part of our Wedding Bells series, contact Jessica.martin@waterford-news.com