My parents got married on August 10th , 1954, in Westport. Joe Ruddy, from Ballina, was a mechanic in the CIE garage at the Quay. He was a “lodger” in Mrs Quinn’s when he met Kitty O’Brien, whose father was the local sergeant and mother the post mistress. It was a double wedding for mam and her sister Maureen, and matching ballet length shell pink dresses were the choice of the brides.
This photograph was taken as mam and dad departed on their honeymoon after the wedding breakfast in what was once Belclare House. Their youth, style and promise is palpable. Last month I identified, for my cousin Paula in Westport, the matching photograph of Maureen and Sean Ketterick from her collection of old family snaps.
In 1994 my parents celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary, in Ballina, on an enjoyable and memorable evening with family and friends. Mam even “stole” a kiss from dad as they cut the cake, never seen before or after by me. Time marches on and they now rest together in Leigue Cemetery, in Ballina.
On their diamond wedding anniversary last August I sat by their graveside that afternoon and admired the view of the neighbouring Ox mountains and Nephin in the sun.
I wound and played the musical clock that had always sat on mam’s bedside locker for them one more time. They bought it on their honeymoon when they made it as far as the splendours of romantic and exotic Bray.
My partner Paul and I are now planning our civil marriage after 25 years of a committed relationship together. We availed of the first civil partnership in Mayo in 2011. Friends of my parents helped us dance the night away on the banks of the Moy.
I am mindful of an email from an older gay friend in London, originally from Ballyhaunis, after the marriage equality referendum. He wondered if his long dead parents would have voted yes. I speculated about mine and am certain that Joe and Kitty are smiling down lovingly on us.
Who knows, Paul and I might even make it to Bray for our honeymoon.
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