Noriana grew up in Lucan, Co Dublin, and moved to Galway 10 years ago to join a band.
She met Éimhín, formerly a drummer with the Saw Doctors, while recording an album with The Whileaways in a studio in Tuam.
“This gorgeous country lad walked in . . . and I was immediately curious”, said Noriana whose mother Vising moved to Ireland from the Philippines 37 years ago.
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“By the time the songs were recorded me and Éimh had exchanged numbers and were texting like teenagers.”
After a year of romantic vegan dinners and music sharing, Éimhín proposed under the Kennedy family Christmas tree in 2013.
A few days later they announced more good news and their son Jimmy Cradock was born on September 9th, 2014.
On August 3rd, 2015, Noriana and Éimhín were married in front of more than 300 guests, including five family members from the Philippines, at the chapel of Holy Rosary in Doolin, Co Clare.
Following Filipino tradition, Noriana – in a dress from Etsy.com – was given away by her mother, in a traditional Filipino dress, and father James to the groom and his parents, Tom and Mary Cradock.
Both mothers wore coordinating fascinators.
Nicola Joyce, a singer, gathered flowers from the garden of the bride and groom’s house in Keekil village for the arrangements in the church.
An orchestra of singers and musicians – all friends of the couple – banded together for favourites such as Run to us Lovers, Only You, When I Fall in Love, I Got You Babe, Everything is Turning to Gold, and Heaven is a Place on Earth.
The reception afterwards was in a marquee in the gardens of Hotel Doolin and the dinner menu was free of dairy, gluten and wheat.
Dancing and singing went on until 4am and everyone got together again the following day for more of the same.
Éimhín is a primary school teacher in Headford while Noriana will launch her second album with The Whileaways in October.
Photographs: Michael Amado
