Cork couple have the first wedding in a venue other than a church or registry office at a Kerry hotel.
New legislation now allows couples to marry outside the traditional settings of a church or a registry office. A Cork couple are the first to take advantage of the new law choosing the Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney as the location to exchange their marriage vows.
Michelle Owens and Fergus Burke made history and married at the Kerry hotel in front of 74 close family and friends. The ceremony was supervised by Kerry registrar Mary T O'Shea.
After the ceremony, Fergus Bourke said that it was fantastic to be surrounded by all their family and friends on such a special occasion.
For registrar Mary T O'Shea, who carries out around two hundred ceremonies each year,
It was a privilege and an honour to do the first one in the country.
Since the change in the law, the Civil Registration Service has been inundated with requests from couples seeking to have venues approved.
Billy Ramsell, Supervisor Registrar for the HSE South, says that in order to facilitate couples, the registrar has to travel to the wedding location.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 November 2007. The reporter is Jennie O'Sullivan.
