Interesting way of getting to the church on time!

[ThomasJ]

Couple commit to getting marriage off on the right track
By Sean O’Riordan

Friday, June 26, 2009

A YOUNG couple will be hoping to get their forthcoming marriage off on the right track.

Majella Foley, from Banteer, and her soon-to-be husband, Kieran Gallagher, a native of Donegal, have chartered a special train to take them and their 200 guests to their wedding tomorrow.

Iarnród Éireann are decorating the railway stations at Killarney and Banteer to mark the nuptials.

The guests will set off on the train from Killarney at 11.45am arriving 45 minutes later at Banteer station, which is just a small walk from the local church.

After the wedding they will have a champagne reception on the platform at Banteer before leaving at 3pm for Killarney where the couple will have their reception at the five-star Malton Hotel.

The idea of chartering the train was Majella’s.

"Having grown up beside Banteer Station it just seemed to make sense to organise a train to carry our guests back to Killarney. It’s very much a big part of Banteer and with such history attached to the railway, there are many stories to be told about it. It was never unusual to open our door to tourists who forgot to get off at Mallow and indeed one or two ended up staying the night at our house," Majella said.

The couple met in London five years ago and got engaged in May 2008.

They now live in Clapham, famous for its major railway junction.

To mark the special occasion Iarnród Éireann is issuing "special commemorative wedding train tickets" which will be presented to the guests as they board the train in Killarney.

Hilary Twomey, Iarnród Éireann district manager in Cork, and Pat O’Sullivan, station manager at Mallow, are hoping to greet Majella and Kieran and their guests at Banteer Station to congratulate them on their wedding.

The couple have chartered three new InterCity carriages for the event and Iarnród Eireann staff are hoping the idea will catch on with other couples.



This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, June 26, 2009



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[karlr42]

Someone in IE is looking across at Dublin Bus and their Wedding Bus. But a Wedding Train?

[PLUMB LOCO]

Originally Posted by karlr42

Someone in IE is looking across at Dublin Bus and their Wedding Bus. But a Wedding Train?

No - this idea came from the couple not someone in IE - that would be expecting too much. In any event it is not an original idea and happens quite a lot on preserved lines in the UK. The RPSI have done it here and I think an enthusiast who used to be 'motoring' correspondent for the Irish Times did something similar some years back. Anyway good luck to the happy couple and I hope Gourmet Rail aren't looking after the catering!

[Mark Gleeson]

Nothing new in this, if you have the cash (about 5k) Irish Rail will take you anywhere you want

Back in the late 1990's you could actually hire a DART out

[Mark Hennessy]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Nothing new in this, if you have the cash (about 5k) Irish Rail will take you anywhere you want

ANYWHERE?

[Mark Gleeson]

Any railway station on the network currently open, north or south

[Colm Moore]

After the wedding they will have a champagne reception on the platform

O_o

[Trampas]

I can see it now.

"Ding Dong. The train to Banteer is delayed by approximately 6 minutes due to the bride been late" and then someone getting a fine for not having their ticket when disembarking the train

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Any railway station on the network currently open, north or south

well contrare to what the posters in donegal were saying the groom was disappointed to hear that he cant board a 22k (or any train for that matter ) in his native donegal.