Wedding of the Week: Grafton Street proposal leads to big day in Killarney for Amber and Oliver

And Oscar the tux-wearing sausage dog is 'star of the show' as pageboy and ringbearer

Sat, 29 Mar, 2025 - 02:00

Eve Kelliher

Dapper in a tux, the bride’s dachshund cut a dash on Amber Coffey and Oliver Conaty’s big day. Sausage dog Oscar was “the star of the show,” says Amber.

“Oscar received a huge round of applause as he walked up the aisle. He was not only our pageboy, but also our ring-bearer, and did an excellent job. He was adorable in his little suit.”

Oscar, the bride's dachshund/sausage dog, was the couple's pageboy and ringbearer. Pictures: Evelyn Woodard

Amber, from Fossa, Killarney, Co Kerry, and Oliver, from Killygarry, Co Cavan, were wed in a spiritual ceremony led by Aine Brosnan in the Muckross Park Hotel & Spa, Killarney.

“Our wedding singer, Debbie Kelly, and her pianist, Colm Henry, ensured the ceremony was so heavenly,” says Amber.

Amber Coffey and with her dad Dan Coffey. Pictures: Evelyn Woodard

The newlyweds, who are based in Newbridge, Co Kildare, also held their reception in the five-star venue and Amber’s mother Ann and her twin sister, Bernie McGillicuddy, made the wedding cakes. Theresa Murrihy (April Flowers, Quilty) created the floral decor.

Amber coffey with Rachel Coffey, Chloe O'Shea, Olwyn McDonagh and Saffron Brady.

“The staff at Muckross Park, in particular the wedding planners, Niall Tangney and Dean Farrell, were amazing,” says the bride.

Oliver Conaty with Sean Glennon, Andy Connor and Ben Smith.

Evelyn Woodard, led the photoshoot, at Muckross House and Gardens, and Muckross Lake, with Maurice O’Carroll (Wedding Stories by Maurice) as the videographer. The bride’s parents Ann and Dan Coffey and the groom’s mother and father Karen and Oliver Conaty Sr led the toasts.

One guest’s presence made the day extra special for Amber. “It was such an honour to have Dano Coffey, my grandfather, to be there for the most important day of my life,” she says. Amber’s sister Rachel Coffey, cousin Chloe O’Shea, and friends Olwyn McDonagh and Saffron Brady were her bridesmaids.

Amber Coffey and Oliver Conaty with Oliver Conaty Snr, Karen Conaty , Rachel Conaty, holding Sadhbh, the groom's niece, and Dean Collins.

Oliver’s friend Sean Glennon was his best man and his friends Andy Connor and Ben Smith were his groomsmen.

Amber and Oliver matched with each other on Tinder in early 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. “We met in person for the first time in May 2020 in St Stephen’s Green for a walk on a beautiful summer’s evening,” says Amber.

Nearly three years later, as they were Christmas shopping in Dublin, Oliver surprised Amber by getting down on one knee on Grafton Street — just metres from where they first met — to pop the question, on December 16, 2023.

“We were surrounded by dozens of passersby who gathered to cheer us on,” says Amber.

Ann Coffey, Dan Coffey, Amber Coffey, Dano Coffey, Rachel Coffey and Daniel Coffey.

The couple chose a winter wedding date. “We were happy to go all out. We had no intention of limiting our guest numbers as we wanted to include everyone important in our lives,” says Amber. “Our wedding was everything we could have hoped for and more.”

Bride Amber Coffey. Pictures: Evelyn Woodard

Amber dazzled in an Atlanta gown by Eva Lendel. The newlyweds travelled in style thanks to a family connection, Murt O’Shea, who acted as chauffeur.

“Murt kindly gifted us his Mercedes as our wedding car as well as an additional car for the bridesmaids,” says the bride.

The dance floor was full thanks to the band Bog The Donkey and later DJ Paul Prenderville.

Bride Amber Coffey at Dundag, Muckross Lake. Pictures: Evelyn Woodard

Amy O’Donoghue from Mood Tralee, was the bridal hairstylist, while the bride’s makeup artist was Maura Conroy, Castleisland. Maura and Simona Pudzemyte, Killarney, were makeup artists for the bridesmaids.

The newlyweds enjoyed a minimoon to Salzburg and then spent their two-week honeymoon, enjoying “safaris, sea, and sunshine” in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.