Mary and Nicholas mark diamond day
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Mary and Nicholas Murtagh on their wedding day, July 30, 1960, with, back from left: Leo O’Reilly (brother), Eamonn O’Reilly (brother), Paddy O’Reilly (uncle), Gabriel O’Reilly (brother) and Seamus O’Reilly (brother). Front: Kay O’Reilly (sister-in-law), Vera O’Reilly (sister), Nicholas Murtagh (groom), Mary Murtagh (bride), Veronica O’Reilly (mother of bride), James O’Reilly (father of bride), and Christy O’Reilly (brother). (Unfortunately there were no family members on the groom’s side, as they all had passed away.)Image 2 of 3
Nicholas and Mary Murtagh are now in their 80s and still happily married.Image 3 of 3
Nicholas and Mary cut the cake at an earlier anniversary party.Mary and Nicholas Murtagh celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary this week, and while their daughter Caroline admits she doesn’t know for sure what their secret to a long, happy marriage is: “I would say it is ‘never go to bed on an argument’, and ‘patience is a virtue’.”
Mary and Nicholas have lived in Delvin for the last 10 years and are members of the Friendship Club there and the Golden Years Club in Killucan.
They are originally from Dublin and were married in the Holy Rosary Church in Harold’s Cross on July 30, 1960. Their first house was in Mount Pleasant, Ranelagh. They later moved to Terenure, then bought a house in Palmerstown, and from there moved to Delvin.
Caroline remembers that her mother was a great Irish dancer when she was a little girl and her father loved motorbikes and had a Triumph 650cc, though his mother-in-law, Veronica, was not too happy about that! “Mam had to wear trousers when going on my Dad’s bike and her dad (James) didn’t like that and it caused some arguments!”
They loved going dancing and going to the pictures, and Nicholas can still recall what films they saw and where. They don’t dance as much now as Nicholas had a hip replacement a few years ago and Mary says she couldn’t dance with any other man, as she only knows his moves!
Caroline has fantastic memories of going on family holidays to Kilmuckridge in Wexford, where they spent time with other families.
Once, on holiday in Spain, Mary entered a competition for the best legs. She won a big huge teddy bear and called him ‘Legs’, and she still has him.
The family often went to Leopardstown and Punchestown for the horse racing and, while Nicholas had some luck with bets he placed after studying the form, Mary was luckier, by picking out names that she liked the sound of.
Mary (88) and Nicholas (84) have four children, Caroline, Marina, Nick and Bertha; seven grandchildren, Keith, Aimee, Eimear, Phillip, Matthew, Luke and Liam; and six great-grandchildren, Sadie, Sofia, Hugo, Basil, Hayley and Rosie.
All their family and friends, in Delvin, Dublin and elsewhere, wish them a happy diamond wedding anniversary this Thursday, July 30, 2020.