Louise Creagh and Bernard Kiernan and their son, Luke.

€10k wedding prize: 'It couldn't happen to a nicer couple'

Bernard Kiernan and Louise Creagh from Loughnavalley and Moyvore have won a dream wedding worth €10,000 at the luxurious Osprey Hotel in Naas. They were among 50 couples who made it to the grand finale reception last Friday, hosted by Cooper and Kayte of iRadio.

“We’re over the moon,” said Bernard after the announcement. He said that they had put their wedding plans on hold because they had just bought a house at Stoneleigh, Ballymore, but now, thanks to their big win they can press ahead with plans for a summer 2023 wedding.

“There were hundreds of entrants in an iRadio competition that Louise heard about on the radio on her way to work and we never dreamed we’d win. We just had to go up and tell our story about how we got engaged,” Bernard said.

And what a story it is! Bernard handed over to Louise to fill in the details of his extraordinary proposal last January. “It was his 30th birthday and his sisters – Jenna, Laura and Louise – said they would do a treasure hunt for the three of us (Louise, Bernard and their son, seven-year-old Luke). They had clues set up and a present at each clue. I got to the last clue, the 10th, and I read it out – ‘Oh, the best present I could ever get’ and when I turned around Bert was on one knee asking me to marry him.”

Louise said she sent in their details to iRadio after she heard about the competition. “They got in touch and said they would let us know. Then they got in touch again and said we were one of 50 couples that were being brought up for a reception. There were loads of goodies, Prosecco, canapés and lots of prizes, so we said we’d go along.”

Bernard is the son of Cyril and Bernie (née Ruane) Kiernan, Loughnavalley, and Louise is the daughter of Russell and Anne (née Keena) Creagh of Moyvore. Bernard works for Breedon Cement in Kinnegad and Louise works in customer services in Pharmed in Mullingar Business Park.

Bernard is a prominent and popular member and player with Milltown GAA and Luke is following in his dad’s footsteps, and plays with Millmore Gaels.

The competition was organised to celebrate a recent €1 million refurbishment of the Osprey hotel ballroom, under the guidance of Hugh Wallace of Home of the Year fame. The only criteria to enter was that the couple had to be engaged.

Bernard and Louise can now select one of the hotel’s wedding packages or customise their special day.

“We are delighted,” they said, while the general response to the news locally has been that it couldn’t happen to nicer couple.