Galway Day Trip

Cliffs of Moher

Welcome Party

Afternoon Tea

Rehearsal Dinner and Party

Ceremony

Cocktail Reception

Gala Dinner and Dancing

Welcome to our wedding website - we are so glad that you are here. Our wedding will take place on Monday, September 2, 2024 at Dromoland Castle in Ireland. We have activities planned leading up to the wedding and we'd love for you to join us. We are making decisions and finalizing plans daily; we will continuously update this site, so please visit often. Thank you for all of your love and support. We cannot wait to share the adventure of a lifetime with our favorite group of people.

Our Wedding

Our Story

Why Ireland

For over five years before I met Jimmy, I knew that I wanted to get married in Ireland. I just did not know the name of the groom. I knew that I wanted a fairytale wedding in a country that is rich in history, has a beautiful green countryside, good food, and fun people. As I did more research on Ireland, I set my heart on having my wedding at an Irish castle, and I wanted the castle to be at a place where I could have fun and party with my friends and family. Then approximately six years ago, I met a boy who had the last name of "Walsh". Fate? When Jimmy and I knew that we wanted to get married and spend the rest of our lives together, I told him about my dream wedding. He was so excited. He told me that his grandparents were from Ireland. From the first day, Jimmy was just as excited as I was to have our once-in-a-lifetime moment in a castle in Ireland. Then we found the most magical address in Ireland - Dromoland Castle. Dromoland Castle is truly magical. We cannot wait for you to see it. When you round the driveway as you are approaching the castle, it will take your breath away. By the time that you drive up to the castle's entrance, the theme song from Downtown Abbey will probably be playing in your head. When you step into the lobby, you will already know that this weekend is going to be epic. As you can tell, the castle is special. But, there were so many other reasons that we chose Dromoland as our wedding venue. One of those reasons is its location. As beautiful as the castle and grounds are, the surrounding area is stunning as well. We knew that Dromoland and the Emerald Isle would be the perfect location for not only a elegant and beautiful wedding but also an unforgettable weekend with our family and friends. So we created a long weekend itinerary that will truly be unforgettable and memorable - but also fun! We want to show you why we fell in love with Ireland, Dromoland Castle and the Irish people. It is our sincere wish for you to fall in love with Ireland too. We firmly believe that you will be putting Ireland (and specifically, Dromoland Castle) on your list for favorite places to visit again!

Dromoland Castle

Dromoland Castle is the special place that we have chosen for our wedding in Ireland. We keep calling it magical, and you will definitely agree after your visit. Dromoland was the ancestral home of the O'Briens of Dromoland, the descendants of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland. Dromoland has been welcoming guests since the 16th century, and they know how to do it right. Dromoland Castle has so much to offer. Dromoland promises to surround you with history, grandeur and luxury. The estate is large, green and gorgeous. There are so many activities to do on the grounds. The food is delicious, and the presentation is sublime. The dinning experience is definitely an Instagram-worthy event. The cocktails in the cocktail bar are masterpieces in their own right. The rooms and the accommodations in the castle are so nice and the beds are so comfortable. Trip Advisor guests rated Dromoland as the "The World's Best Hotel for Sleep 2023". However, for us, what makes Dromoland so special is the staff, the Irish people and their dedication to make sure that every need and want is fulfilled. When you visit, you will meet two special men. They are the most recognized faces at Dromoland for the guests. John O'Conner has been working at Dromoland for almost 50 years. His younger brother, Mike O'Conner, has been working for Dromoland for over 40 years. These men will go out of their way to make you feel special. While staying at Dromoland, there are so many activities to enjoy. Below is a list of the activities that are offered on the estate. If you chose, you never need to leave the estate. Estate Activities Falconry(we would highly recommend) Spa Facilities Golf The Golf Academy Leisure Center Tennis Archery Fishing Horse Riding Pony and Trap Rides Clay Shooting Estate Walks and Cycles Tennis Stand Up Paddle Boarding We would strongly suggest that you visit Dromoland's website for more detailed information as to the activities. Dining at Dromoland The Earl of Thomond is Dromoland's main restaurant. The Fig Tree is a bistro style restaurant located in the Golf and Country Club. The Gallery is an alternative casual dining area located between the restaurant and the cocktail bar. You will be able to eat while sitting in a comfortable sofa. Also depending what time that you are dining, you may also be entertained by a local Irish singer. Cocktail Bar at Dromoland. When you visit the bar, you will realize that you have just taken a step back in time. The bar was once the O'Brien family's wonderful library. The bartenders are magicians. Dining at the Inn of Dromoland Deerfield Restaurant is where the Inn serves their buffet breakfast in the morning and their table d'hote dining in the evening. Shannigans Gastro Pub serves a more informal dining experience with a full bar menu containing snacks, light meals and dinner.

Ireland + Dromoland Castle

Wedding Weekend

*Transportation Provided. **There will be time between the trip to Cliffs of Moher and the Welcome Party for rest and changing clothes.

The Big Day

All events on September 2, 2024 will take place at Dromoland Castle.

3:00 PM | Ceremony

Walled Garden*

3:30 PM | COCKTAIL RECEPTION

The Kincora Gallery and Patio

5:30 PM | GALA DINNER AND DANCING

Brian Boru Hall

* Weather Call will be made on the morning of the wedding; Plan B is the Brian Boru Balcony.

Itinerary

Q + A

There are two airports in Ireland. Dromoland is only 8 miles away from Shannon airport. You can take a taxi or Uber from the airport to the castle. You can also rent a car at the Shannon Airport if you wish to explore the area around the castle. Shannon is a very small airport; however, there are some non-stop flights from New York City, Philadelphia, Rhode Island and Boston to Shannon. The other airport is in Dublin. The Dublin airport is approximately 2.5 hours from Dromoland. There are direct flights to Dublin from Chicago, Washington (Dulles), New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, San Francisco and several other cities. From Dublin, you can take the train from Houston Station, Dublin to Ennis (the closest town to Dromoland) with one transfer. There are buses every hour that run from Ennis to the bus stop outside the front gate of Dromoland Castle. If you call ahead, Dromoland will arrange to have a car pick you up at the front gate. Of course, you also have the option of renting a car. If you rent a car, the most important thing to remember is to keep left. In Ireland, you must drive on the left side of the road. Driving on the left means that you will drive through a roundabout in a clockwise direction. And there are a lot of roundabouts in Ireland. Most private cars in Ireland are stick shifts. If you are not comfortable with a stick shift, then be sure to reserve your rental car as far in advance as possible because availability of automatic cars are limited and they sell out fast.

Travel

One of the many highlights of this wedding trip is getting to spend the night at a castle. We recommend that the guests spend at last one or two nights at Dromoland Castle. We appreciate that the nightly rate is expensive but the experience is a life time experience. We are planning to stay at the Inn or either in Ennis for the nights leading up to the Big Day and moving into the Castle for the night of September 1st (the night before the wedding and the day of the rehearsal party is at Dromoland) and for September 2nd (the Big Day). Dromoland CastleDromolandNewmarket-on-FergusCo Clare, Ireland+ 353 61 368 144<a href="www.dromoland.ie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.dromoland.ie</a> Inn at DromolandDromoland EstateNewmarket-on-FergusCo Clare, Ireland+ 353 61 368 161 There is a hotel provided shuttle between the Inn and the Castle. Right now, there is limited availability at the Inn. There is still availability for September 1st and September 2nd . The Inn and our wedding planner feel confident that rooms will become available closer to the wedding date. We fully realize that waiting for a room to become available at the Inn is probably not a safe decision. We would suggest that you go ahead and book with the other properties below. All of these properties have a generous cancellation policy. Ennis and Shannon are fun areas (and are close to Dromoland) with lots of areas to explore. So, many of you may like the idea of staying in one of these quaint Irish towns. Temple Gate HotelThe SquareEnnisCo. ClareReference No. 91678 (you will need to give this number when you are booking)+ 353 (0) 65 6823300<a href="www.templegatehotel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.templegatehotel.com</a><a href="mailto:info@templegatehotel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">info@templegatehotel.com</a> Treacys Oakwood Hotel, ShannonAirport RoadShannonCo. ClareReference No. 194510+353 61 361 500<a href="www.treacyoakwoodhotelshannon.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.treacyoakwoodhotelshannon.com</a><a href="mailto:reservations@theshannon.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reservations@theshannon.com</a> Shannon Springs HotelShannonCo. ClareWhen booking, please reference: Courtney Ballenger &amp; Jimmy Walsh Wedding+353 61 364 047<a href="www.shannonspringshotel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.shannonspringshotel.com</a><a href="mailto:info@shannonspringshotel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">info@shannonspringshotel.com</a> Transportation will be provided to and from Dromoland Castle to the guests staying at the above properties. Please visit this site closer to the date of the wedding for the times and details for the transportation. If you have any problem with booking and/or availability, please contact Karen Ballenger at<a href="mailto:karenballenger0715@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">karenballenger0715@gmail.com</a>.

Accomodations

Registry

August 30, 2024Trip to GalwayTransportation Provided August 31, 2024Trip to Cliffs of MoherWelcome Party at Durty Nelly'sTransportation Provided * There will be time between the two events where you can rest and change clothes. September 1, 2024Rehearsal Dinner7:00 p.m.The Fig Tree and PatioDromoland Castle September 2, 2024The Big DayAll Events are at Dromoland Castle

Some Details as to the Areas of Interest: GALWAY Fancy a day trip? Galway is the place. We think that Galway is the best place to start our wedding weekend. Many of you may use this opportunity to take a trip to Dublin, and we think that you should. But, you will really feel like you are in Ireland after visiting Galway. Galway has one of the liveliest pub scenes in Ireland. Craic is an Irish term for fun, conversation, gossip and entertainment. When you are looking for craic, you will definitely find it in a pub in Galway. If you are able to go with us to Galway, you will enjoy the craic, the Guinness and the music. Galway has also become very well known for its food scene. It has several Michelin-star restaurants but it also has some iconic restaurants that have the best fish and chips. Galway is home to the Claddagh Ring. The Claddagh Ring is a traditional ring with great meaning to those who give it, and those who wear it. What better time to get your Claddagh Ring than with us in Galway? We could go on and on. But, I think that you get the point. We are starting our weekend off right with a trip to Galway!

CLIFFS OF MOHER Cliffs of Moher is the best and most famous attraction in Ireland. Just look at the pic below and you will know why we chose the Cliffs to visit with you.

Courtney & Jimmy

Courtney & Jimmy

Engagement Photos