Contents:

1. Flights

2. Schedule

2a. Wedding Day Transportation

3. Getting to Tullamore/Mucklagh/Birr

4. Accommodations

5. Weather and Attire

6. Other Questions

The closest airport to fly into will be Dublin Airport. From there, it takes about a 1.5hr drive to get to Tullamore (more on that below).

We often use aggregate websites (e.g. Expedia, Skyscanner, Flighthub, Hopper) to suggest flight times, best prices, best days, airlines running. However, we would recommend booking directly with the airlines for the smoothest flying experience.

Please note that trans-Atlantic flights from North America tend to have one stopover on the way to Dublin, and most are overnight flights so please plan accordingly.

1PM: Wedding Ceremony at St. Colman's Catholic Church, Mucklagh

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HscmCBoeLvxihZKh6

(Parking for the church in rear)

2-3PM - Photos and refreshment outside of the church. Transportation arranged for those without a ride to the County Arms Hotel in Birr

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JogTMRLVzhZMsHmD6

3PM-5PM - Arrivals reception, cocktails, and light snacks served at the County Arms

5PM - Dinner Bell

5PM - 2AM - Dinner, Reception, and Dancing :)

Taxis are available to call from Birr back to Tullamore if you wish.

Depending on need/demand, we may try to arrange for transportation to return from Birr to Tullamore Sunday morning around checkout from the County Arms.

Transportation on the day of the wedding: there is ample parking at both St. Colman's Church and at the County Arms. For those from out of town without transportation, we will arrange for transport from Tullamore to Mucklagh, and from Mucklagh to the County Arms Hotel. Further details to follow regarding this. Please note that there is no public transportation from Tullamore to Mucklagh.

Please indicate in your RSVP if you have not done so already.

For those staying at the County Arms Hotel and without means of transportation back to Tullamore, we may make arrangements for transport the morning after based on need.

For those flying the day after the wedding, please be aware that transportation to Dublin Airport is quite limited between 9PM-7AM. Please let us know if you need help figuring out transportation arrangements if this is your situation.

We would recommend staying overnight in Tullamore the night before the wedding.

To get to Tullamore from the Dublin Airport, please don't hire a taxi directly to Tullamore, often this can exceed 200+ euro. There is unfortunately no direct bus from the airport to Tullamore.

You can make your way into Dublin City Centre from the airport with the 782 bus

(https://www.dublinexpress.ie/media/11955/dublin_express_timetable_dec2023.pdf)

or the AirCoach service

(https://dodublin.ie/airport-transfers/aircoach/airport-to-city-single)

though please note that this latter option will drop you off in the middle of the city, and getting to Heuston Train station will require either an additional 25-minute walk or another bus (Route 145)).

From Heuston Station, you can take the train to Tullamore quite easily. Just buy your ticket from one of the kiosks in the train station. Trains run fairly regularly until around 7pm. Do note that Tullamore is not the final destination for these trains, and you'll be looking for a train to Galway

(https://www.irishrail.ie/Admin/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Heuston-timetables/06-Dublin-Galway.pdf)

or Westport/Ballina

(https://www.irishrail.ie/Admin/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Heuston-timetables/10_dublin-westportballina.pdf)

to take you to Tullamore Station.

Dublin Airport has all major car rental agencies (e.g. Entreprise, Hertz, Avis) and a car rental is always an option. Note that the default/cheapest rental option will be manual transmission cars (if renting an automatic, make sure to select that option). A car rental can be a little expensive and most places in Ireland are accessible by bus/train (and within Dublin, nearly everything is accessible by public transit or walking). However, if your travel plans require a car rental, do note that drivers sit on the right side of the car and the drive from Dublin Airport to Tullamore is approximately 1.5hrs. There are a few tolls on the way (~3 euro total via electronic toll that can be prepaid or paid within 72hrs).

Full list to come, please contact us directly if you are planning to visit or stay somewhere in particular and would like additional recommendations.

For those of you who plan on travelling from abroad we would recommend booking accommodation in Tullamore before and after the wedding (or wherever else your travels take you! On the night of, we would recommend staying in Birr, as weddings can run late into the night!

We understand people will be coming from different places, at different times, and with different budgets, so whatever you choose to do we will try and accommodate you as much as possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to either of us and we'll help make recommendations!

Accommodations in Tullamore:

Hotels:

1. Tullamore Court Hotel (www.tullamorecourthotel.ie) +353 057 934 6666

2. Bridge House Hotel (www.bridgehousehoteltullamore.ie) +353 057 932 5600

3. The Central Hotel (www.centralhoteltullamore.com) +353 057 934 9300

Bed and Breakfast

1. Sea Dew Guest House - B&B located close to the center of town. Call direct to avoid booking fees. (www.seadewhouse.com) Phone: +353 057 9352054 Email: info@seadewhouse.com

2. Tudor Lodge - A short 20-minute walk from the center of town +353 057 932 5913 (www.tudorlodgebandb.com)

There is a room block in the County Arms hotel in Birr (room block is now full). However if all rooms are booked on the night of the wedding the following all come highly recommended. (To dial an Irish phone number from abroad, country code is +353)

- Dooleys Hotel: 057 912 0032 (www.doolyshotel.com)

- The Stables: 05791 20263

- Walcott: 05791 21247

- Emmet House: 05791 69885

- Spinners: 05791 23779

- The Maltings: 05791 21345

- Townsend Guest House: 05791 21276

- Minnocks Bed and Breakfast: 087 9708312

We would like to let our guests from outside of the country know that Birr is a small town in Ireland, so can be very quiet. We would advise if you are choosing to stay for more than one night you stay in a town like Tullamore as it is more accessible by public transport to cities like Dublin and Galway.

Ireland in May tends to be around 11-15C. The mornings and evenings can get to be a bit colder, usually around 5-10C. Often we'll see a mix of rain, clouds, and sun all throughout the day. Be aware that the wind can be quite a bit stronger and between the wind and the dampness, it can feel a bit colder than you would usually expect.

Typical Irish weddings have formal attire. Typically, suits or blazer and dress pants would be expected for men, and formal full-length or cocktail style dresses for women. Often for women the outfit will be topped off with what is often described as a "wedding hat" or a fascinator.

If it's still a bit unclear, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.

Having trouble booking a room at the County Arms?

If the website is not allowing you to book a room (this seems to have been a problem for some Canadian guests) you can email reservations@countyarmshotel.com Please make sure to put our Hwang/Colbert wedding May 18th 2024 as the subject line!

I have dietary restrictions, will that be an issue?

If you have any dietary restrictions please reach out to us at our email philandclaire2022@gmail.com so that we can be sure that you’ll be looked after on the day!

Can I bring a date?

Please check your invite for your +1!

Is it okay to take pictures with our phones and cameras during the wedding?

During the ceremony there will be a professional photographer so that you can focus on celebrating with us!

Will there be an open bar?

While an open bar would be the norm at a Canadian wedding, in Ireland this is not typical. There are a number of cash bars on site that also accept debit and credit. Do note that there will be light refreshments during our cocktail reception as well as wine served with dinner.

When is the RSVP deadline?

Please RSVP by April 5, 2024, so we can have an accurate headcount.

Contact us

We’re both available on WhatsApp for urgent matters. Claire at +14389216502 and Phil on +15142249991. For anything else you can send us an email at philandclaire2022@gmail.com. While in Ireland Claire is available on 0857062126.

FYI: If you are planning to fly on Sunday the 19th -

If you're planning to fly out right after the wedding, please be aware there are extremely limited ways to go from Birr to the airport without a car. There's a bus that runs once every 2-3 hours (unsure of schedule on Sundays) and if you have an early flight it's a big gamble. The more reliable way to get back to the airport would be to go back to Tullamore or Athlone, then take the train into Dublin and get to the airport from there.

Not to worry, there will be plenty of food served at the County Arms during the cocktail hour, dinner, and after dinner!

For drinks, please note that the County Arms is a "cash bar", but they do accept debit and credit cards as well. Wine will be served with the dinner.

If your RSVP lists one or more "guests" invited, please email us their full name(s) at philandclaire2022@gmail.com for seating and planning purposes. Thank you!