A Laois couple have celebrated a fantastic 65 years of marriage.

Paddy and Geraldine Moore from Garryhinch were married on August 16, 1960. Mrs Moore said that it was a small but lovely wedding.

"We were married in Killenard, as the church in Portarlington was under renovations at the time," Mrs Moore told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: Happy couple Paddy and Geraldine Moore made a stylish pair on their wedding day

"We had the reception in the East End, that was the place to go back in those days. It was only a small wedding but it was lovely. You couldn't afford a big wedding back in those days, you could build two houses with the money you would spend now," she laughed.

At 88 and 84 years of age, Mr and Mrs Moore are still as madly in love as they were when they first fell for each other.

"We are so blessed to have our health and still live at home together. I have said it all along and I'm saying it now; I know that Paddy was sent from heaven for me," she said.

"We went to school together and it wasn't until later that we hooked up. He lived about a mile up the road from us here, which was helpful," Mrs Moore joked.

Married at 17 and 21, the couple now in their 80's have eight children, 22 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

"We love our family dearly, I love every one of my grandchildren and great grandchildren to bits," she said.

Pictured: The happy couple, Mr and Mrs Moore, celebrate a fantastic milestone this weekend

The family sent their children all to Cloneyhurke NS, and they now live far and wide. 

"We have one daughter and son-in-law in Dubai, and our eldest is in San Antonio, Texas," Mrs Moore explained.

"Luckily they all came home to mark the anniversary with us. We didn't have a party, and we warned them that we wanted no presents," she laughed.

"We all gathered here at home and sat out in the garden, we were lucky to have the weather."

We asked Mrs Moore the big question: what is the secret to a long and happy marriage?

"We never go to bed during an argument... we stay up and fight it out," Mrs Moore joked.

"The secret is to laugh together," she shared.

"Here's an example- Paddy is very tall, and I'm very short. I came dashing into the kitchen one morning and stumbled over his legs. I told him that the next time I get married, it'll be in a bigger kitchen with a smaller husband. All we could do was laugh," she said.

"In seriousness- if we have an argument, as couples often do, I crack a joke that softens it. We might be in the middle of a row and I'll say something funny to make him laugh, he'd have to turn around to hide that he was laughing," Mrs Moore said.

Mr and Mrs Moore would like to thank everyone who has wished them well on their anniversary.

Congratulations to the gorgeous couple on a long and happy marriage!

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