PICTURES: Wedding bells for Laois GAA club captain and scientist

The couple who were childhood friends, were wed in St Joseph’s Church, followed with a reception in The County Arms, Birr with family and friends who travelled from as far as Australia for their big day.

Laurence, son of Maura and Joe Kenny, is captain of Mountmellick GAA hurling team, and his teammates gave the couple a traditional guard of honour.

The bride, daughter of Brenda and Marty Forde, is a biomedical scientist. She travelled to the church with her proud father in his pristine1982 Ford Fiesta.

Bridesmaids were Anna Forde, Gráinne Fitzpatrick, Emma Louise Hogan and Aileen Kenny. Groomsmen were Darren Kenny, Eoin Hogan, Redmond McEvoy and Jack Dempsey.

The couple were keen to shop local, so their stunning flowers were by Flowers by Yvonne, the cake was by Cake Away by Magda, from Portlaoise, while Brendan Brophy was videographer. Photographs by Patrick Ryan.