Aoife O’Sullivan describes her wedding to Colm Spillane at Mount Juliet
- Former Miss Ireland and model Aoife O’Sullivan detailed her June 21, 2024 wedding to husband Colm Spillane in County Kilkenny, recounting a celebration that brought 220 guests to...
- O’Sullivan writes that she is from Ballinadee in West Cork and Spillane is from Castle Lyons near Fermoy, but the couple chose County Kilkenny for their nuptials after...
- The guest list totaled 220 attendees, which O'Sullivan describes as the maximum capacity of the venue.
Former Miss Ireland and model Aoife O’Sullivan detailed her June 21, 2024 wedding to husband Colm Spillane in County Kilkenny, recounting a celebration that brought 220 guests to the Mount Juliet Estate.
Couple Chooses Mount Juliet Estate for Kilkenny Wedding
O’Sullivan writes that she is from Ballinadee in West Cork and Spillane is from Castle Lyons near Fermoy, but the couple chose County Kilkenny for their nuptials after falling in love with the Mount Juliet Estate. The ceremony took place on June 21, 2024, at St Colmcille’s Church in the village of Inistioge, a location O’Sullivan notes was used to film the movie Circle of Friends.
The guest list totaled 220 attendees, which O’Sullivan describes as the maximum capacity of the venue. She attributes the large count partly to her own large family—noting her father is one of 10 siblings—and to Spillane’s background playing Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) sports with multiple teams.
The Wedding Dress and Planning Process
O’Sullivan planned the entire event herself using platforms like Pinterest. Having modeled bridal wear since age 19 and worked with White and Gold boutique in Kinsale, she estimated she had tried on hundreds of dresses before shopping there with her mother and a friend.
She selected a Bardot-style fitted dress featuring a removable skirt. The design allowed for a dramatic train while walking up the church aisle, which she removed later to wear a fitted silhouette for the evening reception.
Rain Falls on Wedding Day as O’Sullivan Reflects
Although the day before and the day after the wedding brought hot sunshine, rain poured continuously on June 21, 2024. O’Sullivan states that she felt no stress regarding the weather because the interior of Mount Juliet Estate offered an ideal setting for photographs regardless of outside conditions.
She recalls watching the rain begin through a window on the morning of the ceremony while taking a quiet moment to herself before the scheduled events. She writes that her primary feeling in that moment was gratitude simply to be marrying Spillane in the presence of her family.
Live Music Features Opera Singer and Jazz Musician
Music played a central role in the celebration, reflecting O’Sullivan’s personal interest in playing the guitar. The couple booked the Swing Cats as their wedding band, while male opera singer Glen Murphy performed during the church ceremony.
For the second day of celebrations, O’Sullivan booked an artist named Neolithic, whom she had discovered playing in a small tent at Electric Picnic the previous summer. The drinks reception took place in The Manor House at Mount Juliet, accompanied by a live jazz musician.
First Dance and Late-Night Celebrations
Following dinner and speeches, the couple shared their first dance to Until I Found You
by Stephen Sanchez, a track frequently played around the time of their engagement. O’Sullivan describes the wedding band as phenomenal for keeping a mixed-age crowd dancing until the early hours.
The evening concluded with informal sing-songs in the bar area featuring tracks by Cher and selections from High School Musical, with celebrations lasting until approximately 4:00 AM. Among her standout memories, O’Sullivan highlights the slow-motion feeling of entering the dining room and seeing all her loved ones gathered together.