Irish eyes are smiling

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A wedding ceremony on the other side of the world, but with strong Mangawhai ties, was held between Jennifer Perry and Anthony McNamara on Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland, as that is the original home of the groom.

Jennifer will be well remembered as manager/chef at Bennetts Cafe for some time. She and Anthony, both top level chefs, have more recently been living and working on Waiheke Island.

In a move a little outside the norm the couple did their own catering featuring local produce – lamb, oysters, crab and Irish boxty (a type of potato bread) plus Jennifer made pavlova with local berries and cream.

Of course, Guinness was on tap and the bride’s father, Heads FM’s Mark Perry, supplied mead made from his Mangawhai honey.

Locals Gael McConnachy and Box Milestone were in attendance, as well as Mary Bennett, who supplied some chocolates for the event using sea salt from Mangawhai and Achill Island in some special creations.

The weather was terrible but the event had a Plan B at Gielty's Pub where the warmth of the event far outweighed the weather.

The married couple will return to New Zealand after a European honeymoon.

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