GAA rivalries were briefly put to one side last Saturday as Donegal tied the knot with Fermanagh.
But Elaine Diver and her husband Maurice Cassidy have only had one week of happy married life before their first martial row at tomorrow’s Ulster Final.
The couple wed last weekend at St Cartha’s Church in Elaine’s home village of Kilcar followed by a reception in the nearby Blue Haven Hotel where they happily posed with Elaine’s own half and half GAA jersey backing both neighbouring counties.
“It was a very controversial wedding just a week before the Ulster Final,” Elaine told the Herald during the week.
Elaine is Club Secretary at Coa O Dwyers where Maurice is Senior Player. She first moved to Fermanagh eight years ago to teach at St Comhghall’s (now St Kevin’s) College, Lisnaskea and South West College. In 2013, Elaine and a friend went on holiday to New Zealand and that’s where she first set eyes on Maurice.
“When I first met him I was wearing a Fermanagh jersey and that is what drew him over to talk to me,” Elaine told the Herald.
“His family also have a holiday home in Kilcar about one mile from my home house so there was a good Fermanagh/Donegal connection from the get go.
“That is where it all took off from. He came back to Fermanagh from New Zealand in May 2014 and I’ve been stuck with him ever since for better or for worse!”
The couple enjoyed a few days of a mini-moon at Lough Eske Castle outside Donegal Town earlier this week before Elaine returns to work today (Wednesday) to finish the school term. They are planning a honeymoon in Australia in July but before that there’s another big date on the calendar – Sunday match at Clones.
“We’ll both be there on Sunday and I really hope that Fermanagh win although we all know that Donegal will hammer them. I was delighted that they got through to the Final – it was my birthday on the semi-final day with Monaghan on June 3rd and it was the best present ever,” Elaine added.
Whatever happens on tomorrow this was an early Donegal and Fermanagh match up where both Elaine and Maurice are the worthy winners.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere