Couple's big day to go ahead after fire at wedding venue

Louise Walsh

A bride-to-be whose wedding venue burned down earlier this week will get married on Saturday after all, thanks to the support of a local business and the ravaged hotel's owners.

Sarah Brady (35) crumpled to the ground in disbelief at work when she was told that her venue at the Glenside Hotel in Julianstown, Co. Meath had been destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon.

Fire services battled to contain the fire from spreading to the hotel and restaurant but the flames engulfed the function room, where Sarah and her partner Conor Roche were due to celebrate their marriage with their three children, family and friends.

However, within hours, their wedding was saved when The Village Hotel in Bettystown stepped in to accommodate the booking, after being approached by The Glenside's owner Karen Dunne as well as Conor's mother, who alongside other family members were frantically ringing around venues for availability.

The couple, who live in Ballsgrove in Drogheda, Co. Louth are together 12 years and finally decided to plan their wedding last year.

"We decided that if we didn't do it now, when the kids were old enough to enjoy the day and everyone was in good health, that we would probably never do it," said Sarah.

"The Glenside Hotel were offering a package that we could afford and the staff were outstanding from day one. They were always in contact, offering their support. I developed a relationship with them."

Sarah emailed the hotel last Monday, asking when suited to drop off various items for the wedding.but didn't hear back from them

"I work for Carambola who supply hot lunches to Marymount National School in Drogheda and I was chatting to a teacher in the yard when I heard my phone buzzing in my pocket.

"I glanced at it briefly and saw a message from a friend saying; 'thinking of you and Conor. So sorry about the Glenside.' I thought it was strange but then my phone started hopping with messages and calls from my family and I was afraid something had happened a relative.

"When I saw the video of the blaze, I thought someone was having a laugh but when I realised the hotel was on fire, my mind went blank. I couldn't speak. I sat on the floor and said, my wedding's gone!'

However Karen rang Sarah soon after to apologise and promise she would do everything she could to get the couple sorted for their big day.

"She had lost so much and all she was worried about was looking after me and her other clients. Not many people would be able to even think about that in the same situation.

"Conor's mam had called The Village Hotel in Bettystown but Karen had already been in contact and they had a room available.

"I was heartbroken it wasn't the Glenside but when I went out, the staff were incredible to us and went above and beyond in such a short time to arrange everything - even cherry blossoms on the tables because they discovered that I loved them.

"It was a roller-coaster of a week but it looks like we will get our dream wedding after all"