Minister for Health Simon Harris did not move far away from the health service – or the world of politics – when he got married on Friday, given that his bride, Caoimhe Wade, is a cardiac nurse and many of the wedding guests were politicians.
Fine Gael Cabinet colleagues, including his political mentor, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, along with Simon Coveney, Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys Paul Kehoe and Mary Mitchell O’Connor, came to wish the couple well.
Former taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala were amongst the guests, though Kenny's successor, Leo Varadkar, was not able to make the ceremony, but did get to the reception in Tinakilly House in Rathnew, Co Wicklow.
Damien Duff
Ex-football international Damien Duff was also a guest.
Caoimhe Wade, who cares for infants in the Children's Heart Centre at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, was driven to St Patrick's Church, Kilquade in a vintage-style Beauford.
The 29-year-old Ms Wade, from Courteencurragh, Gorey, Co Wexford, wore a white veil and white pearl-embroidered, white sequined dress and drop pearl earrings, and carried a bouquet of ivory and lilac roses.
Mr Harris wore a dark three-piece suit and bow tie and wing collar, with a large white rose button-hole. One hundred guests attended, including Mr Harris’ parents, Mary and Bart, as well as Ms Wade’s parents, Ann and Michael.
Four bridesmaids
Her sister Ruth Wade was one of four bridesmaids along with Mr Harris’s sister Gemma, Laura Kinch, and Marion O’Brien. Mr Harris’s brother, Adam, an advocate for autism, was best man. The other groomsmen were Niall Brennan, Simon Donohoe and Robert Magee.
The couple were cheered as they left the church.
Just an hour before he walked up the aisle, Mr Harris launched an independent review into voluntary organisations’ role in the public health services, led by former top EU official, Catherine Day.
The Health Services Executive congratulated the newlyweds, writing on Twitter: “Congratulations to Minister Simon Harris @SimonHarrisTD and his beautiful bride Caoimhe as they celebrate their #weddingday today.”
