Couple mark 60th wedding anniversary with vow renewal ceremony at care centre

BRID and Vincent Kelly, a couple who navigate life with dementia, marked their 60th wedding anniversary with a special vow renewal ceremony at the ASI’s Curlew Road Day Care Centre in Drimnagh on Friday, September 15.

The event – which honoured the past while embracing the present – took place ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21 to raise funds for the centre.

Brid has attended Curlew Road for several years, and the centre has greatly supported the couple throughout their journey with dementia.

The ceremony paid tribute to their original wedding day, which took place in Rathfarnham Church in Dublin on September 16, 1963.

Brid’s wedding bouquet was replicated, and the couple drove to the church in Rathfarnham before the vow renewal ceremony at Curlew Road.

To add extra nostalgia, the couple’s first wedding dance song, “Kiss Me Quick” by Brendan Bowyer, which happened to be Ireland’s top song in September 1963, was played at their reception in Curlew Road.

Brid, originally from Monaghan, and Vincent, from Dublin, met in the winter of 1960 through Vincent’s younger sister; Vincent says Brid’s blue eyes and smile stood out “above everything else.”

After a few more chance encounters, Vincent asked Brid out later the following year, and the rest, he says, is “history.”

The couple went on to have five children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Family joined the vow renewal ceremony, which included a best man, bridesmaids, flower girls and a page boy.

Vincent believes the key to a long marriage is ‘talking and listening.’

Rather than wedding gifts, he encourages well-wishers to donate to the ASI’s Curlew Road Day Care Centre in Dublin, which has made a significant difference in their lives.

“Brid enjoys being at the Centre; she loves the music and learning new songs”, he said.

“Everyone I have come into contact with at The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is exceptional, and we want to give back to Curlew Road Daycare Centre for all the support they have given us,” Vincent said.

The ASI Manager for Curlew Road Day Care, Noel Quilantang, and his team worked hard to ensure the event was special for the Kelly family and friends and service users who were also in attendance. It was a community effort, with local businesses also generously lending their support.

Noel, who has also taken on the wedding coordinator and florist role, says the centre strives to create ‘meaningful experiences’ for service users and their families.

“This wedding celebration is not just about reliving cherished memories; it’s a chance for the Kelly family to make new ones”, Noel said.

“We want to create a day that will remain in Brid and Vincent’s hearts. Having Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia doesn’t mean you can’t experience new things; you can still find joy and togetherness by being in the present,” he said.

“Despite the challenges posed by Brid’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, their commitment to one another remains unshakable.

“They’re a lovely couple, and we are so grateful they are marking this milestone by helping to raise funds for Curlew Road Daycare Centre, from which our service users will greatly benefit.

“The event promises to be a great day for their friends and our service users – maybe even the wedding of the year!”

For more information or to contribute to Brid and Vincent’s vow renewal ceremony fundraising efforts, please visit HERE.

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