The celebration was ‘absolutely fantastic’
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE secret to a long-lasting marriage is “hard work – everyone has to pull their weight”, according to Tymon North woman Kathleen Dempsey, who celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary in The Penny Black in Castletymon on Saturday, July 30, with her husband Tommy and their family.
Kathleen (85) met her future husband when her older brother set up a cycling club with Tommy (88), who was an accomplished cyclist.
Kathleen and Tommy signing the register 65 years ago (left), Tommy and Kathleen Dempsey about to cut the cake (right)
They encouraged Kathleen to take part in the club and a relationship between Kathleen and Tommy blossomed.
Kathleen and Tommy had emigrated to Canada when they got married in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Toronto on August 1, 1953, when Kathleen was 19 years old and Tommy was 23.
The parents of five spent five years in Canada before returning to Ireland, and their family has since grown to include 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Kathleen, who is a dressmaker, told The Echo: “I’ll tell you what – being married for 65 years is hard work, everyone has to pull their weight!”
She added: “The celebration was fabulous, it was absolutely fantastic, and we got a good crowd.”
On the night of the celebration, there was a balloon with Kathleen and Tommy’s wedding picture on it.
When asked what it was like for her and Tommy to look back on their wedding picture 65 years later, Kathleen said: “It’s hard to believe that we’re still the same people – the hair’s a different colour and the weight’s slightly different too!”
