Castlecomer couple renew marriage vows after 50 years
AFTER fifty years of marriage, there is still a chemistry that sparkles gently between John and Margaret McDonald who renewed their marriage vows in front of their family and friends at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Castlecomer last Saturday.
Speaking to the couple in their sitting room in Church Avenue, it is clear that this couple share a love and affection that has remained strong over the passing years.
Margaret remembers how the couple first met. "They had house dances in Aughaucky and I met him up there. John's mother was friends with Breda Mullett and she asked us to go along to the dance and we did and I met John and he asked me out. I was around 21 at the time and John was 25. We went out for around six years and got married on August 17, 1960.
"I remember we went down to Waterford on honeymoon for a week and when we came back we moved out to Coolbawn where we stayed for three years before moving into Church Avenue," Margaret said. The couple had five children: Eddie, Aidan, Sean, Caitrina and Gerard (who died tragically in 1997).
The couple worked hard with Margaret rearing her children and John working in the mines, on the farm in Wandesforth and most recently as a storeman in SuperValu.
"We went through tough times and good times but we weathered them," said Margaret. The couple speak about their cherished son, Gerard and remember a beautiful young man who was taken from them at such a tender age.
Secret
When asked what is the secret to such a happy, strong and successful partnership John smiles with a twinkle in his eye and tells me that "no one is the boss".
"There is no secret to it really - you get hard knocks sometimes, but you work together and get through them," said Margaret. "You have to have a bit of a laugh and enjoy each other and not take the small things too seriously. It's about taking one day at a time," added John.
The couple renewed their wedding vows on Saturday in front of Monsignor Michael Ryan and afterwards were joined by around 60 family and friends, including their four surviving children and nine grandchildren.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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