Wedding Memories at the West Cork Hotel

In the midst of this pandemic we have been sharing some positive posts to remind us all of better times! Our Hotel in West Cork has been established since 1902 & has been the West Cork wedding venue of choice for 100's of happy couples over the years. Over the last few weeks we have been uploading pictures of happy couples who have celebrated their wedding with us over the years. We would love it if you could send us a picture of your special day with your names, the date & a happy or funny memory of your special day with us! Check out our Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/WestCorkHotel/

To top off these special memories Mr John Murphy Senior reflected on his memories of Wedding Breakfasts back in the early days of the hotel...

"Wedding Mass took place around 9am in the morning & they came into the hotel afterwards for their wedding breakfast, nothing fancy like today's show, just a basic Bacon, Egg & Sausage a few words & maybe a toast & they were gone on their way by lunchtime. As time went on weddings came to a more normal time of 10am or 11am & a more of a lunch style meal was served"
We additionally spoke to Kathleen O'Sullivan (Holland) who spoke of her own wedding memories..."We were married at 10am in Caheragh Church & into the hotel by 1pm. The wedding menu was a set meal consisting of the following...

Grapefruit
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Chicken & Ham (hand carved by Mr Murphy)
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Trifle
Pineapple Souffle (the most amazing souffle made by Mrs Murphy)
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Strawberries & Ice-cream
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The band came on afterwards & at around 6pm "the plug" would be pulled on the music & all guests were out of the hotel by 7pm. "

I also asked Kathleen about the bottle of champagne & whiskey on the cake table in those times. She told me they were a tradition at the time & only for show (although the odd 1 or 2 did chance opening them!)
The cake stand you will have seen featured in a lot of the pictures over the years is part of the history of the hotel & has been used time & time again with over 50 years, maybe even longer & is still in use today! 
Afterwards then they enjoyed their honeymoon in Ireland, usually with a trip to Ring of Kerry or somewhere not too far away.