As a wedding photographer you get to meet some pretty amazing families. This is one. Quite a few years ago I photographed Fionnán and Shirley’s wedding down in Gougane Barra. It was one of those very special weddings and it really stands out in my memory. It was a tiny wedding, only family attended – well, family and me! So I was really delighted when Fionnán got in touch to see if I would come down to Gougane Barra to take some family portraits, this time for his parents who were celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary!

The gang were all staying in the lovely Gougane Barra hotel who made up a great picnic basket, recreating the kind of picnics the family had back in the 80’s, so loads of hang sandwiches, taytos and flasks of tea! Off we went. We walked, we climbed, had a bit of a puck about with the hurleys, enjoyed the picnic in the rain and laughed lots and lots.

After all that we headed back to the hotel were everyone got changed for the evening. We did some group shots with the beautiful St. Finbarrs oratory in the background, then inside for surprise Champagne and cake. The cake is bit of a family tradition; the baker has made cakes for every occasion for this family over the past 50 years! I made my way back to Cork, so happy to have spent the afternoon with a family who really know how to do quality time. And with a load of cake too.

Here are some photographs from the day. Thanks to all the Garveys for letting me share the day with them and the images here.

family walk Gougane Barrafamily hiking in Gougane Barra forest parkLady on rocks by the river laughing up at photographer. The photo is taken in Gougane Barra forest parkMan lies on his back meditatively on the rocks at the rivers edge at Gougane Barra forest parkcandid shot of a family group with the mother at the center laughing Husband and wife share a kiss while their grown up family sorts out the picnic in the background3 guys eating packets of tayto crisps in the rain. A typical Irish picnic scene.3 generations of the family share a laugh during a picnic in the forestMan enjoys a cup of tea while resting against his car in the Irish forestbeatuiful young Irish red head girl with her hurley3 generations of a family line up casually across a path in the midle of the Gougane Barra foret park, some of them hold their hurleysgrandfather and grandchild embrasecandid shot the captures the grandfrather sorounded by his family and laughingportrait of a young girl sorounded by vibrent green grassMum helps small daughter across the rocks in a river in Gougane BarraSmiling Irish boy looks beautiful set agains the green hillsYoung Irish lad has tenis ball and hurley in the hills of Gougane BarraView of the hills in Gougane Barra forest park3 generations in family photograph at Gougane BarraSmartly dressed couple pose at Gougane Barra celebrating 50 years of marriagestylish couple pose at Gougane Barra and share a laugh. They are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaryCouple cut into a big cake celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary

 

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