SHE MADE SURE I WOULD NEVER FORGET OUR ANNIVERSARY!
Ahead of Valentine’s weekend, we caught up with Pat & Carmel Crowley! Not only are they members of our Metropole Hotel Wedding Club, but Pat is Metropole Hotel Staff Alumni, having worked at the hotel’s bar aged just 14 year’s old (there were different laws back then!). Our Wedding Club coordinator Gavin Farmer caught up with Carmel and Pat to find out the secret of what makes a happy marriage. Read on…
How long are you married?
Carmel: 45 Years! We got married when we were 20/21.
What is the secret to a happy marriage?
Pat: Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Take the good with the bad and just be prepared to keep working on the marriage. Love and trust is very important.
Where did you meet?
Carmel: We met in a small dance hall in Blackrock Village on a Sunday night back in 1973. It was Pat’s friend who knew my sister and introduced Pat to me. We were both in our teens at the time.
Pat: I walked Carmel home from Blackrock to Ballinlough that night and the rest is history!
Carmel: Pat was from Douglas and I’m from Ballinlough.
When were you married?
14th February 1976
Why did you choose the Metropole Hotel?
Pat: I worked in the Metropole Hotel when I was 14 behind the bar. I got the job as my father knew the bar manager at the time. The Metropole Hotel was THE place with big names staying in the hotel. It was a popular hotel and knowing members of the staff also made it more comfortable. Carmel the romantic that she chose the date 14th February for the day to get married. It is also a romantic date Valentine’s Day so she made sure I would never forget our Anniversary.
Carmel: We had 70/80 people at our wedding reception, but we got to meet every single person who attended so there was no stress or pressure getting around to meet everyone.
Best memory from your wedding day?
Carmel: The Wedding Day itself ran smoothly. We left in the evening as we had a flight to London at 8pm for our honeymoon. My mother’s best friend broke her hand on the dance floor
Pat: And a neighbour of ours crashed on their way home from the Wedding!
If you could give one tip to couples just starting out in their relationship?
Pat: Get to know each other.
Pat & Carmel also featured on the Neil Prendeville Show on Red Fm this week. Listen back HERE.
What is The Metropole Wedding Club?
For over 120 years, we have celebrated weddings at The Metropole Hotel, Cork. When you celebrate your marriage or wedding day at The Metropole Hotel, we welcome you as part of our extended family to the Metropole Wedding Club. Through the years, we continue to celebrate special occasions with you, watching you and your family grow and flourish. All Wedding Club members are presented with their exclusive lifetime Platinum Card after their wedding day which entitles them to exclusive offers and discounts on family celebrations, food, accommodation, leisure centre membership and lots more.
Planning a Missed Occasion Celebration?
We might be in lockdown now, but there’s no reason why you can’t plan a dinner or event for an anniversary, special birthday or other milestone and celebrate in style with friends and family later this year! Our Event Coordinator Janice is on hand to arrange private events for you and your family in our historic private dining rooms, or even in our bar and restaurant.