CONGRATULATIONS to County Clare huntsman Declan Moran and whipper-in Gillian Byrnes, who tied the knot recently.

Their wedding celebrations had a definite hunting theme, with the intimate family ceremony taking place in Quilty Church, followed by a reception at the Red Cliff Lodge in Spanish Point, which is run by Brid and John O’Meara.

A keen hunting man, O’Meara hails from Duhallow country, his brothers are heavily involved in Duhallow hunt, while their photographer, Meath woman Alison Murphy, rode a winner at Clare point-to-point earlier this year.

The happy couple jetted out to the United States on honeymoon shortly after the wedding, but not before Gillian had a rather painful altercation with one of the County Clare hounds.

The hound, who shall remain nameless, gave the beautiful bride a broken nose as a parting gift!