They say you always remember your first love, and for Carndonagh couple Frank and Madge Hirrell this was certainly the case.
The happy couple are currently in their honeymoon period, having married just three weeks ago in the Church of the Sacred Heart - a staggering 49 years after their first date.
Speaking to the 'Journal' this week Madge recalled how she first fell f
or Frank when they worked side by side in Carndonagh almost half a century ago.
"I was 16 and he was 19 and we worked at the same place. We went out for a few months but I suppose, I was just young and things didn't work out. Frank got married to Sarah and moved away and I married John Collins and made a life for myself."
While Madge had enough to keep her mind occupied in the form of a happy marriage and her ten children - six boys and four girls - she said Frank admitted that he thought of her often while making his new life in England.
However, their paths weren't to cross again until seven years ago.
"Frank had moved back to Carndonagh with Sarah. Sadly Sarah died a few years later, and I had lost John before then. To be honest when John died I swore I would never get married again - and I never really felt the need, although I was a bit lonely at times."
However a chance reunion with Frank at a night out in Moville changed things.
"My daughter took me out for the night to see a local singer in a bar - we were sitting there when I noticed Frank across the room but I had no intention of going over to talk to him. Only then his sister in law noticed me and invited me to sit up beside them. Well, in the end I ended up beside Frank and we really hit it off.
"Even after all that time, there was still a spark there," Madge said.
The pair soon became a couple, but Madge was still quite certain she wouldn't marry again even though she was now very happy with Frank and he had become a welcome addition to their family.
"My children were delighted. They knew I had been lonely and Frank had been lonely too so they were happy to see us together.
"Frank asked me to marry him a fair few times, but I always said no. However he wore me down and eventually I just had to say yes. On the day I did he was so overcome with emotion he cried."
Madge, who said her new husband is "very good to her" donned a bridal gown designed made by her daughter Bridie Doherty of Creative Sewing, Clonmany when she walked down the aisle on October 15.
The happy couple celebrated with friends and family in the Strand Hotel afterwards and Madge said they are "very, very happy".
"I never thought it would happen to me, but it just goes to show you never know what is ahead of you."
