Facts

Facts about the fairytale wedding.

Wedding of: Shane Steven Filan and Gillian Rose Walsh
Date: 28th December 2003
Where: Ballintubber Abbey, Co. Mayo (ceremony), Ashford Castle (reception)
Proposal: December 2002, beach in Dubai
Priests: Fr. Frank Fahey, Fr. Dominick Gillooly
Groomsmen: Finbarr Filan (Best Man), Mark Feehily, Kian Egan (bandmates), Brian Heraghty and Keith Moran (Shane's best mates)
Bridemaids: Joanna Walsh (Chief bridesmaid), Helena Heraghty, Muireann Eakins, Fiona Keogh and Nicola Callaghan (Gillian's best friends)
Flower girl: Kianna Egan (Gillian's niece)
Pageboy: Stephen Ryan (Shane's nephew)
Altar server: Riadh Egan
Readers: Dessie Sweeney and Yvonne Filan
Prayers of the Faithful: Nicky Byrne, Brian McFadden, Mairead Filan, Blathnaid Eakins, Killian Filan and Denise Filan
Honeymoon destination: Hawaii

Amongst the 450 guests were:
- Shane's parents Peter and Mae Filan
- Shane's brothers Peter, Finbarr and Liam, all with family
- Shane's sisters Denise, Yvonne, Mairead, al with family
- Shane's nephew Killian Egan
- Shanes nephew Stephen Ryan
- Gillian's parents Michael and Rosaleen Walsh
- Gillian's sister Joanna
- Gillian's brothers Emmett and Michael
- Shane's bandmates, Brian McFadden with wife Kerry, Nicky Byrne with wife Georgina, Kian Egan with girlfriend Jodi Albert and Mark Feehily
- Westlife's manager Louis Walsh
- Shane's friend and ex-manager Ronan Keating, with wife Yvonne
- The Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, with wife Miriam and daughter Cecilia, with her boyfriend David
- Shane's mates Keith Moran and Brian Heraghty
- Irish goalie Shay Given
- Shane's neighbours
- Gillian's neighbours
- Denis and Caroline Desmond
- Sandra Gillen
- Sligo band The Convey Sisters
- Dublin band The Hits Collection
- The local DJ Scruffy Duffy

Music:
- Sandra Gillen from Rathedmond
- Sligo band The Convey Sisters (Irish version of Silent Night)
- Dublin band The Hits Collection
- The local DJ Scruffy Duffy

Did you know that...?
- Shane celebrated his stag night, by going to a Chelsea Vs Manchester United match? That included a VIP-box, a four-course lunch and champagne.
- Gillian arrived 23 minutes later at the church, at 2.23 PM
- Four silver BMWs carried the bride's five bridesmaids
- Joanna Walsh (Gillians sister) designed Gillians wedding jewellery
- Joanna wore a strapless embroidered white dress and veil
- Afterwards, they departed in the back of a 7-series BMW with a number plate bearing the names 'Shane and Gillian'
- Guests, ensconced in gold coloured seating
- Were presenter with a luxurious 5-course meal, which started with meuille feuille of chicken and mushrooms, followed by cream of roasted vegetables soup with herb croutons and freshly baked bread, next up was a fillet of beef with roasted shallots on truffle oil with a red wine and rosemary jus. As dessert there was a selection of classics and home-made chocolates iced with Shane and Gillian's initials.
- At the top table sat the beaming bride and groom, beside which stood a five-foot high ice sculpture of two love hearts on a stand bedecked with roses, also set in ice, with "Shane and Gillian" emblazoned across.
- Most of the guests travelled to Ashford Castle by coach
- Shane's brother and bestman Finbarr; their father, Peter; proud father of the bride Michael Walsh and Shane himself all held speeches
- Shane serenaded his wife, with the chorus of "Amazed" by Lonestar
- There was a laser and fireworks show during the reception
- The wedding cake was a 2 yards long, caramel and chocolate cake, comprised of miniature replicas of the bride and groom and their top table guests
- Each of the guests was presented with a personalised CD of Christmas songs entitled "Shane and Gillian's Wedding Day." This included 'Santa Baby' and 'Let It Snow'.
- Each table was named after a famous Christmas song.
- Asked the guests to make donations for the North West Hospice in Sligo?
- After the ceremony the pair lit one single candle as a sign of their unity?
- That they raised 10,000 euros for the hospice?
- The car Shane arrived in, was actually Louis Walsh's Bentley?
- He walked up the aisle with his mum & dad, followed by groomsmen and bandmates Mark Feehily & Kian Egan
- They offered all the media wedding umbrellas and hot drinks?
- Shane refused any magazine deals, but he did take requests from relatives, to take photos with him
- There were 2000 candles lighting up the abbey during the ceremony?
- Gillian's hair for the big day was styled by a Ballinrobe connection, Harriet Costello, of Sean Costello Hair Design?
- Gillian's dress was an off-white dress consisting of a sweetheart bodice and full length taffeta skirt. And a simple veil hung from the back of her head.
- Or that Karen Duffy from Alter Ego Hair Salon of Westport took care of the hairstyles of some of the female members of the Filan family?
- Shane got his new wife a diamond Franck Muller watch from Paul Sheeran jewellers in Dublin? He hid that under her pillow the night before the wedding.
- The reception lasted until 6am the next morning?
- A Michael Jackson medley was played, to which Shane showed the guests some of his Jacko moves, like the famous moonwalk and some spinning. - When Gillian arrived by Shane's side, at the altar, he whispered "You look amazing".

Shane's speech
"Thanks very much lads for the past five years-five amazing years
It's one of the main reasons I can pay for this today *crowd laughs*
We'll have to do another few albums yet to sort that out.
I wanted to say thank you very much, it's been an unbelievable five years.
It's been a dream and has been a dream life that we always wanted - the five of us. So we haven't done too badly.
And Louis hopefully we'll get them 20 number ones for you as well, we are not too far away, so you never know, but here's to another five anyways! *crowd applauds*
Now, I come to this lovely lady on my left - my wife *crowd cheers*
Gillian, what can I say? We've been going out for six years now and I've loved you for seven, that first year I practically failed my leaving cert *crowd laughs*.
Not to worry about it, Gillian you look like a true princess today, seeing you coming down that aisle was the most amazing moment of my life and putting that ring on your finger *becomes tearful and pauses*..... I can't describe a love like that, I wasn't going to do this.. but it was something I've always wanted to do - I just love you so much...
*He sings amazed by Lonestar*
Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

Shane's story about the day
"I always knew my wedding day would be special but I never expected it to be so magical and full of love and emotion.
Gillian kept me waiting a while at the altar but that added to the excitement and the traditional style of the service.
She had told me she would arrive 15 minutes late but, in the end, she was actually 25 minutes. Those extra 10 minutes were full of nerves,excitement and magic. I was actually glad she was a bit late because it built the excitement, just like you see at all the best weddings.
I knew she had arrived when I heard the screams from the fans outside. But I didn't want to look around until she was stood beside me.
After I heard the abbey doors opening, I could see the expression of delight on the people's faces in front of me as she walked down the aisle.
I knew because of that she must have been looking incredible.
At the very last minute, when she was right beside me, by brother and best man Finbarr gave me a nudge in the side. When I turned around there was the love of my life looking like a million dollars.
I had no idea what the dress was going to be like and I didnt even know she was going to wear a veil.
Thankfully I had seen enough romantic movies to know what to do, lift the veil and give her a kiss on the cheek.
The abbey was the finest church I ever been inside in all my life, There were 2,000 candles lit in total which made it look so magical.
Fr. Dominic Gilhooley spoke so well throughout the mass, I wanted to thank him especially. He was so kind with his words to us, so cool and calm throughout the service. It put both Gillian and I at ease.
The moment when we exchanged rings was the most amazing experience of my life. I started to cry and got very emotional. It was the moment I had been waiting for all my life and I couldn't take it all in. The feeling of love I had for Gillian at that moment was indescribable The minute we got married, we said "Oh my God, we're married." We keep saying things to each other like "You are my wife " and she would whisper back "You are my husband". We will always be like kids with each other till the day we die.
I got a special wedding gift for Gillian which I arranged to have hidden under her pillow the night before the wedding.
I bought her a diamond Franck Muller watch from Paul Sheeran jewellers in Dublin. Initially we had arranaged to have the watch for the day but I knew it would be a great surprise for Gillian if it was her watch for ever.
When we got out of the abbey the fans were everywhere. I can honestly say the day would not have been as good for me without all the fans there and I felt honoured they all turned up.
The reception was incredible. The fireworks display was unbelievable. I expected it to last three or four minutes and it went on for 20. It was like something you'd see in Disney World.
I want to especially thank Joanne Byrne from Presence PR. She did a stunning job. It was the first wedding she had panned and she made all our dreams come true. We gave her the ideas but she made them happen, and more.
My brother and best man Finbarr was also incredible. I want to thank him because he was there beside me every second of the way and kept everything under control.
And our wedding DJ Terry Duffy kept everyone dancing until 6am, he was a legend and I've been a big fan of his for a year now since Gillian introduced me to him. Paul from Corporate Solutions looked after the lighting for us, which was one hell of a job and he should be thanked too.
We still can't believe it has happened, we woke up in each other's arms yesterday saying, "Was that really real?""

Gillian's story about the day
"Although I may have kept Shane waiting for a while I actually managed to leave right on time-at 2pm.
But on the way down to the abbey we encountered some traffic so I had to keep him waiting a little longer. The nerves were running rampantly through my stomach as I waited to arrive at the church on the horse-drawn carriage.
As I walked through the doors I suddenly saw Shane's back. He was dressed in his white jacket and I instantly felt calm and couldn't wait to get down to the altar to see him. It was the best feeling of my life.
The church looked like a dream, like something out of a fairytale. We knew it was going to be covered in candles and ivy but none of us could imagine how stunning it would look on the big day. It was truly breathtaking.
When we left the abbey and were driven towards Ashford Castle in Louis Walsh's Bentley there were amazing scenes. All the locals in the surrounding villages lined the streets and it bonfires in their gardens for us. It was a magical moment. They were cheering and waving at us. The fans deserved to see the big day and we are so grateful for their support.
When we got to Ashford Castle it looked amazing. Shane and I had a room in the tower which was done up with candles, flowers and filled with wedding gifts. We went up to the room for a while before the reception started and one of the first things that caught our eye was a gift from Mark Feehily, It was a huge crate full of countless bottles of Kristal champagne. We couln't believe it.
My bridesmaid got us the most gorgeous gift ever, two crystal engraved champagne glasses which were specially brought over from Australia - they were gorgeous.
We can't thank Ashford Castle enough for what they did for us, especially Monica, who made sure we were treated like royalty. We have never been treated so well. I also want to thank Fiona Todhunter who did a fantastic job with the bridesmaid dresses.
My sister Joanna made all the jewellery for the bridal party. She was also chief bridesmaid she had so much to do and was really incredible.
I, like Shane want to thank Joanne Byrne who made sure the day was a dream come true. She planned and prepared everything and we will be forever grateful to her.
When we finally left the reception at 4.30am we spent half and hour just sitting in our room talking about what an amazing day it had been.
We are the happiest couple alive."

Rings
Shane Gillian Gillian

Wedding gift

Some quotes about the wedding
- Georgina and Gillian you both got married in the last year, what is the one thing you remember about your wedding day?
Gillian: "For me it was right after the priest said 'I now pronounce you man and wife' and we kissed, Shane just burst into tears, and that got me crying, so then the whole church started crying!"
- Shane: "I've always liked the idea of a winter wedding. I think theres something really romantic about it and so does Gillian but we havent made final decisions yet."
- Shane: "Gillian felt like a princess and looked like one too."
- Shane: "The moment when we exchanged rings was the most amazing experience of my life. I started to cry and got very emotional. It was the moment I had been waiting for all my life and I couldn't take it all in. The feeling of love I had for Gillian at that moment was indescribable."
- Shane, to Gillian, during his reception speech: "I just wanted to say that you look like a princess today, seeing you coming down that aisle was the most amazing moment in my life and putting that ring on your finger - I cant describe a love like that."
- Shane: "Anyone who wants a picture can have one. I will only get married once and we want to make it a special day."

Back