All-Ireland winning hurling captain marries love of his life, broadcaster Louise Cantillon

AS THE MOST decorated hurling captain of all time he is well used to having silverware between his palms and, this Friday, Declan Hannon added a wedding band to his left hand having wed the love of his life.

The five-time All-Ireland winning captain from Adare, County Limerick married his long-time love Louise Cantillon in Holy Trinity Abbey Church in the village.

The Limerick hurling hero secured one of the most important results of his life when the stunning Louise, from Kilcornan, County Limerick said 'I do' in front of their nearest and dearest in the county Limerick church.  

Today FM and TG4 star Louise looked resplendent in a V-neck, floor-length white gown which boasted eye-catching feather detail.

Louise paired her dress with glamorous matching long gloves. She wore her hair in a sleek up-do which was set off beautifully with a white veil. Her bridesmaids which included her sisters wore sage green dresses which also carried the feather theme.

The beaming bride posed for photos with her new husband under the splendid sunshine with temperatures reaching up to 28° as the couple greeted guests outside the church. Up to 50 onlookers including American tourists had gathered outside the church to watch the happy couple as they emerged as husband and wife.

The groom looked sharp in a black tuxedo and dark shades and posed for photos at the door of the church beside his all-conquering Limerick hurling teammates.

Among the guests are Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely along with Declan's teammates including Cian Lynch, Aaron Gillane, Graeme Mulcahy, Mike and Peter Casey, Diarmaid Byrnes and Dan and Tom Morrissey who, in keeping with the black-tie theme, wore tuxedo suits. They were accompanied by their partners who wore long evening gowns.

The players formed an arch with their hurleys in a guard of honour for their captain and his bride. 

It’s been a long and fun-filled courtship for the popular couple who first met at Insomnia, a teenage disco in Garryowen Rugby Club, when they were 15 and 16. Fast forward 15 years and the newlyweds will take to the dancefloor of the five-star Adare Manor later this Friday night for their first dance as a married couple. 

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A post shared by Louise Cantillon (@louise_cantillon)

Declan, 30, who captained Limerick to the All-Ireland hurling titles in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 (along with Cian Lynch in 2023) won his third All-Star in 2022.

He studied at Ardscoil Rís secondary school before attending Mary Immaculate College - both in Limerick city - and now works as a healthcare recruitment manager at Unijobs in Limerick city.

Louise, meanwhile, is steadily building a successful career in media. The radio and television presenter works with Today FM and TG4 and is a former columnist with the Limerick Leader. 

Louise also qualified as a teacher of Irish and PE. As a child, she attended the summer schools in Irish organised by her mother Catherine Cantillon in Kilcornan where Louise grew up. And her secondary school education at Laurel Hill Coláiste in Limerick city was all in Irish. 

In a previous interview, Louise said that the two “grew up together” and recalled when they started going out together at 18: “We knew each other for years, but the summer after our Leaving Cert, we went on a few dates. 

“We went to a concert in Newcastle West, called WestFest - it was real culchie!”

The couple who are building a house together got engaged two days after Christmas in 2021. The Adare man chose a place close to Louise’s heart - West Kerry - to ask her to be his wife.

Louise’s parents are both from Kerry and she spent many weekends in The Kingdom as a child with her three sisters.

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A post shared by Louise Cantillon (@louise_cantillon)

“We've been living together for the last four years. When you live with someone it changes everything, doesn't it? It just becomes that your whole life happens together,” said Louise, who has joined Declan at many awards ceremonies and team holidays over the years. 

Louise enjoyed her last big getaway as a single girl when she travelled to France to celebrate her hen party with her mother, sisters and her closest friends. 

The group stayed in a beautiful French house complete with pool in Val d'Orger in France. Declan, meanwhile, plumped for something a little closer to home and more traditional, with West Kerry being his stag party location.

Having made history this July being the first ever person to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup four times in-a-row, Declan was reportedly “leaving the wedding planning” to his fiancée.

“I'm quite laid back about the whole thing and I probably shouldn't be as laid back as I am, but anyway, we'll get there,” Declan mentioned in a previous interview.

“I'm very bad [at wedding planning], but it's very exciting to look forward to it and it'll come around very quickly.”