Two local winners at prestigious Weddings Online Awards 2022

Oona Herraghty from Athlone has won Stationery Designer of the Year with her wedding stationery business, the Paper Lane at the Weddings Online Awards.

Speaking about her win, Ms Herraghty said: "I was totally shocked. I was up against some really good people. I was delighted and a bit overwhelmed when my name was called out."

The stationery designer decided to rebrand her business during lockdown due to weddings being cancelled during the pandemic and had a new ecommerce website designed. "I think all that stood to me. I spent eight months on it during lockdown."

Ms Herraghty had been nominated in the online awards a number of times previously and reached the final last year.

"Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me and to all my amazing brides and grooms. I couldn’t have won it without you," said the talented designer.

The Paper Lane, formerly Splash Graphics Wedding Stationery, specialises in bespoke wedding stationery, greeting cards and personalised frames.

Athlone based singer/songwriter Colin Fahy won the Wedding Singer of the Year award.

The popular wedding singer said he was slightly surprised to win the award. "It was a very competitive group and it's great reassurance for couples that I provide that level of service."

"I didn't think I was going to win. The wedding industry is quite busy and to stand out you have to have as many accolades as possible."

Mr Fahy has been in the wedding industry for over 15 years and has performed for President Mary McAleese, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and has played in USA, Germany and all over Ireland. He has performed in such venues as INEC Killarney, Forum Waterford & the Helix in Dublin.

He specialises in Pop, Rock, Country, Dance and Swing.

The awards ceremony took place on Monday night in the Mullingar Park Hotel.