Love story comes full circle with historic Clew Bay island wedding

A LOVE story that began on the waters of Clew Bay almost three decades ago came full circle on Saturday when Petra Clarke, originally from Meath, and Mayo native Jim McNicholas exchanged their wedding vows on Collanmore Island, in the heart of Clew Bay.

As far as can be established, the ceremony is believed to be the first documented wedding ever held on one of the small islands within the inner waters of the bay.

Following local enquiries and research, no documented evidence has been identified of a wedding ceremony previously taking place on any of the smaller islands. While weddings have taken place on the larger offshore islands for generations, this ceremony is believed to mark a unique milestone in the history of Clew Bay.

For Petra and Jim, however, Collanmore Island was much more than a spectacular wedding venue - it was a return to where their story first began.

The couple first crossed paths when they were just seven years old, attending sailing activities through Mayo Sailing Club. Like many childhood encounters, neither remembers that first meeting.

Years later, when Petra travelled from Meath to attend another sailing course and Jim, who was growing up in Westport, returned to the same club, they met again as teenagers. This time was different. A friendship quickly developed into a romance, sparked by a shared love of sailing and long summer days spent on the waters of Clew Bay.

Despite the distance, the young couple travelled up and down the country to spend time together, building a relationship that would stand the test of time.

Ten years later, Jim brought Petra back to Rosmoney and asked her to marry him. She happily accepted.

Fourteen years after that proposal, surrounded by almost 90 family members and friends, they exchanged vows on nearby Collanmore Island, overlooking the bay that shaped their lives together.

Following the island ceremony, the wedding reception was held at the nearby Mayo Sailing Club, bringing the couple's story full circle, before family and friends returned to Collanmore Island for a second day of celebrations.

The ceremony was officiated by Tony McCabe, a Westport-based wedding celebrant and solemniser.

Guests travelled by boat to reach the private island, creating an unforgettable arrival and a fitting setting for a wedding so deeply connected to the bay itself.

Ciaran Collins, owner of Collanmore Island Lodge, said: "Some weddings are memorable because of the location, but this one was memorable because of the story.

“Petra and Jim returned to the very waters where they first met as children, where they met again as teenagers and where their relationship began. To see them exchange their vows on Collanmore Island, surrounded by almost 90 family members and friends who had all travelled by boat, was incredibly special.

“If this is indeed the first documented wedding on one of the small islands within the inner waters of Clew Bay, it makes an already beautiful love story even more remarkable.

“We were honoured that they chose Collanmore Island for such a special occasion, and we hope their story inspires others to discover the beauty and heritage of Mayo's islands."

The wedding not only celebrated the union of two people whose relationship began through sailing on Clew Bay, but also showcased the unique appeal of Mayo's islands as exceptional destinations for intimate celebrations. Against the backdrop of one of Ireland's most spectacular coastal landscapes, the event highlighted the rich maritime heritage, natural beauty and enduring attraction of Clew Bay.