saoirse-monica jackson + hector barbour’s iconic dromquinna Manor wedding
REAL WEDDING FEATURE
When Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson married DJ Denis Sulta (Hector Barbour) in the sweeping beauty of County Kerry, the couple set out to create a wedding that was as much a celebration of heritage and family as it was of love. What unfolded over three unforgettable days at Dromquinna Manor was a story layered with symbolism, music, and unrestrained joy.
A Dress with a Story
Fashion took centre stage from the beginning. Saoirse collaborated with Annie Doble of Annie’s Ibiza on a bespoke gown that carried layers of meaning. The design combined a corseted bodice and dramatic puff sleeves with Celtic brooches inspired by her mother’s own wedding dress. Inside the corset lay a secret: a reversible tartan lining, paying tribute to Hector’s Scottish roots. The gown later transformed into a shorter silhouette, revealing her legs and injecting playful energy just as the dancefloor came alive - a surprise that even Hector didn’t see coming.
Her bridesmaids echoed the drama in emerald silk Rat & Boa gowns, offset by bespoke jewellery created by Irish designer Eily O’Connell, while Saoirse gifted each of them custom pieces from Fada. Her beauty brief was “Celtic warrior princess,” brought to life with extensions crafted into regal, pagan-inspired waves by Tim Havern and a glowing, understated makeup look by Robyn Wheeler.
Hector honoured his own family heritage in a Hebridean MacKenzie tartan kilt by MacGregor and MacDuff, paired with a custom Montrose doublet, his father’s sporran, and a treasured family brooch.
A Ceremony Rooted in Heritage
The couple first met during the pandemic on a walk through Broadway Market in London, sharing life stories over drinks and street food. A few years later, Hector proposed on a Donegal beach, both of them in Dryrobes and Crocs with dolphins and a sea lion making an appearance. The proposal was written out word for word, a detail Saoirse treasures: “As anyone who’s been proposed to will tell you, you sort of black out in the moment. I’m so glad I’ll always have those words.”
It made sense, then, to bring their marriage back to Ireland. “We wanted both of our cultures and our families and friends to be at the centre of it,” Saoirse explained. The ceremony was set to Dreams by The Cranberries, performed by Biird — a nod to her hometown of Derry and the Derry Girls theme song. Their celebrant, Billy Mag, an Irish folk storyteller and teacher, brought a sense of timelessness to the vows, before the newlyweds walked out beneath a haze of purple smoke to Talking Heads’ Once in a Lifetime.
A Celebration in Full
From there, the day unfolded into something that felt part fairytale, part music festival. A drinks reception dubbed “The Lovers Club” featured a playful Beatles poster reimagined with the couple’s faces. Dinner and speeches gave way to a series of surprises: Saoirse’s father appeared in a Darth Vader costume, a nod to Hector being registered as a Jedi at birth, while a singer dressed as Elphaba from Wicked delivered a showstopping Defying Gravity. Later, a conga line — led by their friend Jimi the Kween — wound its way to the cake before guests danced late into the night to performances by Superfly and a DJ set from Steven Simpson.
Three Days of Joy
Under the expert guidance of planner Tara Fay, the celebrations began on Friday with woodfired pizzas and champagne before the bride and groom spent the night apart in keeping with tradition. The following morning, matching silk pyjamas set the tone for a bridal party that felt like a 1950s film scene, as music played and champagne flowed. After the wedding day itself, festivities carried on with a breakfast BBQ, mimosas, and more storytelling before buses took guests to a local pub to continue the party. As Saoirse describes it, “Everybody said the whole weekend was like something from a movie, and it really was. I want to do it again.”
CREATIVE TEAM
Planning: Tara Fay Events @tarafayevents
Photographer: Story of Eve @storyofeve
Video: Muse of Marquise @museofmarquise
Stylist: Katie Bryce @kkittybb
Florist: The Garden @shopthegarden
Venue: Dromquinna Manor @dromquinnamanorofficial/
Hair: Timothy David @bytimothydavid
Makeup: Robyn Wheeler @m_robyn_w
Male Grooming: @hausofchrismetamorph
Ceremony Music: Biird @biirdofficial & @lisacanny
Pre-dinner Drinks Reception Music: Biird @biirdofficial & @lisacanny
Band: Superfly Covers @superflyeventband
DJ: Steven Simpson @dateline_music
Lighting: Gorilla Design @gorilla_design_ltd
Wedding Cake: Broken Spoon Cakes @brokenspooncakes
Favors: Muff Liquor Co @muffliquorco
Groom's Suit: MacGregor MacDuff @macgregorandmacduff
Drinks Reception Drinks: Guinness @guinness_ireland
Entertainment: Jimi The Kween @jimithekween
DAY ONE LOOKS
Dress @veronabridalni
Shoes @christianlouboutin
Earrings @mrselfportrait
Bag @itsrooper
WEDDING DAY LOOKS
Bridal Party Pyjamas @daily_sleeper
Brides underwear @saintedsisters
Brides morning jewellery @lovenesslee
Bridesmaids Dresses @ratandboa
Bridesmaids Jewellery @fadathelabel_
Bridal Dress & Veil @anniesibiza
Brides wedding jewellery @eilyoconnelljewellery
Kneehigh boots @nakedwolfe
Mother of Groom Dress @joyceyoungcollections
DAY THREE LOOKS
Tracksuit & Trainers custom @weegirl_
Suit @sandyliang
Shoes @charlesandkeithofficial
Jewellery @missomalondon
Bag @cliopeppiatt
