By Sean Moriarty

It only took 50 years of married bliss but one couple were finally able to invite one of their brothers to their wedding celebration.

50 YEARS MARRIED: Chris and Christy O'Brien (seated centre) with their family at the International Hotel on Sunday celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Front row l-r were: Denise McSweeney Chris and Christy O'Brien and their son Alan O'Brien. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Chris (nee Cronin from Aghadoe) and Christy O'Brien from Marian Terrace were married in the now disused Saint Lelia's Church in Fossa on December 9, 1972.

Chris comes from a large family; she has 10 sisters and five brothers.

The second oldest or “second in command" as she jokes herself, was 21-years-old at the time of her wedding.

Her youngest brother, Michael had yet to celebrate his first birthday so he was unable to attend the ceremony or the celebration afterwards in The Gleneagle Hotel.

“He keeps asking me who was minding him that day, I keep telling him he was home all alone,” Chris jokingly told the Killarney Advertiser.

“We made up for it, he was at our 50th celebration in the International Hotel on Sunday.”

It was a double celebration for the O’Brien clan. Not long after their marriage they were one of the first couples to take up residence at the then newly constructed Pinewood estate in town.

On Sunday last they also celebrated 50 years in their home.

Chris and Christy have one son, Alan, and he and his wife Denise recently celebrated 10 years of marriage.

“I keep telling them they have 40 more years to go,” added Chris, who will be 72 in January.

She paid tribute to the staff at the International Hotel who organised a memorable celebration for the golden couple and their extended families.