A sentimental journey for Kilcullen Byrnes

When Dubliner Carmel Murray married Thomas E Byrne of Kilcullen in University Church on St Stephen's Green Dublin, on 5 June 1945, her wedding dress was designed especially for her by a young Sybil Connolly, writes Brian Byrne. Last week, on the 80th anniversary of that wedding, three of their children celebrated in the Hunt Museum in Limerick, where the gown and distinctive headdress are part of the museum's Sybil Connolly Collection.

To mark the occasion, attended by Marella Fyffe, Dave Byrne, and Catriona Byrne, the dress was put on special display with a picture from Carmel and Tom's wedding day. 

A spokesperson for the museum said the ensemble, designed when Sybil Connolly was with Richard Alan, 'remains a timeless example of Irish craftsmanship', adding that they were delighted to put on the anniversary display as a way of thanking Carmel and her family for their generous donation to the Sybil Connolly Collection. "This piece celebrates not only one family’s history, but the important stories of the women who wore Sybil Connolly and the legacy of Sybil Connolly and Irish design," they said.

Born in Dublin in 1918, Carmel came from a musically gifted Limerick family. Her great-grandfather and grandfather were both organists and professors of music, a heritage woven into her life with elegance and tradition. Tom Byrne was a pioneering auctioneer and prominent Kilcullen businessman. The wedding breakfast took place at The Gresham Hotel, Dublin, and was followed by a honeymoon in Killiney and Killarney.

Dave Byrne described the day as a 'sentimental journey' and thanked the Hunt Museum and the director, Teresa Crowley, and her staff for making it a wonderful occasion.

Sybil Connolly, who died in 1998, was known for her innovative use of traditional Irish textiles in haute couture. Often described as 'Dublin's Dior', she achieved international repute and success and was described by former Taoiseach Jack Lynch as 'a national treasure'. Her clients included Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, the Rockefeller banking and industrial family, and the wealthy and influential Mellon family of Pittsburgh.  

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