Groom sings his heart out as his beautiful bride walks up the aisle

Most husbands-to-be wait in nervous silence at the altar. Not so Niall Donnelly from Omagh. Warning - tissues at the ready for this one.

Groom sings his heart out as his beautiful bride walks up the aisle

We're hard-hearted cynics at the best of times - and not the biggest fans of Ronan Keating, truth be told - but this wedding video had even us dabbing at our eyes.

The clip shows Niall Donnelly from Omagh waiting at the altar as his beautiful bride-to-be Jill walks up the aisle - and singing from the bottom of his heart a touching rendition of Ronan Keating's 'This I Promise You'.

And as Jill joins Niall to say their vows, he moves into fifth gear for the last verse and there's not a dry eye in the house, least of all from the couple themselves.

Watch.

Watch and bawl.

Shot in Drumragh Chapel, Omagh back in 2010, the video has garnered over 200,000 views on YouTube since being uploaded in May 2011. It has enjoyed a new lease of life on Facebook this week - presumably through being shared and shared by couples about to embark on their own nuptials.

Of course, it comes as no surprise to learn that Niall - along with his lovely co-singer and sister Bronagh Hackett - is a professional musician and wedding singer, with 15 years' experience in the trade.

"At this stage it's nearly old news to us," Niall told breakingnews.ie.

"We'll be four years married in May and our son Dan will be two on Thursday.

"But it seems to be taking on a life of its own as people start sharing it on Facebook again - I even have the lads at football saying to me that they've seen it, which is a bit embarrassing."

As Niall explains, the song was done almost on the spur of the moment.

"Bronagh and I have been doing chapel singing at weddings for years and this is one of the songs that we'd do," he said.

"At the rehearsal dinner on the Thursday night before the wedding somebody suggested that I sing it for Jill - but in my head, the thought of it was pure cheese.

"I thought 'no way' - but then the night before the wedding the lads from the band were at my house, we had a few whiskies in us and they talked me into it."

(Niall and Bronagh rehearsing. Picture: Niall Donnelly Music via Facebook)

Even so, it went right down to the wire when it came to the big occasion.

"I was standing at the altar and the nerves kicked in," Niall said.

"But then Matt (the guitarist) started playing the song, caught my eye and basically said 'you're doing it'.

"I thought: 'I've sang it for hundreds of brides, why shouldn't I be able to do it for my own?

"But I underestimated how emotional it would be - it was really tough to get it out and I had a lump in my throat.

"I couldn't look at Jill because I knew she was crying and she'd set me off."

Having seen the video strike a chord with couples the world over, Niall however insists that it wasn't done for fame and fortune.

"We didn't do it for the internet, or for anyone else other than ourselves," he said.

"It was only uploaded to YouTube a year after it was shot, after lots of friends in the US and Australia heard about it and wanted to see it. So we cut it out of the wedding video and put it up there."

We reckon this one sets the standard for grooms all over the country - Niall, you're a hard act to live up to.

You can imagine the conversation in kitchens around the land:

HER:: "How about if you could do something like this guy? I'd love that!"

HIM: "Mmmmmffff"

- Video shot by Kieran McMullen

- H/T: Gerry Duffy Wedding Videos

more courts articles

Man admits killing Irish pensioner (87) on mobility scooter in London Man admits killing Irish pensioner (87) on mobility scooter in London
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court to face sex charges Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court to face sex charges
Case against Jeffrey Donaldson to be heard in court Case against Jeffrey Donaldson to be heard in court

More in this section

Stressed business woman overworked in office Natural Health: I'm perimenopausal and find it difficult to focus at work
Smartwatch with health app. Glowing neon icon on brick wall background Health watch: How much health data is healthy? 
Cork's wild salmon warrior Sally Ferns Barnes looks to the future Cork's wild salmon warrior Sally Ferns Barnes looks to the future
ieParenting Logo
Writers ieParenting

Our team of experts are on hand to offer advice and answer your questions here

Your digital cookbook

ieStyle Live 2021 Logo
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Lifestyle
Newsletter

The best food, health, entertainment and lifestyle content from the Irish Examiner, direct to your inbox.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited