2025 has begun on a loving high for one Northern Ireland Mayor who married his sweetheart on New Year’s Day.
Wedding bells rang out for the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alistair Cathcart, on January 1 as he became what is believed to be the first sitting Mayor to marry during their time in office.
The 38-year-old first citizen of Ards and North Down Borough Council wed Ashley McMordie on the first day of 2025 following a six month engagement. Wednesday’s ceremony at Titanic Hotel Belfast took place in front of their delighted family and friends.
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Alistair, who is a Councillor for Bangor Central, was elected to the post of Mayor in June of last year. He was recently appointed as office manager and senior case worker for North Down DUP MLA Peter Martin. Meanwhile his bride is a trained teacher who works for the party’s Strangford MP Jim Shannon at his office in Newtownards.
The couple got engaged last summer when Alistair proposed to Ashley at the Crawfordsburn Inn, where the couple had their first date.
Sharing a sweet photo of the New Year’s Day nuptials on Thursday afternoon, the proud groom wrote: “No better way to start the New Year than marrying the love of my life. Thank you to all that helped make our wedding day yesterday so special.”
After celebrating their big day, the couple will be spending the first days of 2025 on honeymoon in Bali.
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