Gordon D'Arcy's second attempt at asking Aoife Cogan on a date proved more fruitful than his first - and they've lived happily ever after since.
The couple's paths crossed first over drinks but not the alcoholic kind, as is the beginning of many an Irish romance.
In fact, the athlete and model were both booked for a photo shoot to promote bottled water and their relationship began flowing from there.
How they met
Speaking to EVOKE previously at the An Post Irish Book Awards Aoife recounted how they met saying: 'It was actually really cute.'
She said: 'We met on a shoot. I was modelling and he was the rugby star on a shoot for Volvic Water.
'It was... Oh God, I don't know how many years ago but I was the model on a shoot. We did the shoot together and then afterwards he asked me out on a date.'
Gordon was smitten with Aoife 'very quickly' but their romance couldn't blossom at that point in time and Aoife declined the date.
'I was actually going out with someone at the time so I said no. It all gets very complicated,' she joked.
'Then he was on a GOAL trip with my cousin. He was in India and he found out I was single again so when he came home from India he asked me out again.'
A move she joked was 'very brave' given Gordon's first rejection.
Moving fast
As for how their romance progressed thereafter, it was a whirlwind that saw the pair engaged not too long after their first date.
Their first date is a night Aoife fondly remembers, with her recalling: 'We went to Massive Attack and then Hogans. It was a good first date.'
Asked if it was love at first date she said: 'It was. We actually got engaged very quickly. I think less than a year and a half later.'
Saying I Do
The couple married in St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan in 2012 and celebrated their nuptials surrounded by family and friends at Castle Leslie.
Aoife walked up the aisle to the Rolling Stones' song Wild Horses which her cousin Paul Byrom sang on the big day.
She wore a hippy-inspired dress by designer Amanda Wakeley which had an open back and gold detailing on the front.
Among the guests at the wedding were fellow rugby ace Brian O'Driscoll and his actress wife Amy Huberman, Rob Kearney, and Johnny Sexton.
Growing their family
Gordon and Aoife are parents to three girls - Soleil, who joined the family in May 2015, Lennon, who was born in November 2016, and Meadow, who arrived in November 2020.Â
During her pandemic pregnancy, Aoife spoke about having to abide by strict rules which meant Gordon couldn't come to hospital appointments wth her.
‘I think if it had been our first child, it would probably be a bit tough. But I just take videos of the scans and then I can show them to Gordon when I get home,’ she told the Independent.
Working together
As well as being partners in life, Gordon and Aoife are partners in business and run a successful Pilates studio as well as a sock company.
Aoife and Gordon decided to launch their sock business after seeing a huge demand for socks with grips from their customers at the studio and she told EVOKE it's been much easier working together on this project as they've already got the experience of running the pilates business.
'Myself and Gordon used to joke that we were retiring at the same time… [and] doing this venture is less daunting because we've grown a business before,' Aoife said. 'We love working together... you'd find a solution [if you disagree] there's a trust there, when you're married you can openly speak your mind.'
Balancing their family and work lives doesn't come as easily though with Aoife saying: 'I'm at home with the kids full time, and I remember [when they were younger], when I had to do a phone call, I was like "into the double buggy" so they were trapped in one place.
'I look back on those years and think how did I do it? We had to delay everything until bedtime was done and then you're probably working [late]. That's how I work my day now, I get everything I possibly can get fone while they're in school and then have to multitask and pick up the rest when everyone's in bed. The juggle is insane… but I actually don't think about it, that's just life it's part of the routine.'
