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Darren Kidd/Press Eye/PA Wire
World News

Northern Ireland couple return from US to visit church on 50th anniversary

Laurence and Cecelia McCann were married at Drumcree Church in Portadown, County Armagh.

The church has since been dismantled and rebuilt at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Co Down.

Cecelia is a former nurse and Laurence is a retired businessman.

Darren Kidd/Press Eye/PA Wire

The pair, now in their 70's, settled in Albuquerque in New Mexico but have lived all around world.

Mrs McCann said: "This is a very special day for us, made even more memorable by being here at the same church, now in a different county."

They were joined by family and friends, including the bridesmaid and best man.

Darren Kidd/Press Eye/PA

Mrs McCann commented: "Many of our guests have travelled thousands of miles to be here and it has been wonderful to have the blessing in the very unique setting of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum."

Drumcree Catholic Church was originally located on the Birches Road in Portadown and was built in 1783.

It was later dismantled and reconstructed at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in 1990.

The church is rare because it was created before the repeal of the Penal Laws, which attempted to force Catholics and Presbyterians to accept the Church of Ireland.

It includes an early-1800s pipe organ as well as 14 Stations of the Cross, identical to those hung in the original church.

The couple first met through church and became friends when they were both volunteers with the Legion of Mary, an organisation which helps and coordinates home visits for people in need.

Laurence and Cecelia have two sons and four grandchildren.

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