Birr entertainer wins big at 'Oscars of the wedding business'

Birr entertainer Dickie Donnelly has taken home the award for Wedding Entertainment Specialist of the Year at the Let’s Talk Weddings Ireland Awards 2025.

The fifth annual awards ceremony took place on Sunday, September 28, in Westgrove Hotel in Kildare, hosted by Andrea Hayes.

With over 300 of Let’s Talk Weddings suppliers in attendance, it was a night filled with joy, celebration, and recognition of the incredible talent within Ireland’s wedding industry.

The panel of judges was made up of real brides and grooms, who faced the tough task of selecting the winners and highly commended suppliers.

Mr Donnelly is the frontman for Dublin-based band Route 66 Big Band, comprised of musicians from the Army and Garda band as well as prominent session musicians.

Speaking on his prestigious award win, Mr Donnelly said: "This is the Oscars of the wedding business and this is a huge milestone for me after also winning Wedding Entertainment Supplier 2025 at the WeddingsOnline awards back in February.

"I was not expecting to even rank in the latest awards given the standard was so high and to say I'm a proud Offaly man is an understatement. I had to be voted by my peers and the general public to qualify and then I was judged on a number of aspects of my act. Everything from social media reviews to show content.

I am very proud and grateful of not only the many couples who have hired me in the last few years for their special day, but also to my family, friends and in particular the people of Birr who have supported me endlessly on this journey."

Mr Donnelly also performed at the awards night in front of 250 wedding suppliers, from ceremony singers right up to wedding bands.