FATHER Ted legend Joe Rooney paid tribute to “the love of my life” after he tied the knot today.
The comedy actor – best known for his iconic role as Fr Damo– revealed he has married his partner Nera after they were engaged for almost a year.
A delighted Rooney shared a pic of the new Mr and Mrs with his followers and said: “I got married today to the beautiful, wonderful @nerea.inked.
“It’s been an incredible journey, meeting, falling love with and marrying the love of my life.
“She is such a genuinely kind soul. I’m so grateful she took a chance on me.
“I’m proud to call her my wife. #married”.
Friends and fans took to the comments section to offer their congratulations, with fellow comedian Fred Cooke writing: “Congratulations guys!!!”
Another friend wrote: “Congratulations Guys all the very best in life. Life is short! Enjoy every moment”.
Last year Joe told The Irish Sun how the smitten pair found love during online during lockdown – on Instagram.
Last July he revealed they planned to tie the knot in September 2024, before surprising fans this week with his major announcement.
Rooney said: “The plan is to get married next year in Madrid, September 2024.
“Nera is from Madrid and her family lives there. She lived in the UK for ten years and we met online.”
Their relationship started after the Drogheda man posted a song on Instagram during lockdown and Nera, a photographer, liked it.
He explained: “I recorded a bit of Hurt by Johnny Cash, well it’s not a Johnny Cash song but he did a version of it, and she liked it. I was like ‘thanks’ and then we followed each other.
“We were messaging first, then talking on the phone for ages and eventually FaceTimed.”
Gig meeting
After lockdown, Joe travelled to Halifax in the UK to do a gig.
The loved-up pair met there and Joe found himself regularly returning to the UK to meet her.
He said: “It was back and forth a lot and then she decided to move over here to Ireland and moved in with me.”