Derry Girls actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson says her Donegal beach engagement was a magical moment, complete with dolphins and a sea lion!
The actress’s recent wedding to Scottish DJ Denis Sulta (Hector Barbour) has hit headlines for one of the most stylish dos of the decade.
Their secret engagement took place on a beach in Donegal in 2023 and was only made public months later.
Sharing her love story with Vogue Magazine, Saoirse-Monica said they were in their Dryrobes and Crocs after a dip in the water when Hector got down on one knee.
The actress added that a pod of dolphins and a sea lion also popped up during the proposal on a drizzly day in Donegal.
“The best part was that he wrote everything down that he said to me,” Saoirse told British Vogue. “As anyone who has been proposed to will tell you, you sort of just black out and leave your body, you don’t remember it, so I’m so glad I’ll always have those words, and that I’m able to read it back now.”
Read the full interview at: www.vogue.co.uk
Saoirse-Monica and Scotland native Hector’s wedding contained many thoughtful homages to their shared Celtic heritage, from Irish Guinness to Scottish tartan. The celebrations were held at Dromquinna Manor, just outside of Kenmare in County Kerry and among the suppliers were the Donegal-based Muff Liquor Company, which was chosen for the wedding favours.
No stranger to Inishowen, 31-year-old Saoirse-Monica grew up between Derry and Greencastle in Co Donegal where her parents once ran The Castle Inn. Saoirse Monica’s mother Ruth is from Buncrana originally. Saoirse Monica attended the local drama club in Greencastle and also did a lot of acting at secondary school in St Cecilia’s College in Derry.
Derry Girls star lifts lid on secret engagement in Donegal was last modified: August 18th, 2025 by Staff Writer