Beginning the new year has been extra special for one young couple who, at Christmas, made a promise to continue their incredABLE love story, forever.
Orlagh O’Hagan (31), from White City, Dungannon and Matthew Rodgers (33), from Caledon have entered 2025 hand-in-hand following their “surprise” Christmas Eve engagement.
And, had it not been for voluntary organisation, incredABLE, they might never even have met!
The organisation, which focuses on creating meaningful social, recreational, and educational opportunities for people with a learning or intellectual disability and autism, frequently holds residential trips to bring service users together.
Speaking to Armagh I, Orlagh explained that a chance encounter on one of these trips paved the way for romance: “We went on a camping trip with incredABLE. There was about ten of us, I think.
“Matthew was there and my first impressions were that he was kind and thoughtful and caring.
“We were just sort of chatting at that time but we had fun and it just sort of went from there.”
It wasn’t until a while later, at a Black Moon disco, that the pair finally enjoyed what they could officially call a “date night”.
Since then, volunteers at incredABLE say the two have become “inseparable” on a journey regarded as “truly special”.
The smitten Matthew made the decision to make it permanent and took the unwitting Orlagh for an innocent ‘walk’ to Dungannon Park on Christmas Eve.
Here, he dropped to one knee on the bridge beside the cascading waterfall and produced a ring box from his pocket.
Orlagh said she was “completely shocked” and that both her and Matthew were “so nervous”.
He spoke only to say: “You’re my true love and I want to ask you to marry me.”
Of course, she said “Yes!”
The couple have now shared the good news with all their friends and family – who Orlagh said are absolutely “delighted” for them.
Orlagh said they plan to live in the moment a little and enjoy a “long engagement”, but she already has her heart set on a home wedding, with her in traditional white and bridesmaids in pink.
