Shane and Connor tie the knot

Shane and Connor tie the knot

19 February 2020

NEWCASTLE man Shane Robinson and his new husband Connor Phillips made history last week when they became the first male gay couple to marry in Northern Ireland.

Shane (22) and 23 year-old Connor married less than two years after meeting while working in Butlin’s in Minehead in May, 2018.

They celebrated their wedding ceremony and reception with over 70 relatives and friends at Hugh McCann’s in Newcastle last Wednesday.

The grooms had best men — their respective fathers Patrick Robinson and Neil Phillips — and three bridesmaids each.

They observed the tradition of not spending the night together or seeing each other before they met at the ceremony.

Shane, who wore a pink suit, was walked down the aisle by his mother Marie while Connor’s father escorted him.

Donna Murray, general manager of Hugh McCann’s, said there wasn’t a dry eye in the venue as the men exchanged their vows in a civil ceremony.

“It really was a beautiful ceremony and also very emotional for the grooms, family and friends. Our wedding planner team had to be very well organised to ensure that both grooms and their bridal parties were escorted unseen into separate rooms before the ceremony but it was all worth it. We wish the happy couple well for the future.”

While the couple are now honeymooning on the Costa Blanca, Shane spoke to the Recorder about what the day meant to them and their families.

“It was absolutely brilliant and we can’t thank our family and friends for being so supportive,” he said.

“It means so much to Connor and I and our families that we are now married and that is legally recognised. Our families came together so well and have been really supportive from day one when we first came out. They have been behind us the entire way.”

Shane believes that he and Connor, who’s originally from South Devon, were meant for each other.

“For me, it was definitely love at first sight. Once we got together, we became inseparable,” said Shane, who’s a support worker for Autism Initiatives in Newcastle.

“I just loved Connor’s personality and how caring he was as a person and how he would do anything for anyone. Of course, he’s also beautiful.”

For Connor, who works in a Newcastle café, said he was drawn to Shane’s “open, honest face” and knew right away he was “a good guy”.

When the two young men decided to commit to one another, they initially believed that it would be a civil partnership ceremony.

Same-sex marriage was only made legal in Northern Ireland — in line with the rest of the UK — on January 13 as it was voted in by MPs in the House of Commons last autumn. Only the re-opening of the Stormont Executive could have prevented it becoming law and the Executive did not return until after the necessary deadline date last October.

Shane explained: “We registered for a civil partnership for our date last week but then when the law was passed on January 13, we gave our 28 days notice to the registry office that we were going to be married rather than the civil partnership. it was all go from then.

“We did think of getting married in England as Connor is originally from there but my grandmother Kathleen Robinson is coming 85 this year and we couldn’t expect her to get on a plane to come to England.”

However, the couple did not expect their wedding to attract so much media attention as they were interviewed live on the Nolan Show on BBC One Northern Ireland after the ceremony.

Another same-sex couple, Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards, married in Carrickfergus the day before Shane and Connor.

BBC Breakfast initially asked them if they could cover their wedding by contacting Hugh McCann’s first.

Shane explained: “We turned them down at the start as we were afraid of any backlash, but then the producer from the Nolan Show actually got in contact with our photographer so we were approached by them from every angle. We only agreed to appear on the show just two days before the wedding.”

Shane and Connor realise that while many people will celebrate their union, there is still a large group of people in Northern Ireland who remain opposed to same-sex marriage.

But for them, it was just about being seen as a couple like everyone else.

“We just wanted to be married and didn’t care if we were the first,” said Shane.

“Obviously now we know we are the first male couple. It’s a really big thing and part of Northern Ireland’s history so we feel privileged to be a part of it.”

The couple intend to make Co Down their home in the future and see themselves as parents.

Shane said: “We would love to have children, whether that’s by using a surrogate or by adopting,  but it’s definitely one of the big things in our future.”