Irish newlyweds among those watching on at the Vatican as Pope Leo XIV is elected

Irish Newlyweds Shane McCrudden and Sinead Doogan were among the tens of thousands of people who were in Rome for the election of Pope Leo XIV.

The couple, from Killybegs on Donegal, got married last Saturday at St Mary of the Visitation Church, with the reception taking place afterwards at An Chúirt Hotel in Gweedore.

Then it was off to Rome, where the Conclave plans to elected a successor for the late Pope Francis, who passed away last month, were underway.

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The Conclave got underway on Wednesday evening and white smoke billowed from a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel just over 24 hours later. The declared to the World that the 133 cardinal electors had made their decision after two days of ballots.

Pope Leo XIV appeared on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica about an hour after the smoke went up.

Shane and Sinead, a dental nurse with the HSE based in Ballshannon, were wished well by the Killybegs Coast Guard.

“Our former Officer In Charge, Shane McCrudden, will marry the love of his life, Sinead Doogan,” they posted before the wedding.

“Shane has held many roles in the Killybegs Coast Guard Station, but today will obtain the role of husband, one which we have no doubt that he will relish and cherish with vigour and enthusiasm as he has always done.

“We would like to wish them both a lifetime of love, good health and happiness together with the love of their lives, their daughter Rosie."