How do you know when you have found the one? For Brady Elliot, 25, it was hearing Ed Sheeran 's song, Nancy Mulligan that sealed the deal for him. The American, who met his girlfriend for the first time when she flew 7,000 miles to see him, had asked the universe for a sign. And taking the Irish love song as proof he was meant to be with Clodagh O’Sullivan, 22, he never looked back.
Three years on, the pair have welcomed their first child together, and Brady has relocated to Clodagh's hometown in Ireland. But before their romance could blossom Clodagh had to take a leap of faith and fly thousands of miles to meet a stranger - as the pair matched while Brady was sat in an airport, waiting to return home to Hawaii after a holiday to Ireland.
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Despite having never met each other, the lovebirds started exchanging messages and spent hours together on FaceTime, feeling an "instant connection".
And after three months, in November 2019, Brady convinced Clodagh to visit him in Hawaii, where he was stationed as a navy marine medic.
The pair say they experienced "love at first sight", and they quickly made plans to see each other again, deciding Clodagh should visit Brady's home in Florida for Christmas.
They soon made things official, and during a trip to Jamaica and USA in October 2020, Clodagh fell pregnant. Not long after, Brady moved to Dingle in December 2020 - where the happy couple, who hope to tie the knot in the future, have lived ever since. But, of course, it is not just the two of them anymore, as they welcomed son, Jamie Elliot, in July 2021.
And they all love their life together as a family, though it is one they never expected.
Clodagh said: "Never in a million years did I think I would fall in love and start a family after accepting that Tinder message. I nearly talked myself out of going to meet him.
"For all I knew, he was some 80-year-old man catfishing me. But I'm so glad I booked the flight and took the punt. As soon as we met, I knew he was the one."
And Brady felt the same way. He said: "Even though it seemed a bit silly to keep texting someone two oceans away. I asked the universe for a sign and then ‘Nancy Mulligan’ came on by Ed Sheeran, and I knew for sure it was meant to be.
"I kept asking her to visit me in Hawaii because I knew she was something insanely special. We kept talking for months and call nonstop and finally got her a ticket.
"Meeting her at the airport was the most nerve-racking day of my life. I knew Clodagh was the one right there in that airport and our first few weeks together felt like we had known each other through a thousand lifetimes."
Reflecting on their journey since, Clodagh added: "We didn't plan to have a baby, but it was the best surprise.
"Since Jamie was born, Brady has moved to Dingle, and we've got a house together.
"I never thought anything like this would ever happen. But things felt right with Brady, and I had to follow my heart."
Her boyfriend agreed: "Living in Ireland is amazing - I never would have imagined living in a different country. But living here with her and our little baby boy is the most surreal thing I will ever experience, and I love every second of it."
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