Gregory Anthony Harrington, a celebrated solo violinist, had experienced years of unfulfilling relationships with women he said couldn’t understand his commitment to music. Kelly Cathleen Downey was also fed up with attempts at relationships: Dates, often two to three times a week, typically went nowhere.
The two decided to take a chance on each other after connecting on Bumble in the fall of 2019.
They agreed to meet in early December at Kaia Wine Bar on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where they talked nonstop about culture, travel, work and wine.
“Kelly was so comforting, interesting and beautiful, with such grace, that somewhere between my first and second of nine glasses of robust cabernet sauvignon, I knew I wanted to see her again,” said Mr. Harrington, 49.
Ms. Downey, 42, who has Irish heritage on her father’s side, said she liked Mr. Harrington’s Irish accent and thought he was cute. After they closed down the bar, they headed to the nearby Auction House bar, which they also closed down.
“I liked Greg right away because conversation flowed effortlessly, and it was fun talking about our Irish backgrounds,” said Ms. Downey, the senior vice president of communications for Shamin Abas, a public relations and experiential marketing company in New York.
Mr. Harrington, who was born in Dublin but has lived in New York City since 1999, recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his solo debut at Carnegie Hall. In March, he performed for President Biden, members of Congress and Leo Varadkar, the former prime minister of Ireland, at the Capitol in Washington. He received a bachelor’s degree in international commerce with Spanish from University College Dublin, and a master’s in music from American College Dublin.
After several more dates, Mr. Harrington told Ms. Downey that he was flying to Dublin for the holidays, and would try to meet her after he returned around 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
“I was really surprised when he entered Whiskey Tavern at 11:45, because I had been burned so many times,” said Ms. Downey, who grew up in Farmington Hills, Mich., and received a bachelor’s in advertising from Michigan State University. “We shared our first New Year’s kiss which sealed the deal for me.”
In March 2020, the lockdown from the coronavirus pandemic greatly changed their dating style. He lived in Manhattan’s Inwood neighborhood — two trains and a bus ride from Ms. Downey’s Upper East Side apartment. They saw each other on weekends, but both had limited income. Ms. Kelly’s company lost clients; Mr. Harrington’s professional world evaporated.
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“Since public performances ceased, and I didn’t see the end in sight, it put a lot of strain on a young relationship,” he said. “I earned about $900 in 18 months from playing the violin.”
Their compatibility and love grew through the financial challenges, but they faced more conflict after June 2021, when they moved in together in Hamilton Heights. Each worked at home, though they kept opposite hours. Ms Downey is in bed by 10 p.m., the time Mr. Harrington finds much of his inspiration.
“I am most creative in the silence from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.,” Mr. Harrington said. “Kelly has a very structured day with regular hours.”
He admitted to being “loud, intense and meticulously repetitive at home” until rehearsals start. Ms. Downey said she respects his way of preparing for gigs, but thrives on serenity with no noise pollution in her work environment.
“I prefer that a client on a Zoom call not have to listen to delightful violin music in the background,” she said. However, “our personalities are aligned, and we resolve conflicts by communication.”
On July 21, 2023, while visiting the fjords of Bergen, Norway on vacation, Mr. Harrington proposed to Ms. Downey atop the Revurtjernet Viewpoint.
On Sept. 6, the couple wed at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, with Michael McSweeney, the city clerk, officiating. It was witnessed by two friends, Shane Naughton and Laura Chalcroft, who joined them after for a celebratory dinner at Chambers, a restaurant in TriBeCa.
They are planning a celebration for 120 guests on Oct. 2 at Bellingham Castle, the centerpiece of a 17-acre estate in County Louth, Ireland. Mr. Harrington is curating the music and will also perform.
“Our relationship has been filled with the little victories of sharing Saturday morning coffee, being caring and empathetic without saying a word,” he said. “And just enjoying this lovely journey.”
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