1

00:00:00,009 --> 00:00:06,890

An Irish Wedding

2

00:00:06,899 --> 00:00:12,910

Have you ever been to an Irish wedding?

3

00:00:12,919 --> 00:00:14,980

I have just returned from one.

4

00:00:14,989 --> 00:00:17,720

It is a quarter to five in the morning;

5

00:00:17,729 --> 00:00:20,890

the sun has already climbed above the horizon;

6

00:00:20,899 --> 00:00:26,140

the birds are busy celebrating the new day and have eagerly been in search of food.

7

00:00:26,149 --> 00:00:29,090

But some of the guests have not yet left.

8

00:00:29,099 --> 00:00:31,500

They are still prolonging the night:

9

00:00:31,509 --> 00:00:33,910

dancing, singing, gossiping,

10

00:00:33,919 --> 00:00:38,720

and postponing the unfortunate necessity of undertaking a day’s work

11

00:00:38,729 --> 00:00:40,910

in the fields after a sleepless night.

12

00:00:40,919 --> 00:00:44,520

The evening party was to start at ten o’clock,

13

00:00:44,529 --> 00:00:47,030

but many of the guests arrived earlier.

14

00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:51,290

A few of the nearer male relatives were looking rather awkward

15

00:00:51,299 --> 00:00:54,140

in evening suits with smart bow ties,

16

00:00:54,149 --> 00:00:56,330

and the pleasant, unsophisticated countrywomen

17

00:00:56,339 --> 00:00:59,280

appeared a little self-conscious in their Sunday best.

18

00:00:59,289 --> 00:01:02,670

Two men squeezing accordions provided the music:

19

00:01:02,679 --> 00:01:06,940

the old Irish tunes that have been played at weddings for many years.

20

00:01:06,949 --> 00:01:11,310

Half the people in the room were dancing the square dances

21

00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:12,950

which have been enjoyed even longer.

22

00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,110

A score of men stood in the narrow dark hall leaning against the wall,

23

00:01:17,119 --> 00:01:18,860

drinking beer from bottles

24

00:01:18,869 --> 00:01:23,120

and speculating about crops, cattle and the current political situation.

25

00:01:23,129 --> 00:01:25,420

And whenever the dancing stopped,

26

00:01:25,429 --> 00:01:29,360

somebody would start singing one of the sentimental, treasured Irish songs:

27

00:01:29,369 --> 00:01:33,840

the exile longing for his home, the grief-stricken lover mourning his fate.

28

00:01:33,849 --> 00:01:38,110

Sometimes we all joined in the chorus, sadly and solemnly,

29

00:01:38,119 --> 00:01:40,080

before getting up to dance again.

30

00:01:40,089 --> 00:01:45,770

Irish weddings are almost certain to have been celebrated in this way for generations.

31

00:01:45,779 --> 00:01:47,950

I have been to wedding receptions

32

00:01:47,959 --> 00:01:53,200

where champagne has been served to the accompaniment of soft unnoticed orchestral music;

33

00:01:53,209 --> 00:01:56,150

I have listened to carefully prepared speeches

34

00:01:56,159 --> 00:02:00,640

and eyed a little enviously the model gowns of women far more elegant

35

00:02:00,649 --> 00:02:02,390

than I could ever hope to be.

36

00:02:02,399 --> 00:02:04,910

I have been impressed, and a little bored.

37

00:02:04,919 --> 00:02:09,820

I have just been sitting up all night in a small, uncomfortable Irish cottage

38

00:02:09,829 --> 00:02:11,820

and I have been enjoying every moment of it.