HaveyoueverbeentoanIrishwedding?Ihavejustreturnedfromone.Itisaquartertofiveinthemorning;thesunhasalreadyclimbedabovethehorizon;thebirdsarebusycelebratingthenewdayandhaveeagerlybeeninsearchoffood.Butsomeoftheguestshavenotyetleft.Theyarestillprolongingthenight:dancing,singing,gossiping,andpostponingtheunfortunatenecessityofundertakingaday’sworkinthefieldsafterasleeplessnight.
Theeveningpartywastostartatteno’clock,butmanyoftheguestsarrivedearlier.Afewofthenearermalerelativeswerelookingratherawkwardineveningsuitswithsmartbowties,andthepleasant,unsophisticatedcountrywomenappearedalittleself-consciousintheirSundaybest.Twomensqueezingaccordionsprovidedthemusic:theoldIrishtunesthathavebeenplayedatweddingsformanyyears.20.Halfthepeopleintheroomweredancingthesquaredances21.whichhavebeenenjoyedevenlonger.
Ascoreofmenstoodinthenarrowdarkhallleaningagainstthewall,drinkingbeerfrombottlesandspeculatingaboutcrops,cattleandthecurrentpoliticalsituation.Andwheneverthedancingstopped,somebodywouldstartsingingoneofthesentimental,treasuredIrishsongs:theexilelongingforhishome,thegrief-strickenlovermourninghisfate.Sometimeswealljoinedinthechorus,sadlyandsolemnly,beforegettinguptodanceagain.Irishweddingsarealmostcertaintohavebeencelebratedinthiswayforgenerations.
Ihavebeentoweddingreceptionswherechampagnehasbeenservedtotheaccompanimentofsoftunnoticedorchestralmusic;IhavelistenedtocarefullypreparedspeechesandeyedalittleenviouslythemodelgownsofwomenfarmoreelegantthanIcouldeverhopetobe.Ihavebeenimpressed,andalittlebored.Ihavejustbeensittingupallnightinasmall,uncomfortableIrishcottageandIhavebeenenjoyingeverymomentofit.