Irish Weddings

My mind has been on weddings lately. My daughter will be marrying next year at this time. Naturally, or maybe not, our ideas of the perfect occasion are not always in sync. She is particular while I am less so. Nevertheless, we manage to plow through our discussions of arrangements without too much acrimony. My ideal wedding would take place in the Ballyseedy Castle Hotel in Tralee, Ireland, a setting reminiscent of the great houses of the Irish Ascendancy, those absentee landlords who withheld food from the masses and forced millions into emigration. My Irish peasant ancestors would be quite delighted to see their own dancing in the great rooms instead of slaving in the kitchen.

We do agree that music is important. The Dublin Diocesan Liturgical Resource Center has come up with a cd for Irish weddings in order to avoid gaffs like: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," or "Help Me Make it  Through the Night." These might sound odd but they are actual choices, along with "God Give Me Strength" and "The End of the World as We Know It." We, on the other hand, are looking for a good Swing Band, lively, comfortable music for the young and old and those between.