“The concert ended. The song continued.”
Their wedding reception was held in an old barn that had been transformed into a magical venue. Hundreds of fairy lights twinkled between the wooden beams, long tables were decorated with wildflowers, and in one corner, a small stage had been set up for the band and, of course, the DJ who had passed the rigorous selection process of the "Corr Music Committee."
The atmosphere was a perfect blend of Irish elegance and German warmth. Laughter could be heard as the German guests bravely attempted to Irish dance, and the Irish guests tried to correctly pronounce "Prost!" every time they raised a glass.
After a delicious dinner, it was time for the speeches. Patricia's father gave a short, sincere, and very structured speech, which he ended with a joke, "Cathal, welcome to the family. See you in Germany for your log-sawing test."
Then, Andrea Corr took the microphone, and everyone knew they were in for a show.
"Normally, I get paid to hold one of these," she began, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Patricia and Cathal. "But tonight, I'll do it for free. Because this is a victory speech."
The room filled with laughter.
"I remember that day in Halifax so clearly," she continued. "I saw a girl in the front row, singing with all her heart. And at the same time, I had a nephew whose heart was a little... broken. I saw her, and a crazy idea popped into my head. People said I was meddling. Sharon said I was crazy. Jim probably thought it was a waste of time."