The cream of Irish traditional music gathered at the foot of Mount Errigal in Co Donegal yesterday to celebrate the marriage of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh of Altan to fellow band member Dermot Byrne.
Mary Black sang Moments from her new album after the couple exchanged vows uin mor took place as they left at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dunlewey.
Gweedore-born Mairead has been a member of the traditional group since it was formed in 1987 by her first husband, the late Frankie Kennedy, who died from bone cancer five years ago.
Dermot Byrne, originally from Buncrana, has been a member of the group for many years and is recognised as one of the foremost button accordion players in the country.
Dermot has also suffered tragedy in his life. His girlfriend, Karen, and his brother, Thomas, were killed in a car crash nine years ago. The tragedies in both their lives were recalled by the local priest at the start of the nuptial Mass.
The bride's outfit was reminiscent of an Irish princess of ancient times and she was resplendent in white silk and fine velvet-hooded coat and dress designed by Kieran Sweeney from Dublin.
Her father, Proinsias O Maonaigh, also a well-known musician, escorted his daughter up the aisle of the packed church. Mairead was attended by her sister, Anne.
Traditional musicians, young and old, came with their instruments to celebrate with the newlyweds. They included Matt Molloy and Kevin Coniff of the Chieftains, Daithi Sproule, Mark Kelly and Ciaran Tourish of Altan, renowned fiddlers Joe Burke, Tommy Peoples, Dinny McLaughlin, James Byrne and Ben Lennon.
Cathal O Searcaigh, the poet from Gortahork, composed a poem specially for the occasion which he read in Irish, and then in English.
The final verse of the poem concludes: Come to me always, love, with a drop, with an ember. It's enough for me a crumb, if it's of the heart.
The reception was held in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties, where the party continued into the wee hours in accordance with the time-honoured Donegal custom.
Altan has grown in popularity worldwide since its formation. The group won the Hot Press/ Heineken Best Traditional Roots award three years in a row.