THE HOMECOMING OF PATRICK DORRIAN AND HIS BRIDE

A very pleasant scene was witnessed in the town of Killybegs on Thursday night, 15th January last, when Patrick and Mrs Dorrian returned to their home after a protracted wedding tour.  Mr Dorrian is well known in the north-west, as the respected senior partner of Dorrian Bros., Killybegs.  When the date of the homecoming was made known in Killybegs the inhabitants determined to give their popular and patriotic fellow townsman and his charming bride a reception worthy of the respect and esteem in which they are held.  Willing hands soon provided the material, and long before the train was due, many huge bonfires were in readiness awaiting the match.  Headed by a band, the crowd adjourned to the railway station, and there awaited the happy young couple’s arrival.  As the train steamed into the station amid  an explosion of dozens of fog signals, the discharge of firearms, and the deafening cheers of the crowd, the scene was one long to be remembered.  On alighting from the carriage, Mr and Mrs Dorrian were the objects of fresh outbursts of cheering, again and again renewed.  It was a considerable time before anything like order could be restored.  However, at last a start was made, the happy couple leading the way and the band following playing enlivening tunes, accompanied by a number of torch bearers and fully three hundred townspeople, each one bent on showing the esteem and popularity of Patrick and Mrs Dorrian and their approval of the of the reception accorded them.  On arrival at the rooms of the Catholic Young Men’s Association, of which Mr Dorrian is the president, the members turned out en masse, cheers were given again and again, hats and handkerchiefs were waved, and amid the singing of He’s a Jolly Good Fellow, they joined the procession, and all continued the way to the residence of the bride, where Mr Dorrian, in a few well chosen words, returned the thanks of himself and his popular bride for the reception given them.  He said that words failed to give adequate expression to his sentiments, but he could promise that it would be long before the events of that night would pass from his memory.  His remarks were greeted with ringing cheers and shouts of Your are worthy of it.  Refreshments on a liberal scale were provided, and while the people were enjoying the good things the happy couple moved about among the guests, receiving the congratulations and good wishes of all present, a choice selection of music being meanwhile rendered by the string band.  About ten o’clock the crowd quietly dispersed to their homes, well pleased with the way in which they had spent the night.  It is worth mentioning that the rooms of the CYMS, as well as most houses on the route from the station, were beautifully illuminated with coloured and other lights. (19 January 1903)