Would you like to celebrate your Irish heritage at your wedding? Here are three Irish musical ideas that will add resonance to your wedding.

1. Haste to the Wedding
Haste to the Wedding is a popular choice for many couples for their Irish wedding. It was originally a Scottish jig and was adapted to the Irish tradition. It is believed to have been composed by James Oswald and the earliest known source is 1759. It was made famous by Irish band The Corrs.



Come haste to the wedding ye friends and ye neighbors,
The lovers their bliss can no longer delay.
Forget all your sorrows your cares and your labors,
And let every heart beat with rapture today.
Come, come one and all, attend to my call,
And revel in pleasures that never can cloy.
Come see rural felicity,
Which love and innocence ever enjoy.
Let Envy, Let Pride, Let Hate and Ambition,
Still crowd to and beat at the breast of the Great,
To such wretched passions we give no admission,
But leave them alone to the wise ones of State,
We boast of no wealth, but contentment and health,
In mirth and in friendship, our moments employ
Come see rural felicity,
Which love and innocence ever enjoy.
With reason we taste of each heart stirring pleasure,
With reason we drink of the full flowing bowl,
Are jocund and gay, but 'tis all within measure,
For fatal excess will enslave the free soul,
Then come at our bidding to this happy wedding,
No care shall obtrude here, our bliss to annoy,
Come see rural felicity,
Which love and innocence ever enjoy.

2. Lark in the Clear Air
The Lark in the Clear Air is a beautifully romantic piece of music for any wedding or civil ceremony and is even more special when performed with an accompanying harp. This started as an ancient Irish melody and then Belfast born Sir. Samuel Ferguson (1810 – 1886) who has been described as ‘the greatest love poet Ireland has produced’ added lyrics.



Dear thoughts are my mind and my soul it soars enchanted,
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of the day,
For a tender beaming smile to my hope has been granted,
And tomorrow he shall hear all my fond heart longs to say.
I will tell him all my love, all my soul's pure adoration,
And I know he will hear my voice and he will not answer me nay,
It is this that gives my soul all it's joyous elation,
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of the day.

3. Ag Chriost an Siol
Ag Chriost an Siol is used in the O’Riada Mass and was composed by Sean O’Riada. This is very popular in Irish wedding ceremonies as it is a beautiful way to bring in the Irish language to the wedding or civil partnership ceremony.



Ag Críost an síol
Ag Críost an fómhar
I n-iothalainn dé
go dtugtar sinn

Ag Críost an mhuir
Ag Críost an t-iasc
i liontaibh dé
go gcastar sinn

O fhás go haois
is ó aois go bás
do dhá láimh a Críost
anall tharainn

O bhás go críoch
ní críoch ach ath-fhás
I bPárrthas na nGrást
go rabhaimíd


Irish music is a great way to reinforce your love of Ireland and all things Irish and set the scene for those wedding or commitment vows.