GUESTS at the wedding of Donegal lifeboat volunteer Francy Burns were treated to a celebration with a difference when his all-important speech was interrupted by an emergency call-out.
As the Buncrana man stood up on the biggest day of his life at the Inishowen Gateway hotel on Saturday, some of his closest friends also had to jump to their feet and make for the doors when their pagers issued a distress call-out.
A veteran member of the Lough Swilly lifeboat crew, Mr Burns said he understood they had no choice but to act.
“It was certainly a day of mixed emotions. I married the most beautiful and amazing woman but when I saw the crew stand up to head out for the lifeboat shout during my speech my first thoughts were to follow them,” he said.
The Donegal man said his new wife Helen (nee McFarland) from Carndonagh also accepted what was happening.
“You never know, I might even persuade her to sign up too,” he said.
Lough Swilly lifeboat press officer Joe Joyce, who was also at the wedding, said the timing was uncanny.
“Francy had just got to his feet and started his speech and he was actually talking about the lifeboat when the pagers went.
"We had cover but when the pager goes, you don’t ask questions, you don’t wait, you drop everything and you go. It’s only when you get to the station that you get a feel for what’s happening."
As it turned out, the call-out was to help a broken down boat which was drifting in Lough Swilly.
The crew was able to bring the stricken vessel to its Ned’s Point headquarters and return to the wedding celebrations.
Mr Joyce said the new groom went ahead with his speech but kept an eye on the emergency.
“And he made sure they kept dinner for the crews. Everyone with Lough Swilly RNLI wish Francy and Helen every happiness on their marriage and we will see Francy down at the station for our next shout,” he said.
