Brother's marathon trip from China is bride's favourite gift
Sean Moran with his sister Jacqueline after he managed to make it home from China just in time for her wedding yesterday in St Michael's Church in Clogherhead, Co Louth
A BRIDE got the best wedding present she could have wished for yesterday when her brother, who had been stranded in China by the volcanic cloud, made it to the church in the nick of time to see her get married.
The grounding of flights in Europe left Sean Moran believing he just wouldn't make his sister Jacqueline's wedding. "I was about to write a monologue for her when I got a call from Virgin Atlantic to say I could have a seat," he said yesterday. The bride said his dramatic late appearance "means everything to me".
She added: "Up until Wednesday night we didn't think he would make it. He has made my day."
Panic
After travelling nearly 10,000km from Shanghai to Termonfeckin, Co Louth, Sean just had time to shower and change before the 1pm wedding at St Michael's Church, in Clogherhead. It was a far cry from his original plans. "I was due to arrive home on the 16th (last Friday) and I was in a taxi on my way to Shanghai Airport last week when I heard about the volcano. I thought this couldn't be true," he said.
Mark, a marketing executive for UK engineering company SIP, thought he had time on his side and did not panic.
"Our mum has passed away and I really wanted to be here. I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said.
Relieved dad Jackie admitted he had "given up" hope his son would make it.
- Elaine Keogh
Irish Independent
