It was a shortcut, so we took the fairy path over the fields all those years ago after the pub closed, a group of us laughing and not afraid until the night claimed us and we were lost.

lost.Boulders fierce around us, bushes prickling our arms, our footing uncertain in the soft soil.

Then the others far ahead, I felt your hand in mine, warm life unexpected there, as you guided me towards distant voices, though we did not want to reach them.

We're happy just touching, our fingers tight in each other's.

There were no rings, no children, no futures, until we heard, "Look, it's this way." And we saw the house lights ahead, stumbled through trees, pulled our hands apart.

[applause] [gentle music] [applause] I'm going to bring you to a place where we'd all like to be right now, the sea.

The train bends round the curve of Dublin Bay, and all of a sudden, the sea.