An Irish Farewell: Love and death in the time of COVID
Christina Scheunemann Nilan helps her husband Martin Nilan get his tie on before their wedding on March 21, 2020. Martin was diagnosed with cancer in January and passed away in June 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Róisín Nilan helps her father Martin Nilan write out his wedding vows. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan writes out his wedding vows before his wedding March 21, 2020. One of Nilan's dying wishes was to marry his childhood sweetheart before he passed. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan shares a moment with his son Ciarán Nilan after his wedding March 21, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan sits with his sons (from left) Ciarán Nilan and Conor Nilan before his wedding ceremony in Ennis, Ireland, on March 21, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan and Christina Scheunemann Nilan pose for a wedding picture after their small ceremony last March. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan opens a wedding card while surrounded by his children (from left) Róisín Nilan, Ciarán Nilan and Conor Nilan at his home in County Clare, Ireland March 21, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Ciarán Nilan shares a dance with his sister Róisín Nilan after their father's wedding. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan and Christina Scheunemann Nilan cut their wedding cake after their wedding March 21, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Martin Nilan posed for a portrait last March. He passed away three months later. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Like any good Irishman, Martin Nilan wanted one last celebration and the chance to marry his childhood sweetheart. As the pandemic began to grip the world, his children gathered in Ireland to make it happen.
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COVID-19Patrick Lantrip
Patrick Lantrip is an award-winning writer, photographer and videographer based in Memphis, Tennessee. When not exploring the outdoors, Patrick enjoys spending time with his son, Aaron.
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