Dana Rosemary Scallon performed and spoke at St Patrick’s in Dungiven during a week-long REACH retreat organised by the parish leadership and Father Gerry Sweeney.

Diane Heaney approached Dana after the event and described skipping school with her friend Dolores McCloskey in 1978 to attend Dana's wedding to Damien Scallon at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry on October 5.

Heaney said she and McCloskey, both aged 16 at the time, walked part way from Limavady Technical College, hitchhiked through Ballykelly during the Troubles, and sat through a funeral before the wedding.

Dana's late brother Robert noticed the schoolgirls at the back of the cathedral and asked them to distribute wedding order of service booklets, giving one to each to keep.

Heaney still has her booklet from the event.

Dana expressed delight at the story, particularly her brother's involvement.

She performed Light the Fire, a song for St Patrick, and Lady of Knock with Cara Rose McGinley at the altar.

Dana arrived with her musician brother Gerry Brown to discuss the Holy Spirit's role in her life and St Patrick's.

The retreat followed a Light the Fire theme linked to St Patrick lighting a flame of faith at Slane in 433 AD under threat of death.