McIlroy set to wed in County Mayo

The Holywood golfer will marry his US fiancée Erica Stoll in Ashford castle on Saturday.

Published 22nd Apr 2017
Last updated 22nd Apr 2017

Ed Sheeran and Niall Horan are rumoured to be among the celebrity guests attending.

The world number two golfer had previously been engaged to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki but broke up after wedding invitations had been sent out in 2014.

McIlroy began dating his bride to be later that year and they got engaged in 2015.

The lavish ceremony will be held in the 13th Century building which is no stranger to celebrity guests.

James Bond star Pierce Brosnan married Keely Shaye Smith there in August 2001.

The exclusive estate, in the village of Cong in Co Mayo, was the setting for screen classic The Quiet Man in the 1950s, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Although security is set to be tight, locals are hoping to capitalise on the latest celebrity wedding.

They have reportedly asked the four-time major winner to place his hand prints in bronze on the village's hall of fame.

Paddy Rock, organiser of the Cong Hands of Fame Award, said the golfer should be pleased to permanently mark his big day.

"If he didn't want to do it, we wouldn't think any less of him,'' he said.

Mr Rock added: "His hands are of utter importance to his livelihood. He's a golfer after all.

"We'd love it, even if he came back to do it at some stage. We don't want to bother him on his wedding day or his honeymoon - you know, we wouldn't want him to take his eye of the ball.''

The rumour mill in the village has been in full swing about what big names will turn up.

Stevie Wonder is reportedly performing.

The castle, with its 350 acres, nine-hole golf course, horse riding, falconry, fishing and clay pigeon shooting, can be rented for about 100,000 euro a day.

It has been on lock-down since Thursday with staff and guests asked to wear wristbands for security checks.