Cong all set for McIlroy and Stoll wedding

WARM WELCOME Ballinrobe Golf Club have put up a sign at the entrance to Ashford Castle to congratulate Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll on their marriage. Pic: Paul Mealey


Mark Thornton
Cong

A huge security operation is in place this evening at Ashford Castle as Cong locals spoke of their pride that Rory McIllroy has chosen to marry in the village.
It is understood the last of the public guests left the award-winning five-star residence this morning, and security has tightened up considerably since their departure.
The superstar golfer will marry his American fiancée Erica Stoll tomorrow and over 160 guests, including a host of celebrities, will attend.
Some of the music, sport and film stars expected at the wedding of the year include One Direction’s Niall Horan, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington and Fifty Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan.
A significant number of guests are set to arrive by helicopter, however, those arriving by car can expect to be stopped on their way into the 350-acre estate.
Two security guards with walkie talkies and clipboards have been waiting at each of the four entrances today, making sure no uninvited guests spoil the private party.
Meanwhile, locals are proud that Cong and Co Mayo is set to host such a high-profile wedding.
Cong resident Donal Hughes said: “I think he’s here because he knows that he’ll get total privacy inside the gates there. We just came down for a look, just to see the whole furore than to see anybody famous or that, but yeah it’s great for Cong.”
Other celebrities, such as Pierce Brosnan and Westlife’s Shane Filan, have also held their married at the romantic residence.
Do the locals feel put out that they cannot access the castle grounds during such affairs? Not according to David. “You have to respect [the estate] on a day like this. Locals get to use it all of the time, to drive through it and walk through it and use the grounds. And in return, on special days like this, there’s absolutely no problem maintaining a bit of privacy and giving them the privacy for the day.”
Paula Geoghegan of Galway Woollen Market in Cong village has a special gift for the four-time Major winner and his wife to be.
She said: “We’re giving Rory and his wife a beautiful Aran Islands knitwear rug and we’re also giving them two napkins, one is a wedding-bells napkin for his wife and one with a golfer on it for himself.”
Meanwhile, Ballinrobe Golf Club put up a welcoming sign offering their congratulations to the couple at the main Castle entrance.