Final touches put to McCartney wedding plans

Excitement was mounting tonight in the tiny Irish village where Sir Paul McCartney will wed Heather Mills - despite complaints from some local businesses that they were being cut out of the couple’s spending spree.

Local people gathered outside Castle Leslie in Glaslough, County Monaghan, eagerly awaiting the arrival of a host of celebrities.

But the only vehicles to pass through the heavily guarded gates belonged to contractors, putting the final touches to preparations ahead of Tuesday’s ceremony.

And the usually quiet Sunday service at St Salvator’s chapel, within the grounds of the 1,000-acre castle, was besieged by security guards and journalists.

Sir Paul, 59, and Ms Mills, 34, are expected to wed inside the 17th Century chapel before hosting a lavish celebration overlooking the lake and rolling hills of the estate.

But today’s service, which included the christening of a baby girl, was strictly off-limits for all but a handful of 25 regulars.

After the 50 minute protestant Church of Ireland service, pensioner George Woods said: ‘‘It’s quite amazing that our little service is the centre of so much attention.

‘‘It’s very exciting and the church looks lovely although we couldn’t see any of the preparations from where we were.’’

His wife, Lucinda, said: ‘‘The church is always decorated with flowers and is very pretty.’’

Journalists who attempted to attend the service to get a glimpse of the scene where the couple would exchange nuptials were turned away by security guards.

Minister Gary Roberts said: ‘‘We would always encourage more people to come to church - but for the right reasons.’’

Reports that a whole host of celebrities had been invited to the wedding fuelled the excitement.

Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Sting and John Eastman - the brother of Sir Paul’s late wife Linda - are all said to be invited.

Sir Paul’s children, Stella, James, Mary and stepdaughter Heather, were also said to be attending, despite reports of a rift between them and Ms Mills.

But amidst the atmosphere of anticipation others were not so happy that most of the supplies for the wedding party have been imported.

Florist Aileen Scott was angry that flowers, including lilies and roses, had been specially shipped in from Holland.

She said: ‘‘They are sourcing nothing at all at local level. Even the castle staff have been sent away so that they can bring in outsiders.’’

Monaghan Chamber of Commerce executive director Joe Heron told the Dublin-based newspaper Ireland on Sunday: ‘‘We would like the goods to come from local suppliers. The castle is a significant part of the local economy.’’

All day more supplies, including portable toilets, arrived for the big event.

A giant marquee and dance floor have already been constructed along the side of a lake and a pontoon has been built with a luxury boat moored alongside.

Canopies covered a walkway which led from the castle to the chapel. The Church of Ireland confirmed that Ms Mills would be permitted to marry inside the chapel despite being a divorcee.

Lighting effects have been put up in trees and rafts lie alongside the banks of the lake suggesting that fireworks could be launched from the water’s surface.

Sir Paul met anti-landmines campaigner Ms Mills three years ago and they were engaged in July last year.

Former model, Ms Mills, lost a leg in 1993 when she was hit by a police motorcycle.

The couple have refused to reveal any details about their wedding plans saying simply they were ‘‘going fine’’.