Church gets alter-ations for McManus bash

IT’S not unusual for churches to be showered with floral arrangements and ribbon adornments by couples to add to their wedding day.

But a Co Limerick church is undergoing a total makeover and landscaping of its grounds for the wedding of JP McManus’s only daughter.

Sue Ann McManus will walk down the aisle of the completely refurbished Martinstown parish church to marry Cian Foley from Killorglin on July 14.

Only family and close friends will attend the church ceremony.

After the ceremony they will be joined by more than 1,500 guests including Mr and Mrs Tiger Woods at an extravagant wedding celebration at Martinstown Stud.

Top catering company, Master Chefs, who looked after the Michael Flatley wedding, will ensure that a wedding feast second to none is served up to the guests.

It is understood that entertainment will be provided by a number of top acts, including The Corrs.

While work is well advanced erecting the massive wedding marquee in the grounds of Martinstown stud, a team of painters were busy giving the nearby parish church a thorough repaint.

One local said: “Four vans pulled up outside the church and work went full steam ahead.

“They used automatic lifts to get the job done quickly. Even the pews were taken out, numbered and covered with plastic to allow the work go on.”

The ceiling got three coats of white paint and the church walls were coated with a cream coloured paint.

And to make sure the interior setting was complete, the area behind the altar was painted a dark red.

Landscape gardeners are due to carry out a major upgrading of the church grounds and this will include the laying of a new lawn.

The bride to be has a masters degree in economics and Mr Foley works with the Limerick auctioneers firm, Chessers.

He is well known in rugby circles having played at out half for the senior Garryowen side for a number of seasons.

JP McManus paid for the erection of a statue to locally born Olympic hero, John Flanagan in the grounds of Martinstown church in 2001.

The statue was unveiled by Olympic gold medallist Ronnie Delany.