Now Stella to marry in Ireland

Stella McCartney is looking to follow her father and get married in an Irish castle.

It emerged today that fashion designer Stella, who got engaged to publisher Alasdair Willis a month ago, has made inquiries at Ashford Castle Hotel in County Mayo with a view to tying the knot there.

The bride-to-be flew out last week to see the 13th century Anglo-Norman castle near Galway which was used as a setting for the 1952 John Wayne film, The Quiet Man.

A source there said: "Stella tried out the food and met the manager. She took away the brochures and price lists."

The castle is 100 miles from Castle Leslie where her father Sir Paul McCartney married Heather Mills on 11 June this year. The castle sits in 350 acres of wooded estate. It has 83 guests rooms decorated with rich panelling, intricate woodcarving, and works of art. It costs £12,500 per night to hire.

Speculation that the big day could be imminent has been fanned by Sir Paul pulling out of an awards ceremony on 8 December.