No one would have batted an eyelid if John Lennon himself had walked down the main street of Glaslough, Co Monaghan, at 2.15 p.m. yesterday just a few hours before Paul McCartney married Heather Mills.
"Wedding, what wedding?" one local was heard to yell as she danced in the street with hundreds of ecstatic fans following Ireland's 3-0 win.
Then a truck headed for the venue at Castle Leslie broke one of the cables holding up the "Welcome Sir Paul and Heather" banner, leaving it swaying precariously in the breeze.
The celebrity wedding of the year was swiftly being overshadowed by the soccer victory.
"This is far more exciting" said a man who worked at the castle but didn't want to be named. "A few of us were looking out the window as we watched the match to see if there were any stars, but our attention is on something else now".
Despite some rain and the celebrations, there were a few dozen villagers gathered at the barricades to catch a glimpse of celebrity guests.
They were rewarded with fleeting glances of Ringo Starr and actor Aidan Quinn, who were ferried to the castle by luxury coach and car.
McCartney's earlier assertion that only 10 of the guests were household names appeared accurate. Beatles producer George Martin, Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde, musician Jools Holland, American actor Steve Buscemi and former model Twiggy were also at the bash. Sir Paul's brother Mike was the best man, while Heather Mills's sister Clare served as matron-of-honour.
The chip vans were doing a roaring trade in the village, especially the one selling Big Macca burgers - although McCartney, a long-time vegetarian, might not have been impressed with the thoroughly meaty delicacy.
It was rumoured that the wedding had been due to take place at 2 p.m., but was postponed until after 4 p.m. because of the Ireland v Saudi Arabia match. Waiting staff dressed in black and white filed from the castle gates to watch the game and returned when the final whistle blew. As the 300 wedding guests arrived in coaches, they gestured their delight at the Ireland win to the appreciative crowd. A helicopter containing members of the media hovered above the church throughout the ceremony. It was thought the noise of the aircraft could be heard inside the church as the couple exchanged their vows.
Wedding bells rang out from St Salvator's Church in the grounds of the castle at around 5.20 p.m. Locals interpreted as a good omen the magnificent rainbow which appeared over the estate shortly afterwards.
Last night, the guests were expected to be treated to an Indian buffet, lashings of champagne and a four-tier wedding cake, with entertainment being provided in the three marquees erected on the grounds.
The romantic climax to the wedding was thought to be a fireworks display at 2 a.m. viewed by the newly-weds from a flower-strewn boat in the middle of a lake.
In a move that rivalled the Posh and Becks nuptials for excess, sources indicated that the spotlit couple would then be taken across the lake, finally leaving by helicopter to begin their honeymoon.
While in the village of Glaslough last night, another very different party was just beginning.