Activity fuels Beatle wedding rumours

McCartney has said he and Mills will get married "this summer" but hasn't given any details about the date or venue

LONDON, England -- Frantic activity and tight security fuelled rumours that Paul McCartney was getting married at an Irish castle perhaps as soon as Thursday.

Vans, trucks and Land Rovers were seen heading into grounds of the 17th century castle Thursday morning amid reports that marquees were being set up on the grounds.

And security guards were refusing to let anyone into Castle Leslie without prior approval.

Sir Paul has said that he and fiancι Heather Mills would get married "this summer," but the former Beatle has kept fans and reporters guessing, refusing to name the time and place.

However, the ceremony is expected to take place before McCartney turns 60 on June 18. He recently said he and Mills, a prominent anti-landmines campaigner, were anxious to "get wed with a bit of privacy."

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New York Post columnist Cindy Adams wrote on Wednesday that the marriage would take place at a County Monaghan church next Tuesday, with a celebration set for the castle afterwards.

The baroque Victorian castle, set in a 1,000-acre parkland estate near the village of Glaslough 80 miles north of Dublin, is known for its eccentricity.

The 14 bedrooms have no telephone, television or clock and the bathrooms are described in guides as "wacky" and "outrageous", while waitresses are dressed in Victorian attire. It also has a helipad.

Sir John Leslie, whose family owns the castle, fuelled speculation that the wedding would take place next Tuesday.

"We are told vaguely it is next Tuesday like the papers say, but it is all secret, I have to keep it dead secret," the 84-year-old said. "They might do something at the last minute or change it, you never know."

Security was tight at the 17th century Castle Leslie in Ireland

Leslie said marquees were being set up in the grounds, lighting effects were being put in the trees and food had been arriving at the castle in the last few days. There is a 300-year-old church on the grounds.

"(McCartney) came here about a year or two ago just as a visitor -- we take paying visitors -- and he had a look around," Leslie said.

In Glaslough, there was much speculation that the wedding would take place Thursday.

Hanging baskets were being suspended on lampposts, streets were being swept and officers with the Irish national police were on patrol as reporters descended on the village.

"The word is that it will happen later today," said Martin Lappin, 48, who was tidying the road leading to the gates of the castle.

"There's an awful lot of activity around the hotel, with people going in and out. They have been building marquees around the site for the last few days and there have been joiners and flooring companies coming through. It's quite a buzz for the village, although (McCartney) has been here before last year with Heather.

"It's a bit of a showbiz haunt. There are people like the Corrs, and Mick Jagger who have been to the castle and who drink in some of the bars around here."

Sir John Leslie: "We are told vaguely it is next Tuesday like the papers say, but it is all secret, I have to keep it dead secret"

Gerry McQuaid, 31, who lives next to the castle, said: "The whole site has been closed down for about two weeks now. There are security guards all around it, we reckon about 100 at least, and one of them said they had all been specially sent here from Edinburgh.

"The Greystone's Equestrian Centre, which goes into the grounds, has been closed to the public for the full two weeks as well. We hear McCartney has booked it out."

There was also talk that the ceremony may not go ahead until next Tuesday.

Eugene Keenan, 46, and Brendon McCarron, 46, two farmers from nearby Monaghan, said it was understood that fire regulations had caused a delay.

"There have been big electricity generator lorries in the village and there have also been barrels of oil transported into the grounds," said Keenan. "Whatever it is that is going on requires a lot of power."

The New York Post's Adams, who was a bridesmaid at Liza Minelli's recent wedding, said 300 guests would dine on an Indian vegetarian buffet from gold serving plates in a marquee erected in the grounds.

However, another New York Post writer has reported that the wedding would take place in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island on Thursday or at the weekend.

Columnist Neil Travis, who lives in the area, claimed that it would be at the home of John Eastman, the brother of McCartney's late wife, Linda, who died of breast cancer in 1998. British newspapers also predicted McCartney may marry at Eastman's home.

The baroque Victorian Castle Leslie, set in a 1,000-acre parkland estate, boasts a helipad and is known for its eccentricity

There have also been rumours the marriage would take place at Skibo Castle in Scotland, where Madonna and Guy Ritchie had their wedding reception last year. McCartney's home in Sussex, southern England, also has been aired as a possible venue.

McCartney, 59, and Mills, 34, announced their engagement last July after meeting at a charity function.

Mills is a former swimwear model whose left leg was amputated below the knee after she was run down by a police motorcyclist in 1993.