Sinead (28) and her new husband, who is the drummer for chart topping band The Feeling, tied the knot at the Sacred Heart Church in her native Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh.

Sinead’s best friend, pop starlet Sophie Ellis-Bextor and husband Richard Jones, bassist with The Feeling, joined the rest of the band and a whole heap of music industry bigwigs at Fermanagh’s biggest celebrity wedding in recent years.

Hundreds of fans lined the chapel grounds and streets waiting for the bride-to-be to arrive, who turned up half an hour late.

“I wouldn’t leave the house until I got my sister to get me a glass of champagne. I drank that before leaving — through a straw because I didn’t want to ruin my lipstick!” laughed Sinead.

Arriving at the church in a beautiful white flowing wedding dress, accompanied by father Gerry, Sinead said that she had always wanted to get married in her home town.

The singer, who will support Lulu on her tour next year, said: “Irvinestown means the world to me and so does everyone in it. I wouldn’t have got where I am today if it wasn’t for the massive support I’ve been given from the local people in my town. There’s nowhere I’d rather get married than where it all started.”

Her proud parents Gerry and Philomena were delighted that their famous daughter was able to hold her wedding at home. Said Philomena: “It’s been a hectic time leading up to the wedding; we never thought it would come along so quickly. We’re glad that she could come home for her big day, just like her sisters.”

The wedding reception took place in the plush 370 year-old Markree Castle, set in a secluded 500 acre estate in Sligo, and included a set by The Feeling.

The couple pointedly refused to cash in on their wedding after turning down an exclusive deal with OK magazine so that everyone in the town could enjoy their big day.

But they will not be heading off on honeymoon until February due to work commitments. The new Mrs Stewart plans to travel to Nashville to work with a top producer in a bid to re-launch her singing career and has the Lulu tour next July to look forward to.

Rodney Edwards