Dubs hero Alan weds sweetheart Lydia

Aoife Anderson

Dublin GAA star Alan Brogan was enjoying an extra special Christmas celebration as he married his long-term girlfriend today.

The popular Dubs hero was set to marry stunning Lydia Rock in an intimate ceremony in Drumshanbo Church in Co Leitrim.

The couple, whose son Jamie is 22 months old, were hosting a lavish reception just 10 minutes away in the plush Kilronan Castle in Ballyfarnon, Co Roscommon.

Speaking to the Herald ahead of the event, Lydia revealed: "We are so excited now.

"Christmas has been a bit of a non event for us this year because we just can't wait for the wedding."

A significant number of Alan's team-mates were due to attend the glitzy wedding, including his brother Bernard.

Their father, legendary 'Boys in Blue' hero Bernard Snr was also on hand for the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Lydia invited a number of her showbiz pals, including her younger sister Hayley, who is well known on the capital's social scene as a hostess in Lillie's Bordello.

The 26-year-old, who is also a model with BScene the Agency, recently revealed plans to embark on a strict healthy eating regime ahead of her sister's wedding.

FANFARE

Earlier this year Lydia (28) revealed she and prolific forward Alan were distracting themselves with their wedding plans to keep the pressure off ahead of the All Ireland semi-final against Cork.

The couple's wedding will cap a year which saw an endless string of sports stars exchange vows.

To date, the title for 'wedding of the year' has been the much talked about nuptials of Leinster rugby ace Brian O'Driscoll and his actress wife Amy Huberman.

The Dublin couple married with much fanfare in Kilronan Castle's sister hotel Lough Rynn in Mohill, Co Leitrim on July 2.

Other sports stars to wed this year include football hero Damien Duff, who married Elaine on June 17 in a low-key ceremony at the luxurious Babington House in England.

Manchester United and Ireland star John O'Shea married Yvonne Manning in Maynooth on June 8, with Coleen Rooney among the guests.

Ireland striker Kevin Doyle married his childhood sweetheart Jenny Harney in Adare on June 11 in front of a 180 guests including fellow internationals Stephen Kelly, Shane Long, Stephen Hunt, Paul McShane and Daryl Murphy.

aanderson@herald.ie