Local people in Castlebar, Co Mayo, have come to the rescue of a young Traveller couple who were unable, despite months of effort, to find a hotel venue for their wedding reception.
A modern "meitheal" of 30 people decorated the parish centre and prepared a sit-down, four-course meal for Ellie McDonagh and Michael Paul McDonagh, both aged 22, and their 250 guests.
The meal and venue were paid for by the bride's family.
Ellie is daughter of Tom "Boxer" McDonagh and his wife Mary, who live at the Halting Site, Castlebar, while Michael Paul is son of Bernie and Winnie McDonagh who who live most of the time in Swansea, Wales.
According to Sister Margaret McHale, who works with the Travelling community in Castlebar, all the local hotels and a great number farther afield had refused to host the wedding on Monday and it was only at the last minute the parish centre, close to the Church of the Holy Rosary, was secured.
"The groom's family have been living in Castlebar for over 30 years. They are not troublemakers and feel very angry over this rejection," Sister Margaret said.
Mr Tom McDonagh, father of the bride, said: "It feels as if nobody wants us. I have been all my life around this town. I think it is disgraceful."
Mr McDonagh, a father of 13, said two other members of his family were due to get married next year and it looked as if they would have to travel to England as no venues in the region appeared willing to host a Traveller reception.
Canon Paddy Curran, parish priest of Castlebar, said the refusal of hotels to accommodate the wedding showed there was "still a way to go" in healing relations between the Traveller and settled communities.
"However," he said, "I think progress is being made."
Sister Margaret said it was "a sad day" for Castlebar and the west of Ireland if Traveller families were to be singled out in this way.