Sir Alex Ferguson is reported to be among the guests due to attend one of the most lavish Irish weddings of the year when Mr John Magnier's daughter gets married to a local horse trainer in Co Tipperary today.
Conveniently for Sir Alex, Manchester United played Chelsea last night in a rare Friday night Premiership game.
Approximately 1,000 guests are due to attend the wedding. The ceremony will take place in the Augustinian Abbey, near Mr Magnier's Coolmore Stud outside Fethard, Co Tipperary.
Ms Katie Magnier (24) is marrying Mr David Wachman (28) at 6 p.m. The parish priest, Father Thomas Breen, will officiate.
The list of those expected to attend include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose Kiltinan Castle is nearby. Other guests rumoured to be among those attending the wedding celebrations include members of the Dubai royal family, James Bond movie stars Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery, the model Jodie Kidd and dancer Michael Flatley.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and other members of the Cabinet are also reported to be attending, along with Tipperary TD, Mr Noel Davern, and his wife, Ann-Marie.
The event, estimated to cost around €3 million, has been arranged by professional event organisers who have been in the area for several months.
Due to the high public profile of a number of the guests, an international security team has also been put in place.
Local gardaí say they will be available to regulate traffic and to provide a security escort for Cabinet ministers who attend.
Curious onlookers and journalists are expected to congregate around the stud and gardaí will assess the need for crowd-control measures.
The Magnier family has not made any comment on the event and wants the wedding to be considered a private family affair.
The Coolmore Stud has an extraordinary reputation for breeding champion racehorses and has become an international operation during its 27-year history.