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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
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Ewan Gleadow & Charlie Lawrence-Jones

Traveller marries cousin in massive wedding with the groom boasting 73 best men

A Traveller has married her first cousin in a massive wedding with the whole town invited including 73 best men.

Chantelle Kielly, 18, tied the knot with cousin Jim during 'wedding season' in her home town of Rathkeale, South West Ireland.

Her nupitals were documented in the recent episode of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding which aired in February, reports Daily Star.

Traditional Traveller families spend 10 months of the year travelling before returning home in December for wedding season.

The period can expect up to 10 ceremonies a week, with families preparing wedding receptions and events for future couples.

The festivities underway (Channel 4)

Chantelle and Jim's wedding was secured after the bride's family paid the groom's family a dowry ranging between £41,000 and £99,000.

Marrying your cousin is still legal in the UK and Ireland.

Chantelle and Jim wanted to put on a wedding everyone will remember - and they certainly managed that with her dress adorned with 20,000 crystals in a design which is a favourite in the Traveller community.

The happy couple (Channel 4)

The bride opted for at least seven bridesmaids, while groom Jim went all out and added a staggering 73 best men to the wedding list.

The couple featured on the popular Channel 4 show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, with The Sun reporting the pair celebrated with a party the whole town was invited to, featuring a bespoke Barbie cake.

Chantelle looking beautiful on her wedding day (Channel 4)

Dressmaker Thelma Madine, who featured on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding frequently, said: "They are really nice people, the girls are very respectable.

"We always say the Irish Travellers are like going back 50 years but the Rathkeale girls are like going back 100 years.

"They’re all family and I think that’s how they keep the wealth in Rathkeale because they just don’t let it go out."

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