A look back at Noel Gallagher and Sara MacDonald’s marriage as they announce their split

Since Noel Gallagher and Sara MacDonald have announced they are divorcing after almost 12 years of marriage, let’s take a look at their 22-year relationship.

The estranged couple first met in 2000 and married in a romantic ceremony in the New Forest in 2011.

But over the years, music publicist Sara, 51, has found herself at the heart of the Oasis brothers’ toxic feud, with Noel’s brother Liam previously blaming her for being the reason the band didn’t reform.

Here we look back at their romance, from the 55-year-old guitarist’s first encounter with Sara at an Ibiza club to the brothers’ bitter feud.

Everywhere: As Noel Gallagher and Sara MacDonald announced they are divorcing after almost 12 years of marriage, we take a look at their 22-year relationship (pictured in 2019)

First date

Noel and Sara first met in 2000 at a famous Ibiza nightclub called Space.

In an interview with Vogue, Sara recalled Noel approaching her and asking him to hold his cigarettes and beer while he went to the bathroom before they shared a cab home.

Noel asked for her number, which Sara wrote on a card, which the publication told the publication he had it “like it was a religious artifact” and that it was “love at first sight.”

Toxic: Over the years, music publicist Sara, 51, has found herself at the heart of the Toxic Oasis brothers’ feud with Noel’s brother Liam (pictured in 2019)

Partygoers: Noel and Sara first met in 2000 at a famous Ibiza nightclub called Space (pictured in Glastonbury in 2003)

Meeting: Sara recalled Noel asking for her number, which Sara wrote on a card and called her the next day when she returned to the UK (pictured in 2001)

When Sara left the island the next day, Noel had phoned.

The couple say they never dated until Noel’s relationship with his wife Meg Mathews ended.

In a statement released in 2001, Noel said he did not cheat and “left Meg because I could no longer tolerate her behavior.”

Their first date was at The Lanesborough Hotel – and the rest is history.

Ex: The couple say they never dated until Noel’s relationship with his wife Meg Mathews ended. (Noel and his first wife Meg Mathews at the 1998 Music Mag Awards)

wedding

Noel and Sara tied the knot in 2011. Because of Sara’s Scottish origins, bagpipes are said to have serenaded the guests.

The guitarist recalled to Vogue the first time he met his father-in-law, who said to him, “I want you to promise me you’ll take care of my daughter,” to which Gallagher replied, “To be honest mate, I was more hoping she would take care of me.”

They were married at the Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest in a £60,000 ceremony attended by guests including Russell Brand – but Liam said he wasn’t invited.

“He goes on to say that he wasn’t invited to my wedding. Nobody was at my wedding except Nics [wife Nicole Appleton] mom and my mom.

“Get over it, mate. I wasn’t invited to his wedding,” Liam told the Chicago Sun Times.

Noel and Sara went on to welcome two boys; Donovan, 15, and Sonny, 12. The rocker is also father to his eldest daughter Anais, 22, from his previous relationship with ex-wife Meg.

Liam Gallagher feud

War: His brother Liam notoriously doesn’t get along with Sara and has had a history of public spats with PR executive (LR) Noel, Sara, Nicole Appleton and Liam back in 2005

When Sara first started dating Noel, she hit it off with his outspoken brother — but things changed when she briefly split from the guitarist in 2002.

The music publicist opened up about the toxic feud between the two feuding siblings for the first time in 2020, revealing that their son Donovan had never met his uncle.

Sara claimed Liam called her “11 times in one night” and referred to her as “f***ing b***h this, f***ing b***h that”.

Changes: When Sara first started dating Noel, she got along with his outspoken brother – but tide turned when she briefly split from the guitarist in 2002 (pictured in 2006)

Family: Sara and Noel with his daughter Anais, whom he had during his first marriage to Meg Mathews (pictured 2019)

The brothers’ relationship grew increasingly difficult, with Sara particularly recalling an argument between them in a hotel room that resulted in Liam throwing her purse in the hallway.

She said the fractured relationship between the two had become “unsustainable and exhausting” and believed the feud was a case of family history repeating itself, claiming Noel was “singled out and bullied by his father”.

Hart: The music publicist opened up about the toxic feud between two feuding siblings for the first time in 2020, revealing that their son, Donovan, had never met his uncle

Sara said it was a “lonely, uncomfortable place” for Noel.

The band eventually broke up in 2009. But Liam has been vocal about wanting a reunion, saying the band WILL reunite with or without Noel.

Meanwhile, Noel told Vogue in 2020 that he occasionally comes close to agreeing.

“I’ve often thought, ‘Let’s just do a gig,'” he said. “But I realized I was only going to do it to shut up that damn idiot. The only thing I could think of was to burn down his house or smash his car… but that’s not going to solve anything, is it?”

Meanwhile, that same year, Liam hinted that Sara was the reason there wouldn’t be an Oasis reunion.

One fan tweeted him and asked: “Hi Liam do you know why Noel hates the Oasis reunion so much??????”

While responding and suggesting it was her fault, he wrote, “I told you before he went for it but you know who won’t let him since she doesn’t like oasis music.” [sic].

Splits

Love story ends: Noel and Sara issued a statement on Friday announcing their split

Noel and Sara issued a statement announcing their separation and that their two sons “remain their priority.”

A spokesman for Noel and Sara said: “Noel Gallagher and Sara Macdonald have confirmed that the couple is going through a divorce.

“Noel and Sara will continue to care for their children together, who remain their priority. Noel and Sara are asking the media to respect their privacy and that of our family at this time.’

Fallout: The brothers themselves have had little contact for the last decade after Noel publicly quit the band in 2009 (pictured in 1998)

While a source told The Sun: “It’s a big shame but they’re trying to keep it civilised.”

“Noel has moved out, but over time Sara might want to move back to London. They are constantly working to keep the disruption to a minimum.”

Noel and Sara have been living with their two young children in an £8million mansion on the South Downs near Petersfield, the town of Hampshire, since 2019.

But the Don’t Look Back In Anger hitmaker is now believed to be living separately from his wife in north London.

Feud: The band eventually broke up in 2009. But Liam has become increasingly vocal about wanting to reunite, saying the band will reunite with or without Noel (pictured in 2004).