The number of couples getting married in Ireland is once again on the rise after years of decline following the boom years.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show there were more than 20,700 marriages in Ireland last year — an increase of 4% from 2011.
During the boom years, the rate of marriages was at 5.2%. That rate had been steadily dropping since 2008 until a slight uptick last year. Currently, the marriage rate is  at 4.5% per 1,000 of the population, a slight increase on the 4.3% rate in 2011.
there were also more divorces last year, with 2,892 divorces granted by the Circuit Court and the High Court last year  - an increase of 73 from 2011.
The Irish Examiner reports that civil marriages accounted for nearly a third of pairings at 28%, while 68% of marriages were Roman Catholic ceremonies.
The average age of grooms in 2013 was 34.7 years, while the average age of brides was 32.6. The average age of the groom in civil marriages was 37.9 years while the average age of the groom in Roman Catholic marriages was 33.2 years.
There were 429 civil partnerships registered last year, with 263 male unions and 166 female unions. The average age of partners in civil partnerships was 41.6 years — with the average age of male partners being 41.1 and average age of female partners was 42.2.
August was the most popular month to tie the knot last year, while January was the least popular month to get married. The Irish Examiner reports that the most popular days of the week to get married were Friday and Saturday. Sunday was the least popular day to wed.
***http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/marriages-on-the-rise-again-after-post-boom-decline-263612.html

The number of couples getting married in Ireland is once again on the rise after years of decline following the boom years.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show there were more than 20,700 marriages in Ireland last year — an increase of 4% from 2011.

During the boom years, the rate of marriages was at 5.2%. That rate had been steadily dropping since 2008 until a slight uptick last year. Currently, the marriage rate is  at 4.5% per 1,000 of the population, a slight increase on the 4.3% rate in 2011.

There were also more divorces last year, with 2,892 divorces granted by the Circuit Court and the High Court last year  - an increase of 73 from 2011.

The Irish Examiner reports that civil marriages accounted for nearly a third of pairings at 28%, while 68% of marriages were Roman Catholic ceremonies.

The average age of grooms in 2013 was 34.7 years, while the average age of brides was 32.6. The average age of the groom in civil marriages was 37.9 years while the average age of the groom in Roman Catholic marriages was 33.2 years.

There were 429 civil partnerships registered last year, with 263 male unions and 166 female unions. The average age of partners in civil partnerships was 41.6 years — with the average age of male partners being 41.1 and average age of female partners was 42.2.

August was the most popular month to tie the knot last year, while January was the least popular month to get married. The Irish Examiner reports that the most popular days of the week to get married were Friday and Saturday. Sunday was the least popular day to wed.