The Journal.ie reports that nearly 2,000 people have entered into civil partnerships since they first became legal in Ireland in April 2011. In 2012, 965 civil partnerships took place, with every county in Ireland hosting at least one.

Kieran Rose, chair of Gay and Lesbian Equality (GLEN) noted that these figures do not reflect the number of partnerships entered into abroad, thus indicating there is a greater number of legal civil partnerships in Ireland. Partnerships or marriages entered into abroad are automatically recognized in Ireland as civil partnerships and provide the same rights and entitlements.

READ MORE: In just 17 months, every county in Ireland has hosted a civil partnership ceremony

Rose went on to say, “In every county and every city across Ireland, lesbian and gay couples are celebrating their love and commitment in front of family, friends and communities.

“These couples and their celebrations are changing forever the perceptions of lesbian and gay relationships.

“These newly civil partnered couples are laying the groundwork for the next step in the rapidly evolving progress towards marriage for lesbian and gay couples,” he added.