Same-Sex Marriage is Now Legal in Ireland




Same-sex marriage is now legal in the Republic of Ireland. The new law came into effect on Monday following a public referendum held in May.

There are now a number of options for Irish same-sex couples: 


  • Couples who married abroad will now see that marriage recognised in Ireland. The effect of this was immediate.

  • Couples can now choose to convert their civil partnership to marriage, but there is no obligation to do so. Details of how to convert a civil partnership are expected to become available soon.

  • Couples can now register their intent to marry with a registrar. Once the notice period has passed then the first ceremonies can start taking place.

Ireland has come a long way since the referendum was first announced back in 2014. It’s come a long way full-stop. Homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993, and divorce was only legalised in 1997. 

No small feat for a country with such deep historical connections to the Catholic Church (and we know how forward thinking the Vatican is). It’s fantastic to see the Republic of Ireland becoming something of a stronghold for LGBT rights. 

Given the devastating events in Paris at the weekend, it’s heartening to see a trending news story that celebrates love, happiness and unity. The world can be a very dark place at times, but it’s important to remember that there are positive changes happening everywhere; there is still hope for a better world even if we’re not always sure where to look for it. 




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