Marriages in Ireland took a notable dip in 2023, according to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) report. The data reveals a decrease of 8.7% compared to 2022, with 21,159 registered unions last year. However, this still marked a 4.2% increase from the pre-Covid year of 2019.
Among the findings, the average age of brides rose to 35.8 years, and grooms to 37.7 years. Same-sex partnerships also saw a shift, with men marrying at an average age of 40.8 years, and women at 38 years.
The report highlights that Roman Catholic ceremonies remained the most popular choice, accounting for 35.4% of marriages, followed by civil ceremonies at 31.6%. Notably, over half of co-partners opted for civil ceremonies.
Friday emerged as the favored day for tying the knot, with 7,419 marriages, while Sunday saw the least at 714. August proved to be the busiest month for weddings, with 2,653 ceremonies, while January had the fewest at 665.
The trends signify a changing landscape in Irish matrimony, reflecting shifting societal norms and preferences.
