NEW DATA on the number of civil partnership ceremonies held in Ireland reveal that every county in Ireland has now hosted such a ceremony.
Figures published by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), compiled from data from the General Registrar’s Office, shows that 862 couples have entered such partnerships since they were first permitted in April 2011.
A breakdown of the figures reveal that over three-fifths of couples entering same-sex partnerships were male, while those entering civil partnerships included citizens of 60 countries from around the world other than Ireland.
Aside from entering into partnerships in every county, the figures also show that partnered couples are also resident in every county in Ireland.
Unsurprisingly, urban areas are home to the most same-sex partnered couples; Dublin tops the rank with 457, including 60 in Dublin 8 alone. 76 couples live in Cork, 31 in Limerick, and 29 in Galway.
At the other end of the scale, County Monaghan is home to only two same-sex partnered couples, while three couples live in Leitrim and Laois while Roscommon his home to four.
The figures do not include the number of couples who had already entered into civil partnerships in other countries, and whose partnerships were automatically recognised by Ireland when the law kicked in.
GLEN chairman Kieran Rose said the couples who had entered civil partnerships so far were “the pioneers who are transforming the perception of lesbian and gay relationships all across the country”.
“By their public acts of love and commitment they are laying the foundations for further progress towards civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples,” he said.
Same-sex civil partnerships were permitted from January last year under the Civil Partnerships and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.
People entering such partnerships are required to give three months’ notice, however, meaning the first partnership ceremonies were not held until April.
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