In anticipation today, numerous gay couples in Dublin, Cork and Galway had registered their intention to marry. Civil partners do not have to give notice of intent to marry.
Under the terms of the Act, formulated after Ireland’s referendum on same-sex marriage last May 22, all same-sex couples previously married in foreign jurisdictions will have their marital status automatically recognised in Ireland from today, and, while no new civil partnerships will be recorded, existing civil partnerships will continue to be recognised unless a couple decides to transfer the arrangement into a same-sex marriage, at which time the civil element will be dissolved. This can only be done by a couple completing the relevant paperwork at a registry office and undertaking a civil marriage ceremony.
As per the legislation, religious solemnisers who object on conscience grounds to same-sex marriage will not be forced to conduct ceremonies
There are currently 1,695 civil partnerships in Ireland registered between 2011 and 2014 – 1,048 between men and 647 between women.
According to early press reports, the first same-sex marriage ceremony of the day was set for Clonmel in Co. Tipperary.
