Over 7,000 couples over the whole of Ireland were prepared for the Sacrament of Marriage by the Bishops’ marriage agency, Accord, in 2023. Over four in ten (44pc) were in a relationship for between six and ten years before marrying. A quarter already had children.

The total of 7,262 represented a slight decline from 7,470 couples in 2022, but that was a catch-up year after the pandemic.

The majority of couples, 59pc, were in the 31-40 age bracket, while 28pc were aged 21-30 and 7pc were 41-50.

44pc had been in a relationship for 6-10 years, while 30pc were a couple for 3-5 years.

Only 6pc married within two years of starting a relationship.

72pc of the couples did not have children in their relationship at the time of marriage while 25pc did have.

8pc had children from a previous relationship.

Accord also released a revised and updated programme for marriage preparation which incorporated the latest developments in couples’ research and recent insights of the papal magisterium, particularly from Amoris Laetitia of Pope Francis.