The average age at which men and women are marrying in Ireland continues to rise, with the average age of grooms in 2007 at 33.4 years, new figures show.
This is slightly higher than 33.2 years in 2006, but is an increase of 3.2 years on the 1996 figure.
Figures published by the Central Statistics Office today reveal the pattern for women marrying is similar, with the average age increasing from 28.4 years in 1996 to 31.2 and 31.3 years in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
In 2007, over 66 per cent of all grooms were aged 30 or over on their wedding day. This compares with a little over 65 per cent and 42 per cent in 2006 and 1996 respectively.
The CSO said the proportion of older brides has also increased, with over 52 per cent aged 30 or over in 2007 compared with just over 51 per cent in 2006, and almost 28 per cent in 1996.
Some 22,756 marriages were registered in 2007 – a rate of 5.2 per 1,000 of the population.
Nearly three-quarters of all marriages (74 per cent) of marriages were Catholic ceremonies, compared to a total of 90 per cent in 1996.
A total of 5,146 (23 per cent) of marriages in 2007 were civil ceremonies. This was a slight increase of 19 on the 2006 figure. In 1996, however, just 6 per cent of marriages were civil ceremonies.
The CSO attributes the figure to the legalisation of divorce here.
August was the most popular month for weddings, with 15 per cent of marriages taking place in that month in 2007.
Marriages in June, July, August and September accounted for 54 per cent of all marriages in the year.
Just 3 per cent of marriages took place in January.
The most popular days of the week for weddings were Friday and Saturday – accounting for 72 per cent of all marriages.