New study notes ‘New Age’ weddings on the rise in Ireland

LEICESTER, United Kingdom – As a growing sign of the falling influence of Catholicism in Ireland, a new study shows only 35 percent of marriages took place in the Church last year, a drop from over 90 percent of marriages just 20 years ago.

Published by the Iona Institute, the study said many couples are now marring in civil ceremonies, but many – “incredibly almost a quarter” – are happening in “New Age” settings.

“This is not a phenomenon confined to Dublin or even...