Two same sex marriages in Westmeath since new law came in

Two same sex marriages have been registered in Westmeath since the history making legislation was introduced late last year.

According to newly released statistics from Department of Social Protection, two same sex marriages were registered locally between November 16, when the new Marriage Act came into law, and March 15.

As you would expect, Dublin (126) had the highest number of same sex marriage registrations, followed by Cork (21), Limerick (14), Wicklow and Donegal (both 8). In the midlands, Offaly (5) had the highest number of same sex registrations, while nationally there have been 234 same sex marriages registered in Ireland since the legislation was introduced in November.

Mullingar native Ruth Illingworth, who became Ireland’s first openly gay town mayor in 2009, says that she expects the rate of same sex marriages to increase in the coming years.

She told the Westmeath Examiner that many same sex couples are planning to walk down the aisle on the anniversary of their civil partnerships. Local hotels such as Annebrook House Hotel and Bloomfield House Hotel have hosted same sex marriages, photos from which have appeared in recent editions of this paper.

Almost 12 months on from last May’s referendum, Ms Illingworth says that she still finds it “unimaginable” how far social attitudes have changed in Ireland in recent years.

“In October 2012 I put forward a motion for marriage equality at a meeting of Mullingar Town Council, which was seconded by Cllr Ken Glynn. Even then I never imagined we’d get where we are so quickly. The country has moved so far in such a short space of time.”

Contrary to the predictions of many pundits, in last May’s referendum on the issue the majority of voters (55%) of voters in Westmeath supported extending civil marriage rights to same sex couples.