CIVIL MARRIAGES...IRELAND GROWS UP

January is a big month for the Irish homosexual community with civil partnerships becoming a reality.

Some of the great legacies of the boom in Ireland are not the three lane motorways or the gleaming architectural marvels littered around the city but maturing of our laws.

Strolling around post Celtic Tiger Ireland it is hard to imagine that condoms were illegal in this country just 20 years ago. Indeed most people don't realise how quickly we have grown up on the Emerald Isle.

The latest strides towards adulthood are taken this week with the commencement of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, which provides legal recognition for same-sex couples in Ireland for the first time. The Act was signed into law by President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin back in July 2010.

Changes to the tax and social welfare code were made in the recent finance and social welfare Bills made way for the introduction of the Act. The first Civil Partnerships will be taking place in April, however, if couples have already had a foreign marriage then they will be recognised as Partnered from January, so congrats from the Grand Canal Hotel.

Previously same sex couples had to travel to other jurisdictions such as Northern Ireland or England to get married. The Act will give the civil partners rights over shared homes, maintenance payments and pensions.

Progressive laws like the above do more for the development of Irish society than any IMF/EU bailout. Another step on the road to adulthood has been taken.

The Registrar of Civil Marriages is located Grand Canal Street Lower, Dublin 2, just a two minute stroll from the Grand Canal Hotel. Check out our website www.grandcanalhotel.com for details on our wedding packages. The Registrar is contactable by phone on 00353-1-6787114 or 00353-1-6787115.

OMG.