Nearly half of all Irish same sex marriages were held in Dublin after the referendum

Dublin has been host to over 500 same-sex marriages since the Marriage Act was passed following the referendum.

The numbers make up nearly half of all same-sex marriages that have taken place in the country in the last 12 months.

On average, 21 same-sex marriages have been officiated each week since the law was enacted in November last year.

A total of 1,082 have gotten hitched in ceremonies in that time, and 450 of the ceremonies took place in the Irish capital.

It is not just Irish citizens tying the knot either, as the country is an increasingly popular spot for overseas couples to marry in.

Couples from Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Croatia have all travelled to Ireland for their weddings.

The first took place in Clonal, Co Tipperary, a day after the law was installed.

Cormac Gollogly and Richard Dowlin had joined together as civil partners in September, but wanted to be the first couple to take advantage of the act.

Dawlin said: “We wanted to try and get in the history books and be first across the line.”

Ahead of the referendum crowds fought for equal recognition but were up against a tough battle.

Pro-equality murals were defaced with vandalism, and a mural featuring a same-sex couple was removed by Dublin City Council.

When the law was passed, thousands attended the Pride parade that followed.