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Renewing vows in Ireland

Posted by (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) on

Hi all--
My hubby and I are traveling to the West of Ireland this January...we are thinking about renewing our vows while we are there. In my mind, I'm thinking a beautiful little church in a little town...does anyone know where to start in arranging this?

Posted by
135 posts

Hello

There are several things to think about - not least of which is which denomination of church do you require, if it is a Christian church that you have in mind? Although far less religious than even 15 years ago, the Republic of Ireland is still largely a Roman Catholic country, with a Catholic church in most villages. There are also other Christian churches scattered around, including Protestant (Church of Ireland) and various nonconformist chapels etc, but these may be more difficult to track down. I can't speak for other denominations (I'm Catholic myself) but if the churches in Ireland are anything like the churches in England, you will need to establish a personal contact with the Parish Priest of the church you are interested in well in advance, as most priests are unlikely to oversee a ceremony for complete strangers. Conversely, they may be delighted to bless a couple who they have got to know. You will also likely need to evidence that you were married in the denomination of the church you have chosen; this would probably meaning providing a copy of your (church) marriage certificate or, at least the contact details of the church you were married in, so your entry in the church register can be verified.

Sorry to sound so formal, but unless someone else has better knowledge than I, I'd have thought it very unlikely that you can just roll up and ask for a blessing. But it's a lovely idea, so do pursue it if you can!

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