Marriage and Family in Ireland
A brief history of marriage and family customs in Ireland.
Location: Ireland
The Importance of Family in Early Ireland
The historic Irish maintained strong ties to their extended family. In Gaelic Ireland, the traditional family unit was the fine, or clan. A fine encompassed all the shared descendants of a great-grandfather. Under the tanistry system, heirs to a túath were elected from within a ruling fine. Outside the nobility, a person's family determined his or her position from birth. With a few exceptions, children of farmers became farmers, children of abbots became clergymen, and children of blacksmiths became blacksmiths.[1][2]
Because personal identity was so closely bound to family, the Irish took pains to track their ancestry and strengthen relationships within the fine. Children were often raised by another family, growing up among foster-siblings instead. Court poets recorded the lineage of noble families as proof of their inheritance rights.[2][3]
Marriage Under Brehon Law
Family also determined a person's dire, or honor-price. The brehon laws used dire to regulate marriages and the appropriate bride-prices for women of each class. Bride-prices were typically paid in cattle, sheep, pigs, gold, silver, clothing, or servants over several years. The bride claimed an increasing portion of her own bride-price, along with any cattle she brought to the marriage. Wives also owned part of all their contributions to a farm and took them in cases of separation.[2][4]
In pre-Christian and early medieval society, men were free to take a second wife or mistress. The brehon laws outline family and inheritance rights for both legitimate and illegitimate children. In certain cases, such as infertility, gossip, or abusive treatment, divorce was permitted for both men and women.[2][5][6]
Irish Wedding Traditions
The majority of Irish people follow Catholic traditions for their weddings. These events are officiated by a priest and attended by members of each family. Gifts are typically given to the new couple, who celebrate with cake, music, and dance.
One old Irish tradition still seen today is "tying the knot," which is thought to have its roots in Celtic times. During the ceremony, the bride and groom's hands are tied together with ribbon to symbolize their union. The customary wedding dress was light blue, but this changed to white in the Victorian Era.[7]
Family Dynamics in a Changing Ireland
For most of Irish history, marriage was a necessary prerequisite to children and a settled life. Over time, attitudes toward non-marital relationships, divorce, and unwed pregnancies have softened. Divorce in modern Ireland remained illegal until a national vote in 1995. Twenty years later, in 2015, Ireland became the first nation to recognize same-sex marriages by popular vote.[8][9]
Bibliography
Seán Duffy, Ailbhe MacShamhráin, and James Moynes, eds., Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia (New York: Routledge, 2005), 10-11.
Patrick W. Joyce, A Social History of Ancient Ireland, Volume 2 (Dublin: Gresham, 1903), 3-19.
Joseph C. Walker, Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards (Dublin: Printed for the author by Luke White, 1786) 6-19.
T. M. Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 108.
Ancient Laws of Ireland: Uraicect Becc and Certain Other Selected Brehon Law Tracts (Dublin: H.M. Stationery Office, 1901), 73.
Ibid., 293.
Ava Laboy Capo, Wedding Traditions From Around the World (Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2013), 141-148.
Elizabeth Adams, "How Catholic Ireland Became the First Country to Vote for Same-Sex ?Marriage?," National Catholic Register, May 26, 2015, EWTN News, accessed April 07, 2017.
Kate Holmquist, "Divorce, Irish Style," The Irish Times, January 17, 2015, The Irish Times, accessed April 25, 2017.
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